The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-15

Further Details of the Revolt of the
Orden PubIicO.


HAVANA, Nov. IA battalion of the
Orden Pubico was shipped this morning on
board the steamer Alicante, with it's officers.
There was no opposition made and all was
quiet here. Regular troops were stationed
along the streets leading from the Plaza
de Armas to the wharf. They were under
command of General Arolas. Previous to
being led back to the quarters the troops
defiled on the Plaza de Armas, before Gen
eral Solano Captain General Blanco's chief
of staff 1t is reported that forty-five ring
leaders and the chief promoters of the
mutiny on Thursday have been arrested
and imprisoned in MORO Castle, but it is
understood that none of them will be court
martialed.
The mutiny of the Orden Publico forces,
which for two days threatened the peace
of this city, resulted in the dissolution of
that body yesterday, when, after the pay
ment of some arrears and the promise of a
full liquidation, the revolving troops laid
down their arms. Captain General Blanco
then ordered all the foot and mounted regi-
ments of the Orden Pubico to be disbanded,
that organization thus ceasing to exist. AS
originally planned, it was intended that the
mutiny should have extended to the gardia
civil and the artillery regulars, and it would,
Importance and might perhaps have inau-
gurated a reign of terror and bloodshed on
the island.
For some time past the uprising of troops
in consequence of the nonreceipt of their
pay has been feared. Not only is their pay
owing for months and in some cases for
years, but the reserve pay of the soldiers,
their savings since the date of their en-
listment, which were looked upon by them
as sacred, have been appropriated or stolen,
as the men say, by the government, which
now turns deaf ear to their protests. What
amount this reserve pay reaches it is i'm
possible to estimate, but it is known that
it aggregates millions. This is what has
been precipitating riots, causing mutiny
here, impelling the men to characterization
al Neuvitas, and which may yet give rise
to further widespread disturbances on the
island.
Inc Havana mutiny, which was started
last week, was precipitated by General
Arolas, the military Governor of the city,
whose fiery temper and brutal treatment of
oLucers is the source of daily spreading dis
content. AT midnight on Wednesday Cen
eral Arolas, at the head of a battalion of
regular infantry, having been apprised of
the intention or the troops to join in the
mutiny ana demand their pay, surprised the
artillery outposts stationed along the We
dado road, including the Santa Clara and
Relna Chorrera batteries olsarmed them
and placed them under surveillance. The
next morning (ThurSday) the Third Com
pany of the Orden Publico, numbering
about $50 men, drew up before the captain
generals palace, in the Plaza de Armas
and demanded their overdue pay. The men
were ordered to retire, but refused. GEN
eral ArolaS, who arrived on the scene al
most simultaneously, in an excess of rage
lifted his baton of Office and savagely at
tackled some of the onlOokers seriously
hurting government employee who had
rushed out of the palace from curiosity. BY
this time the Plaza de Armas was filled with
wildly excited crowds, who loudly con-
demned and cursed General Arolas
At that period of the excitement the Orden
Publico, with fixed bayonets, assumed an
attitude of deep hostility toward General
ArOlas, whom the men considered reSpon-
sible for the disgraceful way in which they
had been treated That moment General
Salano, Captain General Blanco's chief of
staff. appeared at the palace door and COM
manded the attention of the men. He adj
dressed them in a conciliatory tone, upbraid-
ed them for their INSTRUMENTATION and con-
demned the iil-advised course they were
pursuing. Then placing himself at their
head General Solano himself marched the
men back TO --.eIr quarters. where he again
IA dressed them. promising them they would
be paiu Thursday. The day passed quietly
without any further incident until dusk
The mutinous Orden Publico had then
learned that General Arolas had called over
four thousand regulars in from the suburbs.
Believing that General ArolaS meant to dis
arm them. the Orden Publico again left their
quarters, each man with $50 rounds of am
munition in his belt, and lined up in the
street opposite the army, ready to offer re-
sistance, if necessary. Shortly after night
fall General Arolas. at the head of the reg
ulars, and preceded by band of music
Orden Publico's headquarters, where he
halted. Before him stood the mutinous
third company grim and slillen. Turning to
the men, General Arolas reminded them