The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-01
N

PiGa4 ana Murder The Sick and NUrseRs
HAVANA, May 25, via Key West.
May 26.-The Spanish forces of San
Quentin attacked a Cuban hospital at.
Iona Calderon, near Msnagua, pro
vince of Havana. Sick and wounded
Cubans in the hospital were slain by
the Spaniards, and also the women
who were acting as nurses. The Off
cial report published here by the DiariD
de la Marina and La Lucha says that
an attack was made on the camp Of thes
insurgent leader Suan DeIgado, butz
private advices from trustworthy
sources proved that the socalled camp
was a hospital, crowded withunarmed
and invalid Cuban soldiers.
One of the nurses behaved very
bravely and fought against the assatR
ants in defence of her life. The other
begged for mercy from the Spaniards.
crying and Lkneeling before them
Both were beheaded with machetes.
In the province Of Havana the war
is assuming a most ferocious character
Never before have assaults by Spanish
columns upon Cuban hospitals and de-
fenceless pacifcos been so numerous
as at present. The insurgent forces in
this province number 5000 men, we'll
armed. General Alejandro Rodriguez
is the commander-in chief, and under
him are generals Rafael de Cardenas
and Adolfo Castillo. Colonel Nestor
Arpuguren commands the cavalry
forces Of Cardinals brigade. Colonel
Raoul arrange leads ab0ut 1.O0O
fantry.
All these forces are constantly haraS
sing the Spaniards, and the 2O,O 600 reg
ulars who are operating against them
cannot make the insurgents abandon
the small territory of the province.
The discipline and organization of the
Cubans are perfect. Each leader has
sufficient autonomy to move accord
ing to the circumstances in this guer
rilla warfare, but all obey orders from
Rodriguez. Rafael de Cardenas ia,
noted as q leader not only by his cour-
age, but also by his talent for military
organization. The qualification" of
the province by Weyler has been made
most ludicrous by recent events.
A cable dispatch from Madrid says
that Senior Moret asked the govern
ment for proofs Of the reported defeat
of the insurgents in Occident, and
Senior Oanovas answered that he could
not produce any documents regarding
the victory of the Spanish troops over
the insurgents, except the official com,
~munications of General Weyler. "But
General Weylerls word" added Senior
Canovas, lis enough for me, and ought
to be enough for all spaniards.n
The dispatch adds that Senior MOre6
also asked on what side the sympa-
thies Of the European nations were
listed in the Cuban war. Senior Cano-
vas replied that he positively knew that
spain had the sympathy of Europe,
and for this reason the government
needed the advice of foreign nations to-
establish reforms in Cuba.
The prime minister said also that
public opinion in favor of reforms had
Il u6SW6uoO D0CL4C6G4OA IA OOO0O
Tt is believed that Senior Moret1s
questions are merely preliminary to q
bitter campaign against the govern
ment in the Cortes if a ministerial crisis
arises.
Famine is making ravages in the
province o. Matanzas. Both SpaniardB
and Cubans are perishing. The city Of
Mantanzas itself is in dire distress. At
Cardenas, in the same province, the
depreciation of paper money has
reached a ridiculous extreme. Ten
dollars in paper is worth so cents i'm
silver.
The distribution of relief to AmerF
can citizens here will probably pro-
ducea conflict with the Spanish govern
ment if the $50, 600 voted by the Amer
lean Congress isreally to be applied in
favor of starving Americans. The.
Spanish army is hostile to the idea of
American consuls distributing the a.
Lief, and this plan is looked upon BIZ
the government Cmcials as involving
interference by the United States in
Spain's own affairs. They say that
the food and money should be given to
the Spanish authorities, who would
take care Of the distribution.
Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. Lee viii prob
ably return on Wednesday from Ma
tanzas. It is generally believed here
that If Mr.. Calhoun intends to proceed
further east than Matanzas General
WeyIer will interpose objections.