New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
GRIM OLD GENERAL AROLAS
THE HONEST AND FEARLESS MILITARY
GOVERNOR OF HAVANA.
RESENTMENT OF THE TROOPS AT HIS CUTTING

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| RESENTMENT OF THE TROOPS AT HIS CUTTING
DOWN OF AN "oRpEN PUBLIco"
Havana. Nov u (specaD. Havana Is In state,
| not Of tun1ult but OF unrest The mass Of the
nonulsfion is not turbulent 1t IL as anxious as
! the business men for a quiet transition from Sran-
sh rulc 10 American control outside the vicious
and criminal classes whose numbers have nm
fortunately been increasing. the city breads ds-
order All classes may be relied on TO exercise
sef-restrant and to aid the authorities But they
do not know what the army may do. and not
knowing they are feverish and expectsnt II IL n
question with some observers whether the trouble
Will yet come In cuba. whether the ambitious
soldier politicians will mould the troops 10 their
purposes and hold them in check until the return
10 Spain The proposition is not a complicated
one II they get p fair amount OF the back pay
that Is due them the troops will remain quiet
That many OF the battalions are ready TO mutlny
Is apparent These will he the first ones placed
aboard the transports and sent back. The evacua
ton is likely TO be FASTENED by this circumstance
The authorities have been slow. ard have found
pretexts for delay but when they themselves are
threatened II the inacton continues they will find
it feasible to embark the troops with some rapidly
Captain-Ceneral Blanco Is himself anxious to re-
turn bu. HI cannot embark till the preparations
for sending back the troops in Havana Province
have reached a more forward stage. lie is said
to be urging his suhordnates to greater activity.
At times there has been a probability Of demon
stration against the Captain General That proba-
bility is diminishing one. The hostility or me
troops is now directed against General Juan Aroas
the Military Governor Of Havana Province. How
deep the feeling is against him since he cut down
an "ordcn puhco' with his sword cannot he
Judged bv a person who is not OF the army Tho
Spanish soldiers are suen and undemonstratve
Their obed ence Is that Of dumb animals Yet that
they will forget the death of their comrade Is not
believed. though there may be no open revolt The
officers are excessively nervous. They appear 20
think that the death Of the "orden pubco' will be
avenged on General Arolas.
GRIM OLD SOLDIER.
That grim old soldier is himself tho least con-
cerned Of all He would cut down with his own
hand every member OF the "orden pubco II It
were necessary to maintain discipline. The "orden
publicos' are the flower Of the Spanish troops.
Rather # should he said. they were the flower. for
as a body they have been dissolved. Instead OF be-
ing Havana's police force. they simply
regulars in the ranks under the dispoasure Of the
authorities who do not dare disarm them. and
with the sympathy Of their comrades. Some Of
these men may have the personal sympathy OF
General Arolas who, in his repubhcansm has
been charged with Carst eanngs Many OF them
Carlst soldiers. who. in concluding a truce
with the Government. stipulated that they should
not be required serve In Spain. and were there
fore sent to Cuba.
General Arolas himself is one Of the best soldiers
that Spain has ever sent TO her colonies. II she
had more like him. perhaps. she would not be
yielding her last possessions II is said Of Arolas
that he refused take the oath support the
monarchy. which required of all the generals.
and that he declared the word NJ a soldier was
enough 70 attest his loyalty Whether this Incl
dent is true or not his independence made his
presence uncomfortable in Spain. and he was sent
out as governor Of Of the Philippine islands.
Testimony his efficiency In making Spanish au-
thority respected by the natives has been given by
those who were in the Philippines at that time.
1t is also said that his integrity something
the other Spanish officials could not understand.
When General Arolas was transferred to Cuba he
was in favor of keeping up persistent warfare on
the insurgents He may not take high rank n
tactcian or n stra;egist. but he that the only
way the insurrecton could be suhdued was by
treadng on it's heels At that time the plan Of
campaign occasional demonstration by the
troops against the insurgents. and then long rest
Arolas fretted into acquiescence.. lie built the
trocha across the western part of the island which
was known a tho Weyler trocha. and which
measurahly successful In keeping the insurgents
pendent character brought him INTO conflict with
General Weyler He was sent to Santiago PROV
incc and remained there I'LL several weeks after
BlancO superseded Weyle~. Then he was recalled
and made Military Governor OF Havana Province.
GENERAL AROLAS IN COMMAND.
General Arolas arrived in Havana on tho after
noon Of the day in January which the army
officers precipitated the riots against autonomy
The officers feared him far more than Blanco lie |
took immediate command Of the military forces |
During the days that followed he himself led !
many charges against the rioters. sometimes on
horseback and sometimes on foot. He never failed
10 clear the streets He would rush among "A group
Of rioters beat then with his sword and send them
flying Frequently the mob would tire Of crying.
Death 10 auto.omy' Death Blanc0." and
would roa- Long live Arolas' Then Arolas would !
reply with a STRING OF viyo oaths and would
scatter tho rioters. II" had A genuine popularity |
with the Havana populace II did not quail before /
him but IL yielded to the General who could abuse
il so heartily In spite Of his roughncss, General
Arolas also popular with his soldiers.
IL the peaceful blockade of Havana by the /
United states had been changed into assault by
land. many persons believe that the honor OF a
heroic defence would have fallen more 10 tho Mill
tary Governor. Ar0las. than 10 CAPITA General |
Blanco That NUT remain n matter OF conjecture. /
General ArOlas sincere in not wanting war !
with the United States Since It's conclusion he 4,
has mated tho American Nation with the robust /
hatred Of soldier who feels the humiliation Of his
defeated and humhled country. This feeling has /
not affected his official relations. nor has II les /
sened the esteem in which Americans in Havana /
Fishing for