New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-16
CUBA'S HUNGRY PEOPLE.
THE GRAVE PROBLEM CONFRONTING
GENERAL BLANCO.

TRApOs ABOUT CEASED - INEFFECTIVE
MEASURES OF RELIEF SUGGESTED
THE PROGRESS TOWARD
AUTONOMY.
IFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE l"o'''
Havana Cuba, Dec 11.-Such progress as
CaptaTn-General Blanco makes In es'do'siI'i'e
the regimen OF autonomy In Cupa Is III '"e ao'
OF grave and increasing difficulties - s'eP i'
ward, a halt. and. perhaps o'cA " "'u 10y
again. Military operations against the ihsuI
go. ,rha,bar successes or reverses, are not OF
a,o,,s roon,ant and are not likely TO be Tor
oL or oven months to come. Hostilites
,,ah, no susnended and the problem which con-
tror,s tho authorities would be the same IL IS
~ ens food with which TO feed the people or the
island including the soldiers AS between 'he
troops and the country people or recohcehtia-
dos Spain has chosen to feed the troops Inc
issuing of rations to the reconcentrados through
the military agencies has already ceased IN some
nlaces Its suspension is 10 become genera
next week.
Promise is made that the distribution OF loou
u,n he repIsced by direct gift of money. which
will enable the people to buy supplies LOT '"e"i
selves. The promise is misleading. The money
&c ~ coma ont OF the credit which the Cablnet
Of Madrid has authorized to be set asloe loi
tho relief Of the starving people. Claim Is fnaoe
,ho+ the first 500 600 has been followed py an
other 100000 Both appropriations are !"
silver II money could he distributed resula'i!
for months TO come, the measure OF reHei ""u'
he insufficient There are parts OF 'he lsiahu
where the food supply is exhausted Local pro-
auction is not enough to meet the heeos Vi
diminished population Food itself Is very uoa''
At Guines, within fifty miles or havana III,
noorest quality Of beef brings 80 cents pound
To
though that section. which is noted for lts pro-
duc,ion of vegetables has suffered less from the
ravages of the war than other localities.
SPANISH PRIDE IN THE WAY.
Annreciat,on OF the real condition and the
measures which must be taken 10 relleVe II 10
not lacking in official quarters. MT Bruzoh' tne
new Autonomist Governor Of Havana province
was told he would have $4,000 at his disposal
for the entire province. Overcome by the Calls
already made on him. and feeling the hopelessy
-asor,,ato nature OF the means which were TO
IA nlocad IN his hands he urged upon the cap
,o,n. General the adoption OF different pohcy'
This was to let the people Of the United states
tnov that the resources Of Cuba were not
enough to feed its inhabitants. without sohcn-
tng aid. Governor Bruzon thought that the Will
,ngness 10 receive food supplies ana the assui
ence that these supplies would not De ihteIieieu
with in the distribution. should be made klo"n'
Then. II by private charity or Otherwise the
desire existed In the United states 20 heIp 'he
cuban nonulation which is suffering from hun
ger that desire could be gratifed and welcome
relief be received General Blanco, though op-
,ressed bv the conditions would not consent 70
q public admission that holp was needed from
without 1t would be humiliation for SPAN
70 which he would not be party. IL thev ue-
sired to make such an admission the initiative
must be taken in Madrid So nothing Is oohe'
and the policy of the Captain-General VIII con-
tinue TO be TO feed the soldiers first. regardless
OF the native population. There Is need OF look
ing after the wants Of the troops. In the eastern
nrovinces. where the insurrection is strong they
aro urdergo,ng great hardships The Spanish
column which had the latest brush with the IN
surpents between Aanzanillo and Bayamo' was
two days without rations
WORK ON THE PLANTATIONS
In of,cial quarters dim understanding exists
Of the Importance Of feeding the remaining por-
ton of the country people until they are capa-
BILE Of physical labor. Work enough for 'heni
is ready II they were capable or dolhe It, III
the tobacco regions OF Pinar del flo hahuS
enough are found. though with some difficulty.
The sugar plantations, however, complain OF d
scarcity. The mills near Guines, which is In the
southern part OF Havana Province, are ready
70 grind and some of the cane has been cut
They do not however, find labor enough. An
effort is made to apportion what there Is among
them. but the matter Is not easy of adjustment.
Some aid is he'd from the reconcentrados. In
spite of the enormous mortality among these
people their determination has not been com
plete Those who have survived are capable or
giving some labor. though II is small in pro-
portion to what able-bodied men would contrib
ute. II they be sustained till spring this
part OF the population purely agricultural as 1t
Is. would be a, valuable element In improving
the economic conditions and rebuilding the
wrecked Industrial and commercial fabric OF the
island The misfortune is that the Government
while realizing this fact, shows so little capacity
TO sustain and utilize this means of production.
SO far as putting the country people back on
their farms. little or nothing has been DONE
The zones OF cultivation are yet in sight OF the
fortified towns and villages The military COM
mandants have nullifed the orders OF the Cap
tain-General contained In the revocation OF Wey-
lers decree. They either Indifferent or op-
posed to its execution-a hostility that is little
short OF insubordinaticn.
SUGAR PLANTERS DEPRESSED.
The sugar planters after period Of hope are
having a spell OF depression. Marquis de Apez-
tegua, the president Of their association. has
been giving more time TO that subject than TO
the reorganization Of the Conservative party on
the lines OF autonomy. The planters complain
that they lack money, credit. labor men-every-
thing that is essential to get the 1ugar to mar
ket. A plan has been proposed whereby the
Government shall advance them the necessary
funds; State loan of temporary nature is
suggested. 1t would be difficult to secure the
adoption Of such scheme in ordinary times
At present. with the treasury bankrupt and the
Government eight months In arrears in payment
Of its soldiers and of its civil obligations. the
suggestion is treated with irony The pessimism
Of the planters has basis. but the prospect is
mt On dtscouro Riny as thav aLo 80, NJ,