The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Pulaski f. Hyatts Account of the Sit
uatiOn in u War-Rent District.


The reports on the condition of affairs at
Santiago are made by Consul P. F. Hyatt,
beginning on the 18th of November last.
Mr.. Hyatt had then but recently returned
to the island and he begins his reports
with a review of the conditions of the in
surgents and of the autonomists. He had
been led, said he to believe that the insur-
gents were weakening and that the auton-
cmists were coming to the front After in
vestigating, however, he was convinced that
such was not the fact. 1.-THE change of pol
icy as expressed by Captain General Blanco
is" he says, doubtless modifying the feel
ing of resentment which formerly pre-
vailed, and, should the near future prove
discouraging to the insurgents, would doubt
less pave the way to pacification." In this
same communication Mr.. Hyatt discusses
the policy which the United States should
pursue. Among property holders, whether
Americans or citizens of other nations, he
says, there is but one sentiment. This SEN
timent is ''hands off, or such active inter-
vention as will quickly terminate the strug
gle. The Americans, he says, greatly depre-
cate constant agitation, which makes the
governing classes enemies to American in
terests, and brings no corresponding advan-
tages.
On the 26th of November Mr.. Hyatt says:
''The text of the new autonomy scheme, as
published here, is not meeting with favor.
There is, however, a feeling of relief and
safety since the change in the captain gen.
eralship." A portion of this dispatch is
withheld by the State Department.
Writing on the 9Th of December last, Mr.
Hyatt said: 1.-THE reconcentrado order is re-
Taxed, but not removed, but many people
have reached a point where it is a matter
of Indifference to them whether it is re-
moved or not, for they have lost all inter
est in the problem of existence. A census
of the island taken to-day, as compared
with one taken three years ago, 1 feel con-
fident, would show that two-thirds of the
residents are missing and the Spanish army
would make no better showing"
On the 18th of December Mr.. Hyatt wrote
1.-The order of recommendation is now prac-
tically wiped out and so far as the Spanish
government is concerned men go about
nearly as they please. The insurgents and
their sympathizers will unquestionably
take advantage of the revocation to get
from the towns and cities what they need
and otherwise strengthen their cause. The
effects on agricultural pursuits will be dis
appointing, because the great majority of
those who would or should take up the
work Joined the insurgent forces when COM
ton which came within the lines of recon-
centration are women, children old and
sickly people, most of whom seem to have
little interest in the problem of life There
is no one TO take these people back to the
fields and utilize their remaining strength
Their houses are destroyed; their fields are
oVergrown with weeds; they have no seeds
to plant, and if they had they cannot live
sixty or eighty days until the crop natures
which, when grown, would more than like
ly be taken by one or the other of the con-
tending parties
SPANISH INACTIVITY.
Closing this communication Mr. Hyatt
says: Il give it as my opinion, an opinion
that is not biased in favor of Cuba, that
Spain will be compelled to prosecute a far
more vigorous war than has yet been done
if she conquers peace in Cuba. L think L
speak advisedly when say that in this end
of the island, at least, there are many
thousand square miles where the foot Of
the Spanish soldier has never trod. With
in this zone the insurgents have their fam
lilies, corral their horses and cattle and
raise their crops. Why Spain with large
body of as obedient and brave soldiers as
ever Shouldered a gun has not penetrated
these grounds and scattered to the four
winds the comparatively small body of men
who are there is a question / will not at
tempt to answer. AS / write" Mr.. Hyatt
closes this communication with, IA man is
dying lin the street in front of my door, the
third i'm a comparatively small time"
Mr.. Hyatt's letter of the 2lst of December
deals largely with the sickness sad the
death rate on the island. which he larac-
terizes as appalling. Statistics, he says,
make a grievous showing, but come far
short of the truth. The disease. he says, is
generally brought on by insufficient food.
He mentions some who are attacked who
have plenty, but these recover quickly,
while others die or make very slow recov-
cry. The prevailing disease is sometimes
called paludal fever, and by others la grippe,
and II is endemic rather than contagious.
At the date of this letter from 80 TO 40 per
cent of the people were afflicted with It..
He also reported smallpox and yellow fever
as prevailing and saio that out of total of
sixteen thousand soldiers recently sent to
Manzanillo nearly five thousand were in hos
pitfalls or quartered on the people. He says
that DIR. Caminero, United States sanitary
inspector, reported at that time that there
were over twelve THOUSAND people sick in