The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-09
Whole Strength of the People Backing
the Insurrection.
Failed, Upon Investigation, to Find
the Pacificatiou That the Captain
General Has So Often Asserted
Instead, There Were Signs of War
Everywhere, Even at the Gates of
Havana.
Havana.

NEW YORK, June ESPECIAL Com
missioner w. j. Calhoun, who returned
here yesterday from Cuba, says that he
had formed an impression before leav-
ing the States that negroes and posi-
bly, bandits We're the chief agents in
the instruction He had not been
there three days before he was con-
WINGED that the whole strength of the
Cuban people is backing the insurrec-
ton. He became satisfied it was in re-
atty the struggle of Cuba for the Gu
ban, and that they would fight desper-
ately for independence. Everything he
subsequently saw and heard strength
ened this belief Calhoun had heard
the reports of pacification by General
Weyler and had credited them in some
degree. His stay in Cuba destroyed
this notion. He could not find the pa
cification which was reported. Instead
he found signs of war everywhere-even
at the gates of Havana. The Spanish
troops held certain parts of the island
as an army of occupation, while the
insurgents We're making constant and
often successful raids.
MIR. Calhoun was so impressed with
these evidences of actual warfare that
he could see no end of the war; and
that the devastation was growing.
Mr.. Calhoun could not discover that
any approach to civilized methods of
warfare was being made on either side.
He was overwhelmed with evidence to
show the atrocities committed by the
soldiers under Weyler, particularly the
guerrillas who form part of the reg
ular army. Such cases as he was able
to investigate personally generally
proved to be correctly stated. He also
learned it was true that the Red Cross
Society was not permitted to exercise
its offices of mercy in the two contend
ing parties. This refusal was on the
part of the Spanish Government.
Mr. Calhoun's personal inquiries and
Investigations have satisfied him that
the starvation and suffering caused by
WeyIer's RECOMMENDATION order We're
not exaggerated. He saw the scenes
Of human misery at Matanzas, which
determined him to look no further into
that phase of the war, because he had
seen enough.
1t will possibly have a determining
effect in deciding whether the war IN
Cuba has reached a state of savagery
that justifies the United States in in
tervening on the grounds of ctvlllza-
ton and humanity. That the effect of
Weylers concentration order is to be
to depopulate Cuba he is thoroughly
convinced, though he may not assume
the responsibility of saying such is his
purpose. That his effort is greatest in
starving women and children he will
be able to state without reservation.
Mr.. Calhoun was strongly impressed
with the claim Of the insurgents to
recognition as belligerents as belliger-
ency is usually defined by the lawyers,
and Mr.. Calhoun is himself lawyer.
The existence of a Cuban Government
is unknown to him, if for no other rea-
son than because he did not go to
the eastern provinces to seek. How
ever. he thinks the insurgents have the
right to make war in their own way,
and while he could discover no prog
ress towards driving the Spaniards out
of the island, he gives the insurgents
credit for their ability to keep up the
present kind of warfare indefinitely. In
other words, there can be no pacitica-
fion by Spain.
While Mr. Calhoun did not attach so
much Importance to belligerency as to
other phases of the question, what he
saw did not c1S1e him any fears for the
United States in case the policy of bel
ligerency should be adopted by the Adj
ministration and by Congress. During
his stay in Cuba Mr.. Calhoun gave a