New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-18
MONA MEXICAN VIEWS or CUBA.

American comments on and news Of dolngs
IN Cuba are SO often regarded as tinctured with
the prejudice or desires of Yankee JngoiSm"
that 1t is profitable now and then TO observe
what Others free from the possibility of such
reproach. are saying. The utterances of The
London Illness" Havana correspondent have
hitherto been quoted as porraying the situation
in Cuba itself in fully as unfavorable a light
as any American writer Of repute has done.
The Madrid correspondent Of THE London
Standard has given to the world the most I'M
favorable accounts of the financial and other
affairs of the Spanish Government. Both these
writers have enjoyed exceptional means of in
formation. and no one has impugned their ac-
curacy and veracity Yet they have said the
worst things that have been said against the
Spanish cause.
or later date is n letter from special CORE
spondent of THE London Chronicle" journal
which certainly is not to be suspected Of SYM
patty with American feelings or opinions. 1t
gives one Of the most shocking pictures yet
placed before the public Of Spanish injustice
and inhumanlty. The crew of the Competitor,
says this correspondent, have been badly treat
ed by the Spanish authorities. They have all
suffered severely, having been incarceratcd in
"a filthy dungeon lacking the common neccs-
"sarles Of life; they were nearly naked until
recently, when Lieutenant Otasso and other
"Cubans in the same cell exchanged clothes
before going TO execution" Nor are American
prisoners the only sufferers. Mrs. Mcndinc. an
English lady, was dragged from her bed with
"her four daughters, aged nine. twelve, seven
teen and twenty respectively, and removed to
"the 'Recogidas The prisoners We're held
strictly 'incomunicado in this vile wOmen's
"prson, which is filled with black murderesses
land female criminals Of the lowest type. Their
Offence was giving medicine TO a friend for
"some sick insurgents, a crime for which many
"have been deported TO Fernando Po"
These are. apparently, not isolated cases.
They are part Of the general policy Of the
Spanish Government In Cuba a Spanish paper
at Matanzas recently published in It's official
news a private bando' Of General Weylcr,
giving instructions TO the field commanders TO
spare 10 one found beyond the Spanish lines.
armed or unarmed and to destroy all insurgent
Hospitals within their respective zones The
"authenticity Of the order Is undenlabe, and its
publication was sanctioned by the press cen
"sor as an official notification The editor has
now been fined for lack Of discrimination in
selecting military proclamations." This order
of General Weyer throws some light upon the
recent tragedy at Consolation del Sur. where
the insurgents massacred the entire garrison.
/ The slaughtered men were Cubans who had de-
serted 10 the Spanish side and had made a
specially of leading the way to the destruction
of Cuban hospitals The incident was a hor-
rlble one and Is not to be defended under the
rules of civilized warfare. But it does not
bring condemnation upon the whole Cuban
cause The Cuban record for humanity is still
better than the Spanish. For. says the CORE
spondent already quoted. while there have been
individual acts Of brutality ana violence tx
"hibltcd by Cubans toward their prisoners. Oh
"thc whole the treatment Of Spanards captured
"in battle has been entirely different tC the
'nerciless numbering of all insurgents who fall
Unto Spanish hands
This Is severe testimony against Spain. But
it Is not American testimony. II Is not to be
regarded as interested or as inspired by