Griggs courier., 1897-12-31
SPAIN WILL lose CUBA.
This Is the Prediction of Gen. Wey-
Ter If Autonomy Is In
sisted Upon.
the INSURGENTS WILL NEVER SUBMIT.

the United Statea-He Wants to Be
Chief Commandcr-rhe killing of
Ruix Defended by MIR. Palma, of the
Cuban Junta.
2 Madrid, Dec. 90. Gen. Weyler, in an
interview just published. is quoted as
declaring formally that there is. no
hope of the success Of autonomy, adding
that no insurgent will submit except to
the marquis of Santa Lucia and an
other chief and asserting that the in-
surrecion would continue.
The general is also quoted as saying
that if the Spanish government persist
ed in autonomy Spain would lose Cuba
in few months. ..,
In conclusion Gen. Weyler said he op-
posed the dissolution of the chamber
until the government renounced its
policy of giving Cuba an autonomous
form of government.
=. Weylcr Seeks q Conflict.
Madrid, Dec. 23.-Gen. Weyler has
net abandoned his purpose to create a
conflict with the United States. He
wishes revenge for President McKin-
ley's attacks against him in his mes
sage. He also hopes If war comes he
will be appointed chief commander of
the Spanish forces by popular acclama-
ton as the general who showed the
greatest hatred toward the United
States. Since he arrived at Madrid
Weyler has been trying to stir by all
possible ~means the spirit of the army
against the United States.
If the Spanish government refuses to
ask proper redress for President Nc
Kinley's attack Oh the Spanish army
Weyler will advise all the generals and
colonels who served under him in Cuba
to resign from the army. He thus hopes
to create a conflict between Sagasta
and the queen and to divide the army,
he becoming the leader Of the discon-
tented while posing as the chief de-
fender of national honor. The question
is whether his former officers will fol-
low his advice. The only thing clear
is that by these meraces and by his fire.
quent. conferences with Marquis Ger
ralbo. the delegates Of Don, Carlos,
Weyler wishes chiefly to frighten the
queen and Sagasta into coaxing him and
helping him to become an important
political boss.
Defends killing Of Ruix.
New York, Dec. 23. - T. Estrada
Palma, of the Cubnn junta, has made a
statement regarding the killing by the
insurgents Of Col. Ruiz, who was sent
by Capt. Gen. Blanco to win over or
buy up Gen. Aranguren, in which he
defends the act as justifiable and de-
clares the blood of Ruiz is upon Blanco
and Congosto and not upon the Cubans,
because he was sent in the face of em-
phatic declarations of the insurgents
that Spanish peace cmissaries would be
treated as spies and summarily shot.
The statement closes as follows:
1--WE are denied by the entire world status
as belligerents. and might. therefore. claim
that we have no obligations to conduct the
war as .belligerents. but we do not intend
to take this stand. The conditions obtaining
in Cuba and the character of the Spanish
demand. however. that we take the neces-
sary measures to speedily terminate the
war by convincing the world that fnde-
pendence alone can satisfy US.
I'VE accordingly issue decree. and SOL
cmnly warn Spain Of its enactment. II
despite this warning they persuade a man
to be rash enough to come to us to treat on
the basis of autonomy, we must either ac-
knowledge that our laws are made only
to be broken. or be compelled by pain
full duty to carry them out"
Blanco Announces His Plans.
Havana, Dec. 27.-Capt. Gen. Blanco
declares that Cuba will be under an au-
Economical government by January 1.
The new ministry, now entirely formed,
will begin with the new year with Of
ficers in the palace. AS soon as autono-
my is working smoothly Gen. Blanco
will take the field to conduct most ag-
gressive campaign against the rebels
remaining under arms.