The herald., 1897-10-09
WEYLER'S
REMOVAL
The First Step Toward
Cuban Autonomy
THE MARQUIS OF PENA-PLATA
WILL TAKE COMMAND OF FORCES
IN CUBA
Gen. Weyler Makes Emphatic Denial
of Rumors Of Resistance to the
Constituted Powers
THE MARQUIS OF PENA-PLATA
WILL TAKE COMMAND OF FORCES
IN CUBA
Associated Press Special Wire.

MADRRID, Oct. S.-(Midnight) The
cabinet has decided upon the immediate
recall of General Weyler from Cuba. A
decree will be issued appointing Captain
General Bianco Arenas, marquis of
Pera- Plata, governor general of the
island. The queen regent will sign the
decree tomorrow.
General Blanco will be accompanied
by General Arderine as vice-goverr,or
of Cuba; by General Gonzales Pain.ale,
as chief of staff, and by Generals Span
so, Bernal and Cannalou.
According to Ell HeralG,o, 2OO0O rein
forcements will accompany General
Blarco to Cuba.
In the course OF the cable message
sent by Captain General Weyler to
Premier .Sagasta, placing his post in
Cuba at the disposal OF the government
he said: IF the functions with which
they had entrusted me had been merely
those of governor general of Cuba,
should have fastened to resign, but the
twofold character Of my mission ard
my duty as commanders in chief in the
face of the enemy prevent my rendering
my resignation. Nevertheless, al
though / can rely upon the absolute un-
constitutional support of the autonomist
and constitutional parties, as we'll as up
on public opinion, this would be INSULT
cent without the confidence of the
government This confidence would be
necessary to enable me to put an end
to the war, which has already been vir-
tually concluded from our lines at Juraco
to Cape Antonio
Senior Sagasta replied: IT thanl1 you
for your explanation and value your
frankness. l wish to assure you that
the government recognizes your serv-
ices and values them as they deserve,
but 1t thinks change of policy, in or
der to succeed, requires that the author
tiles should be at one with the ministry
This has nothing to do with the corf-
dence felt in you by the government, for
the Liberals have always said that the
responsibility for given policy does not
fall upon those who carry it out, but
upon the government inspiring it.
shall communicate your communication
to the government shortly"
Captain General Ramon, Blanco y
Arenas. who will succeed Captain Gen
Cuba, has had his chief administrative t
experience in the Philippine islands.
He succeeded Captain General Despujol
as governor general Of the Philippines in
1893, ard for his services in the capacity
was raised to the rank of marshal in 1885,
In August, 1896, he reported to the
Spanish minister of the colonies the ex-
istence of an extensive plot aiming at
the independence of the islands This
rapidly took the proportions of formid-
able insurrection, which the efforts Of
General Blanco were powerless to
check.
In September Of that year he narrow
ly escaped assassination. A plot was
formed to surprise the garrison at Ma
nila and seize the headquarters and 10
murder the captain general. 1t was
discovered just in time and more than
a hundred persons were arrested for
completely in it. Prior to this General
Blanco had not resorted to extreme
measures, but, spurred on by the per-
sonal danger to which he had been ex-
posed, he issued a decree ordering that
all property belonging to residents of
the Philippines who had been implicated
in the rebellion should be forfeited foT
the benefit of the government. A weeks
grace was offered to those who were
willing to surrender. But neither this
decree ror General Blanco's military
tactics nor other exceptional measures,
which he took to suppress the rebellion,
prevented it from spreading, and in De-
cember, after broad hint from the gov
ernment that his methods were not SUI
ficiently severe, he rendered his resg-
nation and was succeeded by General
Palovieja, who was sent to the Philip
pines with Instructions virtually >identi-
cal with those given to Weyler when he
succeeded Martin Campos in Cuba.
Shortly after this Blanco was appoint
ed chief of the military household of the
queen regent. He has been described as
the "softest hearted soldier in Spain" "
and his whole career indicates his dis
position to employ mild rather than vio-
lert measures. Ever since the fall Of
Azcarraga's cabinet the rIame of Mar
shal Blanco has been the most promi-
nent among the possible successors of
General Weyler. and the impression in
some well-informed quarters has been
that if appointed governor general of
Cuba he would be empowered to ap-
proach the insurgents with view of ar
irving a mutual agreement for the ces-
satios of hostilities. He enjoys the per-
sonal friendship and entire confidence Of
the queen regent
RUMORED RESISTANCE.
NEW YORK, Oct. S.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Madrid says: General
Weyler will fight tooth and nail against
being removed from Cuba. He is trying
to terrorize the Liberal Ministry into
retaining him in command in Cuba until
next June, and if recalled now he will
utilize his influence over the army to
create disturbances in the peninsula or
sell himself to the Carlists.
WILL WITHDRAW
HAVANA, Cuba, Oct. S.-General
WeyIer gave today an emphatic and res
olute denial to the reports that he would
resist removal from his command in Gu
ba and In certain CONTINGENCIES might eg-