The record-union., 1897-11-20
TacitIy Approves the Programme Of
Home Rule for Cuba.
Report That He viii Take This Stand in
His Coming Message.
Sickening Stories of Suffering in
Cuba-Thousandso Of People Kept
Alive by the Rations Distribute
ed Americans, Who Share Their
Food With Starving Cubans.

ROOD with starving Cuo8hS.
NEW YORK, Nov. 19--The world"
this morning makes the following
statement:
The 'World'' is able to say. on very
high authority. that President Mckln-
ley in his message will tacitly approve
the programme for autonomy or home
rule Tor Cuba, which Spain now prom
ises.
Second-That the President win ex-
press the hope that the Cubans VIII
not prolong the war for complete in
dependence, but will accept instead u
form of autonomy.
Third That if the Cubans do not
heed his advice. Spain will be given
more time without interference from
the United States.
Fourth-That the President says that
he ardently desires peace both at home
and abroad. War scares" and
''belligerency resolutions" disturb busi-
ness, retard prosperity and do no good.
A new Congress is to be chosen next
fall and everything depends on good
times" A season of peace from Gu
ban sensations" is, therefore, now al
most certain
Fifth-Spain has been informed Of
McKinley's hopes and plans, and as the
first evidence of her OWE fond inten-
tions and good will she pardoned and
released yesterday the American crew
of the filibustering schooner Com
petitor. caught under arms off the
coast of Cuba, April 10. 1896.
THOUSANDS STARVING.
NEW YORK, Nov ia special to
the World from Havana says:
In every town in Cuba where there
are American citizens groups of starv-
ing islanders gather every day in front
of the houses of those Americans and
beg for the crumbs that fall from the
tables. That Americans have anything
on their tables from which crumbs may
fall is due to the relief fund of $4,000
appropriated last spring by Congress.
Consul General Lee has drawn, so far,
about S2o, 900 of the total amount, and
has distributed it to the Consuls in
MatanZas, Cienfuegos, Sagua. Santi-
ago and elsewhere. These Consuls
buy provisions and distribute weekly
rations to distressed Americans.
There are 400 Americans on the re-
lief fund list. OF these about s00 are
American born. The others are natu-
rallied citizens and their families, who.
having their citizen papers properly
registered at the different United States
consulates, are entitled, if in distress,
to the same relief as American born
citizens.
According to a statement made by
Consul Barker, who is stationed at
Sagua, about 10000 people are being
kept alive in Cuba by these rations dts
tributed for the support of 1,400. Neigh
bors gather around the front doors of
the houses of American citizens and beg
a share of the food that comes from
the consulates.
While suffering is general, these ap-
pealS are not in vain, and the scant
supply of rice, jerked beef and bread
is made to do service for five instead
of one.
In the town of Sagua a person walk
ing through the principal streets about
IL a. m. and p. m. can tell the houses
of American citizens by the crowds of
starving creatures patiently waiting
at the door to get even a mouthful of
rice or even a crust of bread.
The most pitiful sight is to see the
babies in arms, hardly alive and the
small children, with their thin legs and
arms, all indicating lack of nourish
ment and starvation.
In the town of Sagua, where there is
a. population of about 10000, the death
list for five years before the war was
500 a year In the month of August of
this year GAS persons died of starva.
ton alone.
Consul Brice, stationed at Matanzas,
reports that since July ], $1,000 per-
sons have died in his district AS he
was crossing the public square one
evening lately he saw man fall to
the ground within few feet of him,
and, on fastening to his side, found he
was dead. His body was nothing more
than skeleton. Such scenes occur
every hour of the day all over the
island, where people are herded to-
gether.
General Blanco's orders to allow the
pacificoS to cultivate land outside the
military lines would diminish suffering
if the people had the strength and the
implements with which to work. but
they have neither, and Weyler's scheme
to exterminate the Cuban people is
rapidly proving successful.
1t is believed here that Blanco has
received orders from Madrid TO do
everything possible TO prevent Starva-
ton reports from going to the United
States.
THE COMPETITOR CREW.
HAVANA, Nov. 19-The Ward line
steamec Saratoga, having ON board the
released crew of the American schooner
Competitor, the United States Con-
sui, Joseph A. Springer, and Senior Ju-
lilo Asteg, who was sentenced to death.
but who recently was pardoned, sailed
for New York to-day. She should
reach her destination on Tuesday next
There is great rejoicing among the
members of the American colony here
at the release of the crew of the Com
petitor.
WEYLER LOYAL TO SPAIN.
MADRID, Nov. 19.-The Captain
General of Galicia has telegraphed to
the Government here that in the inter-
view which he had yesterday with Gen.
eral Weyler, the former Captain-Gen-
eral of Cuba completely exculpated
himself from the statements attributed
to him on the occasion Of his leaving
Havana. and affirmed his devotion and