The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-22
Cuban Army Said to Have
DWindled to Less Than
1000 Men.
DECREE OF AUTONOMY.
Royal Document Will Be Sub
mitted to the Cabinet
at Madrid Today.

MADRID, Nov. 21.-The royal de-
crees for the establishment of auton-
omy in Cuba will be submitted to a
cabinet council tomorrow,
HAVANA, Nov. 21.-About SEVENTY
OF the recent INMATES Of the Matanzas
Jail have bezn stricken with what is
supposed to be Beri Beri. Three Ha-
Van?. specialists have been sent to
@.agnose the disease, and the sick pris-
oners have been transferred to more
healthful quarters, where they will be
provided with medicine and nourish-
ments, while other steps have been
taken to avoid an increase of the epi-
demic. Capt. Gen. Blanco has called
for public subscription on behalf Of
the afflicted persons, and has himself
subscribed 800.
HAVANA, Nov. 21 (via Key West,
Fla)-La Lucha, in a recently pub
lished editorial, expresses doubt as to
the sincerity of the friendship for Spain
professed by the American government,
and says: IF the American govern
ment cannot prevent the sailing from
the ports of that country of expeditions
in aid Of the insurgents and does not
respond in other wys to SPANS ef-
forts to come 80 favorable terms, IL
is useless for Spain to maintain friend
ly relations with America"
Reports from Matanzas say that the
Conservatives, having become enraged
at the change in the governments 5 poi-
icy, are disturbing public order Ex-
Mayor Crespo initiated the disorderly
conduct by publicly giving offense to
Senor Aramas. the new civil governor
of the province. The chief OF police
followed Senior Crespo's lead by en-
deavoring to prevent aid being given
to the suffering recOncentrados by
newspaper correspondents and others.
OF the reconcentrados in Matanzas.
numbering more than $4,000, 70 died in
two days, 81 perishing from hunger.
Yesterday II deaths were reported q
large proportion of which were the re-
suit of starvation. In Jaruco, about
60 per cent of the deaths are caused
by starvation. and the sarne Is true
Of many other towns. Owing to the
lack Of proper clothing and Of blank
cts, the situation Of the reconcentrados
is becoming worse as the winter sea-
son approaches, despite the efforts
made 70 relieve them.
Horrible episodes are of daily occur
renee among the reconcentrados. Af-
ter lying for three days upon the side
walk in front Of a house In Matanzas.
a poor negro woman who was suffering
terribly and was unable to move was
carried away by a flood caused by a
heavy downfall of rain. A short time
afterward her dead body was discov-
cred a few blocks away and at last re-
ports was still lying in the gutter.
A cab driver who was carrying a sick
man to the hospital observed that his
passenger was dying and dragged him
from his cab, leaving him on the curb
stone, where he finally died. Cases
similar to these are of frequent occur
renee.
Reports from Candelaria say that a
man who was suffering from smallpox
was driven by the authorities into the
insurgent camp at Cejadal Negro.
Pinar del Rio province, where threats
were made to hang the man If he was
not taken away.
On Wednesday evening the remain
ing cane fields on the plantation
Portugalete, owned by DR.. Manuel
Calvo were destroyed by fire.
Marshal Blanco has appointed thirty
four new employees at the custom
house. OF these five are native Cubans
and the remainder Spaniards and re-
formists. The AutonOmists are greatly
disgusted by these appointments
Sixty persons employed about the
docks and 500 others in various parts
of the island have Joined the revolu-
tionists and a number of prisoners at
Guines who were pardoned under the
recent proclamation have returned 70
the insurgents.
Smallpox is rayaging the neighbOr-
hood OF insurgent headquarters in
Pinar del Rio, and there are in the
hospitals in the hills LOO perlsOns suf-
fering from the disease.
1t is stated by prominent residents
of Pinar del Rio, according to an official
report, that there are only 1900 armed
insurgents in the province, including
the bands which have recently entered
the province under Mavia Rodriguez
and other leaders.
Gen. Hernandez Velasco confirms the
statement that the insurgents in Pinap
del Rio are abundantly supplied with
ammunition. seventy OF zen. NeldScO
men have arrived al Pinar del Rio suf-
fering from wounds received In recent
enga gements.
The financial situation OF the mill
tary administration is bad The sol
diers have not been paid in eight
months There is a scarcity in the
meat supply for the hospitals, and in
many towns no meat has been obtain
able for many days.
Gen. Losada, sub-inspector OF the
health department, said recently TO the
correspondent of El impartial, of Mad
rid, that there were actually $4,000 SOL
diers in the hospitals in Cuba, and
about $1,000 of this number were not
suffering from any disease but simply
from need Of nOurishment
band of insurgents recently fired
- TrI,t..a