The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-06
STRIKE AT HAVANA.
Blanoo is Beset by All Sorts of Pecun-
larry Troubles.

larry Troubles.
Havana, via Key West, oct. Six
hundred men, machinists, blacksmiths,
skilled workmen and laborers, have
gone on a strike at the Havana ar
Senal, refusing to work unless they are
paid five months arrears of wages. The
strike began on Monday and no settle
ment has yet been made.
The Spanish cruiser Condo de Verad-
ito, the gunboat Galicia and the torpedo
boat Nueva Espania are on the stocks
at the navy yard undergoing elaborate
repairs, preparatory to their trip to
Spain. The arsenal strike is liable to
delay the evacuation so far as the navy
is concerned unless the differences are
soon settled. as the vessels in their
present condition are quite unequal to
a sea voyage. especially at this time of
the year.
The Spanish authorities continue to
declare their inability to eYacuate the
island entirely before the end of Febru-
airy. The Washington government,
through the American commissioners,
continues to insist on prompt evacua-
ton. The Spaniards say also as a rea-
son for delay that in addition to the
lack of vessels, a large proportion Of
their soldiers are too weak and i'll to
undertake the voyage at the winter
season.
General Blanco is beset on all sides
with grave problems requiring a cash
solution. Unfortunately the Madrid gov
eminent is unprepared to meet them
and the captain general is thus placed
in a very delicate position. On the
one hand is the navy yard strike; on
the other are the troops clamoring for
back pay. Last week General Blanco
issued orders disbanding all the pro-
visional regiments in certain places, as,
for instance, at Sancti Spiritus. The
troops refused to diSband unless they
first received their arrears Of pay.
Many OF them went over to the Cuban
ranks.
The +riro IN CiapfuaeyOs Of CzaoeraI
Bolano, General BIanco's chief of staff,
is understood to be due to the serious
ness of the situation. Exactly what
reasons rendered the measure necessary
have not been developed, but General
Blanco yesterday revoked the order
disbanding the irregulars. 1t has leaked
out that in his extremity General Blan-
co summoned the governor of the BancO
Espanol and called upon him for an
advance of money. The bank official at
first refused, but finally yielded to
Blanco's appeal and agreed to advance
5000 900. His weakness is seriously con-
demned, many of the depositors threat
ening to withdraw their deposits.
The commercial condition of the ISL
and, instead of improving, seems to be
at a complete standstil. The undls-
guised corruption in every branch of
the administration fills all minds with
distrust There are other OminOus
clouds on the horizon that indicate early
trouble with the Cubans, who are now
openly proclaiming their readiness to
fight to the last drop OF blood Tor abso-
lutte independence. Prominent chiefs in
the insurgent army have indicated their
intention, as soon as the forthcoming
elections are over, to come to Havana
and work strenuously in behalf of indie
pendence In this they are supported
by the laboring classes, or pactfcos,
not identified with the last uprising,
three-ffths of whom, it may be safely
estimated, profess their intention OF
Joining the insurgent ranks in the
struggle for independence and to hght
the Americans, if the latter in any way
oppose absolute freedom for the island.
Distrust and uncertainty as to the
precise policy of the United States gov
eminent with regard to Cuba keeps
the island in precarious and unsettled
condition Havana is deservedly alarm
ed over the report of the release or
roo Nanigos, who have been undergoing
sentence in Spain's penal colonies IN
A frica These criminals are mostly
murde rers belonging to the Mango so
cieties whose initiation rites demand
that the neophyte should murder the
first person he meets in the street after
the ceremony of drinking the not plood
Of a cock. If the feathers in the
cocks tail is black he must kill negro;
if white. the victim must be Whlte
man: if yellow or buff, a mulatto or
Chinaman. -,
THESE Nanigos have long been a men
ace to the city, waging their battles IN
the streets and committing terrible
crimes During the last few years up
ward of 700 of them have been arrested
and sent to Ceuta.