The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-13
LATORRE'SB BRUTAL DECREE
TEE HYPOCRISY OF SPANS RE
FORMS FULLY EXPOSED.

FORMS JILL
Death 70 the naan, woman. or Child whe
Stands at HIS Door in Nuevitas-Doath to
the Person WHIT shoots . Firecrncker-
Threats fer the Consul who Raises His Flag
HAVANA, Dec. e.-Don Agustin Latorre,
military commander of the city Of Puerto Prin-
cipe, has exposed with q few strokes Of his pen
the hypocrisy Of SPANS alleged policy Of mild
ness under Gen. Blanco. The barbarous decree
Of Latorre, q part of which was cablod on
Wednesday to THE Sun, exceeds In cruelty
anything that Gen. Weyler ever devised to ex-
terminate non.combatanta, women and chill
dren. Its full text, published in Havana by
La Lucha, inspires the greatest horror. and.
according to the most trustworthy Information
from Puerto Principe, It In carried out with ro-
~lentless vigor. Two hundred families already
have fed from Nuevitas panic-stricken, to take
refuge in Puerto Principe The decree was be-
lieved at first to DO merely . threat, but when o
few days ago q poor woman was shot In Nuevi-
tas for the sole crime Of leaving her homo. with
out permission Of Latorre, to buy provisions for
her family, then terror spread in tho city and
the general exodus began. Maria Mendoza was
the name Of the woman. She was o widow 40
years Of age. To her was applied Article II. Of
the.decree.
The city Of Nuevitas Is no moro In danger Of
an attack now than before Don Agustin La
torre took its military command. Many bands
Of insurgents belonging to tho army of Gen.
Lope Recio roam around the city and attack
the trains from Nuevitas to Puerto Principe a.
in the time of Gen. Weyler. but there iB no regu-
lar siege and no cause for shooting tho defence
less inhabitants. The killing Of tho woman
Mendoza was . barbarous assassination, and
It has been followed by tho shooting of six
male residents of the city not charged with
more serious offenoea. Not sven the resource
of seeking protection In . foreign consulate 10
left to the inhabitants Of Nuevitaa. Latorre has
revoked In his decree all codes Of international
law, and all tho most sacred rights of foreign
ers to DO considered a. neutraln In times Of war.
The foreign Consuls are forbidden to raise their
national hagp on their houses. Such o thing
seems hardly credible In the nineteenth CEN
fury, but here are tho exact words. literally
translated. Of the decree a. pubhshed in In
Lucha:
The military oommander Of Nusvitss. Don Ausu,-
tin Latorro , RivaA, ordersi
Article 1-Any person who. meaning TO cause alarm,
shall IRE nreoraokers or firearms within the town
at o time when 10 10 threatened by the enemy shall
be shot.
Article s-Tho same penalty shah b imposed upon
shall 60 out from his homo or even stand as the door.
From this prohibition are excused the employees Of
my Government and tho volunteers and the nremen.
Long-oonnnusd danger 70 the city from the enemy
viii b made known 70 the families. for them to
choose one ooly OF their membeu 70 60 out At Q
given hour to procure provisions, such person to re-
turn homo a. speedily - possible.
Article eIsi % also forbidden, with the Same pen.
atty Of death. TO any resident or head employee Of
any kind oe ohlos 70 hoist any nag which 10 not mat
>fspain. II any foreign Consul shall have any obJeo-
20 make - this order. he shan tell me his req
n and than I vfl d0ufdN nbout hfa eano IN the -,v
Ishaii assm hasA
Article 1T II also absolutely forbidden THAI any
family shall take refuge in the forts ane barracks
excepting the families Of the volunteers and en-
pioyees OF the oovsEnmenA. who viii show an OF.
press order from me-. II In any fort or barrack famt
lies OF thS residents Of this city shan attempt to take
refuge. the soidisrs shall use thar Arms to repulso
the refugees.
A gentleman vssiding In Puerto Principe
writes to n SuN's correspondent. i~nolosing
Q copy Of the decrea. which he says is highly
praised there BY the Incorporating Span
iards. He adds:
"weyler mover dared to punish in his DEGREES
the Representatives Of foreign nations. or to say
openly that women and children should be shot.
Tho situation created here by Latorre's bloody
attitude 10 beyond description. Terror pre-
walls among tho poor families who conceived
q hope for tho safety of their lives aftei no de-
parture Of the Butcher. Moro than $50 young
men, nearly persuaded by tho Autonomist
leaders to accept peace. have left the capital Of
the province full Of indignation. joining the
forces of Lope Recio. Whenever o Cuban de-
sires to believe In Spain's good faith when she
Of the spanlards betrays their real feelings
and makes impossible any compounds with
them"
The consular agents in Nueyttas Of the
those nations in Havana explaining the gravity
Of the eitnation and protesting against article 8
In Havana It Is believed that some inter
national protest will DO made to Spain;
.a MasI to.sisst D OSst ha;r IT, oe gasa. 1 Isp be ssSs5t
Ia, Feesiyea %otieiai- iatormstioa y tho e:
ported action Of Gen. Latorre, commanding tho
SlEdainE under pain Of death the RAISING
Ct foreign flags in such 2 way Is even 70 exclude
Of their Consolidated except upon his permission.
amy injury To- q forsiGn consular onicer
& Stationed. would undoubtedly result III in a
demand for reparation and apology. il.
action can DO considered could DO recalled. to-
plight, but the policy OF the United States has
cannot display the Stars and Stripes over their
residence or offices unless that right 10 given by
The nearest case in point that can be cited 90
American Minister to that country. wrote
Consular flags In tho Mexican capital on a 51oii.
day, and asked whether the practice on the part
of American Consular officer was sanctioned
by the department. Hamilton Fish, then Score.
Feb. Is. 1874. as fo,oWs: '''' uAa'f aA'' Oh
This is a matter subject to municipal
laws, unless q privilege in respect to
Il should have been granted by treaty.
We have NO other privilege thai, that II
sl%ry re be sst iRslisfa o. on the It city ripp 81 Mea hSSf s.S:
ifvsr' By Glowing 't Gon.uls o0s sa displaS OF tb sas
flags on holidays OF their respective
nations. This, 1t seems to me. Is as much aa
may be needed. II, however, they should at any
think proper 10 Withdraw this indulgence. II Is
clear that we cannot insist upon Its continuance
as a matter of right"
The United States have no treaty with Spain
permitting Consular officers to display the flag
Of their country.
AMMUNITION LANDED IN OUBA.
800 shells for the Pueumatio nSuanila auu