San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-15
Cannot GRIND CANE
Consent OF The Insurgents
Must Be Obtained.
IF OBTAINED THERE ARE NO
DRAUGHT CATTLE TO HAUL
THE CANE TO THE MILLS,
Cane Burning Has COmmencei-Am-
nest Hangs Fire-NO Sound
Soldiers In Cuba-The
Hospitals Are All Full
And Not A Bed.

New York, Nov ia dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says:
Much incredulity is expressed public
ly as to the ability of the government
to persuade or compel grinders to re-
sumo planting and afford protection.
The action of the insurgents does not
seem to have been taken into consider
alton and without their consent in ex-
change for tribute no amount of gov
eminent protection can suffice to pre-
vent the burning of cane. Already the
work of incendiarism is said to have
been begun. Smoke has been seen ris-
ing to the southwest of Havana, dis
tant apparently about twenty miles
and it is reported the rebels are burn
ing plantations. Even assuming the in
surgents would permit and reconcen-
trados flock to the plantations, ii is
said to be impossible to harvest the
crop, owing to the extemination of
oxen.
Application of decree of amnesty still
hangs fire. Blanco is anxious to get
the American prisoners off his hands,
but is fettered by red tape, the Com
petitor prisoners being in the hands of
the naval authorities, and many form
alities must be gone through before
they are released. 1t is expected,
however, that they will soon be at lib
erty. Louis Someillan, who is a pris-
oner here, is in the same predicament,
being in the hands of the civil author
tiles. The only other two Americans
are in Santiago de Cuba and their re-
lease has been ordered.
Gen. Blanco's investigations into the
condition of SPANS army in Cuba have
already revealed a deplorable condi-
ton of affairs. Not only are frauds
in connection with the paying of troops
being brought to light, but proof is be-
ing obtained that of the two hundred
thousand men sent to weyler, only
small portion are now fit for active ser
vice.
The towns are garrisoned principally
by convalescent soldiers, too weak in
many instances to offer more than a
feeble resistance of the attacks of the
rebels.
One of the first army surgeons says
that one of the most difficult tasks of
the new administration will be to care
for SPANS i'll troops. In not one of
the city hospitals of Havana, for exam
pie, is there any available beds. On
the military government
of this city received a.message to the
effect that five hundred i'll and wound
ed soldiers were on their way to Hav-
ana by the Matanzas railroad. He
this fact to the hospital
only to receive the reply |
that it was absolutely impossible to re-
ceive another man. The military COM
mander in Guines reports that patients |
in the military hospital there are en- |
tirely without medicine and other nee
and that the food supply is |
entirely inadequate. The small hospi- |
pended, and large amounts are owing |
to shop keepers. Projectors of stores |
have notified the hospital authorities |
that they will not furnish any more
goods on credit. In other towns the |
condition of affairs is similar. As in
iicative of the growing feeling of Hav-
ina against the United States your
is able to state that the
thief of the volunteer fire brigade in
his on Friday dismissed two neutraliz-
d American citizens. Those two men
we're Cuban born, but hold naturaliza-
ion papers. The only reason the
hief gave for his action was that he
lid not wish any element in the ranks
hat might prove troublesome in the
uture.