The herald., 1897-11-17
HORRIBLE
SUFFERING
Caused by Weyler's Cuban
Policy
HALF THE RURAL POPULATION
is DEAD BY STARVATION OR
MURDER
HALF THE RURAL POPULATION
The Soldiers Sent From Spain Have
Fared No Better Under the Bar
barous System
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16-A special to the
World from Havana says: 1t appears
now that nearly rs per cent of the 400,-
c0o helpless women, children and non
combatants in Cuba affected by former
Captain-General Weyler's policy are
dead. Despite the orders issued by Cen
eral Blanco to feed the starving, the
daily mortality of the remaining recon-
ccntrados is frightful. The rabid Span
iards who believe that only by extermi-
nation of the race the Cuban war be
won, openly challenge the good faith of
General Blanco's statements as to his
intention to feed and find work for those
whom General Weyler has not killed.
They jubilantly claim that the new
Captain General Is enforcing the bar
barOuS concentration OF the country
people exactly as his precedessor did
The local press no longer prints the news
from the small towns. In one of the last
articles on the hunger situation, it was
called zone of the most awful spectaclcs
evcr presented to humanity.
BLANCOS HOPELESS TASK
NEW YORK, Nov. 16.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says: General
Bianco has entered upon an almost
hopeless task. The present Cuban situa-
ton is such that it seems impossible to
effect the reforms and carry out what
the greatest army in the history of col
onial wars has failed to accomplish.
Spains present policy is announced to
be one of combined conciliation and
force. 1t appears to be, as some Spanish
journals have called it, "a suicidal poll
icy.'
The peculiar conditions of the Cuban
struggle now make any conciliatory
move a direct play into the hands of the
insurgents.
Only about 20 per cent of the sugar
plantations OF Cuba that operated two
years ago have machinery modern
enough or cane good enough to warrant
grinding at the present price of sugar.
More than half of the rural population
has disappeared, having been murdered
by Weyler and his supporters. The
same men are much more directly ac-
countable for the inhuman manner in
which their splendidly brave soldiers
have been underfed and uncared for AS
ted from official figures little more than
half are left alive and well of the SO,O 900
vigorous peasant lads Spain sent to Gu
ba. The figures are: Died in hospitals,
$4,000: killed and died in the field, II, 900;
sent back to Spain as ''inutile." $4,000;
now in the hospitals, 10000; total. 81, ,OoO
OF this enormous number it is improb-
able that more than $4,000 met death or
disability from Cuban bullets, even dur.
ing the real fighting of the invasion and
the six months thereafter. General Ma
GEO estimated that not more than 5000
Spanish soldiers had fallen in battle.
That was in August, 1896. Since then
very little fighting has been done.
THE DAUNTLESS IRRESPONSIBLE
NEW YORK, Nov. 14.-A special to
the Tribune from Washington says: The
iilibustering steamer Dauntcss is again
causing serious concern to naval author
tiles. A telegram to the Navy Depart
ment from Key West, where the cruiser
Montgomery and the gunboat Annapolis
are supposed to be on the watch, an
nounced the sudden arrival of the
Dauntless at that point, although on
Saturday the commanding officer of the
Vesuvius, who was watching her at
Jacksonville, reported her in dock there,
being cleaned and painted and generally
placed in condition for another expe-
dition. He thought she would be ready
in another week, and wondered what
steps he would take to prevent he, de-
parture If she had men and arms aboard
and the department had scarcely in
formed him that he must follow her out
to sea and make every effort to prevent
her reaching Cuba, when the word came
that she had slipped into Key West
violating the quarantine regulations by
leaving Jacksonville without notice, and
completely disconcerting the naval au-
thoritics who are are afraid she may
get away from her present berth as
readily as from her last without anyone
being the wiser
II she has arms and ammunition
aboard the Dauntless is in a fine way
to reach Cuba for all the navy can do to
prevent it, since her speed makes it DIFF
flcult for any of our smaller warships 70
catch her in the day time, and she can
easily elude them at night The only sure
method to prevent her from reaching
Cuba. In the opinion of naval officials
here. is to destroy her.
GUN WORKS BUSY
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 16.-For more
than two months people living in Tioga
and Nicctown have commented upon the
fact that the Aiidvale Steel Works have.
not shut down even for Sunday. and that
the jarring noise Of the big trip-ham-
mers has been as penetrating at mid
night or In the early hours of the morn
ing us during the day.
Sickness has been the only plea that
would permit any of the employees to
enjoy days rest, and the relays of
men have been alternately kept at q
high tension. All this excitement, 1t
leaked out today, is due to hurried or
der from the government for an increase
Of armament. The order placed with
the Midvale Steel Works Is for fifty 10
inch disappearing guns and ten 12-inch
The government inspection works is
in the hands Of Captain T. A. Lyle Of
the United States Army. He Is out Of |
the city. and the manager Of the Mid
vale company declined TO talk regard |
Ing the big contract made With the gov-I
An upen rate Ok the main
bull II tllp MIDI yRlA t1iseIp6ed 10 tho !
|'ss|'R' : 81