Evening journal., 1897-05-20
CUBAN WAR REPORTS
Senator Foraker's' Announcement
Creates a Decided Stir.
ONE SAID TO BE FROM CONSUL LEE.
Extracts From 1t Deny That the Island
Is In State of Peace and Says
That the Insurgents Are
Stil Under Arms.


Washington, May 2O.-The secret
archives Of the state department, which
have held the consular reports on the
Cuban war from the public, have been
partially disclosed by Senator Foraker.
During the past week the debate in
the senate has been pregnant with In
timations and innuendos Of reports
from United States officials in Cuba
held at the state department which, If
published, would disclose a condition
on Cuban soil which would influence
public opinion in a decided manner.
The facts therefore which Senator
Foraker announced without stating
from whom they came created a de-
cided stir. Especially startling was tho
letter from Secretary Olney, in which
this country offered mediation to Spain
and the refusal Of that country to ac-
cept the proffered aid.
While one Of the consular reports was
read without the name of the author
being disclosed, it is stated to be COM
munication from Consul General Lee,
which fully sets forth his idea Of the
condition that exists in Cuba. The ex-
tract was quoted as follows, no date
being given:
II cannot understand ths truth Of
the claim that all the provinces Of the
island are pacifed except that of San
tiago de Cuba, because there are more
insurgents under arms at this time than
at the period 1 first reached the is
land, some ten months ago, and 1 do
not think 1t a fair inference to draw
from existing conditions that the war
is approaching a termination. because,
an nf na 10 IA 1fch
the insurgents avoid as far as possible
all serious engagements.
''The impossibility of expelling the
Spanish troops from this island by force
OF arms is well known to them, and they
do not propose to risk the lives of their
men and the success Of their cause upon
one or more pitched battles. conclude,
therefore, that the war will drag its
weary length along so long as the insur-
gents can dig sustenance from the
ground on the one side or money be OBJ
tained by the other, with the continued
result of untold human suffering. loss
Of human life, the murder of innocent
men, women and children by both sides
and the frightful havoc which disease
makes in the ranks of the soldiers, par
ticularly among the unacclinated Span
iards. The poverty and distress of the
people are daily increasing and the loss
of property of all sorts daily becoming
more enormous. No one can fully ap-
preciate the situation without being
here in person. The number of poor.
distressed, starving women, children
and old men Of all races have greatly
increased in this city within the past
few weeks. while at other points on the
island the suffering has been proper
tionately greater"
Olney's Suggestion of Intervention.
The letter from Secretary Olney to
Spanish Minister De LONE. under date
of April 4, 1896, is the one in which In
tervention is suggested. In opening, Mr..
Olney said:
1T might well be deemed a derelic-
tion Of duty to the government of the
United States as we'll as a censurable
want Of candor to Spain II I were lon
ger to defer official expression as well
of the anxiety with which the presi-
dent regards the existing situation in
Cuba as Of his earnest desire for the
prompt and permanent pacifcatiOn Of
that island. Any plan giving reasona-
bic assurance Of that result and not
inconsistent with the just rights and
reasonable demands of all concerned
would be earnestly promoted by him
by all means which the constitution
and laws Of this country place at his
disposal.
1T is now some nine or ten months
since the nature and prospects of the
insurrection were first discussed be-
tween us. In explanation of its rapid
and up to that time quite unopposed
growth and progress you called atten-
tion to the rainy season which from
May or June until November renders
regular military operations impractical
BILE. Spain was pouring such numbers
of troops into Cuba that your theory
and opinion that. when they could be
used in an active campaign the insur-
rection would be almost instantly sup
pressed seemed reasonable and proba-
BILE. In this particular you believed and
sincerely believed that the present in
surrection would offer a most marked
contrast to that which began in 1866
and which, being feebly encountered
with comparatively small forces, pro
longed its life for upward OF ten years
1T is impossible to deny that th'
expectations thus entertained by yol
In the summer and fall of 1895 ant
shared not merely by all Spaniards bu
by most disinterested observers as We'll
have been completely disappointed. Tn
insurgents seem today to command
larger part of the island than ever be
fore. Their men under arms, estimat
ed a year ago at from 10000 to 10000
are now conceded to be at least two o
three times as many. Meanwhile thei
discipline has been improved. and thei
supply of modern weapons and equip
ment has been greatly enlarged. Will
the mere fact that they have held on
TO this time has given them confdenc
In their own eyes and prestige with tn
world at large. In short, II can hard
" be questioned that the insurrectio
instead of being quelled is today NOR
formidable than ever and enters upo
the second year Of its existence wit
decidedly improved prospects of sue
cessful results. Whether a conditio
of things emitting the insurgents I
recognition as belligerents has yet bee
brought about may, for the purpos
of the present communication, be II
garded as immaterial."
Beheaded by an Elevator.