The herald., 1898-04-13


poorly clothed, poorly fed. never paid and
homesick all the time. Deseftions are fire.
Quent.
"The Cubans are pinning their faith on
the United States and waiting for sig
nal to rise in Thousands. They could under
no circumstances be brought to fight
against the United States, junta or no jun
ia. TO this country they look for their H.
berty."
From the deck Of the vessel, he said every
night conflagrations could be seen in every
direction outside Of Havana and Mantan-
zas, caused by the burning Of crops and
plantation buildings.
Ono Of the engineers Of the steamer Sara
toga. which has Just arrived from the south
coast Of Cuba, said: Around Manzanillo
the skies were aglow at night with the fires
of the blazing plantations. The misery In
the towns is dreadful. No sooner does a
ship tie up than there is a crowd of poor
creatures around her begging for food.
The feeling against Americans is very Bit
ter among the Spanish part Of the popula-
tion." 10.
III something II not done now" inter-
jected a younger engineer, "the life Of an
American sailor in any Of the South Amer
lean countries will be nnbearable. They all
say, with grin: Americanos all bluff; big
mouth; all talk; no fight
'In Cuba the average Spaniard believes
there will be no trouble in whipping the
United States. They think the Maine was
the finest ship the United States had. and
they say they will serve the rest as the
Maine was served"
The Island Defenses
HAVANA, April IL (Noon).-A dispatch
from Matanzas announces that DR.. Lei
cuna, prominent resident Of that place.
has been imprisoned on the charge of con-
spring against the government.
The Governor Of Matanzas is presiding
at the meeting Of the junta Of defense of
the port and city, which body Is entrusted
with the work Of planning and carrying out
the defense Of Matanzas in case of war
with the United States.
An important conference on the suspen-
sion Of hostilities has been held between
General Ceballos and General Molina.
Red Cross Work
TAMPA, Fla, April 12-The steamship
Olivette which arrived here from Havana
brought $50 refugees from Cuba, also Miss
Clara Barton, President of the Red Cross
Society, and her staff. Miss Barton said:
1T is the duty Of the Red Cross Society
to follow in the wake of the army rather
than to lead 1t, and wherever duty calls
there you will find us. In the present in
stance we simply deemed discretion the
better part of valor. The original treaty
of Geneva only provides for relief in war.
The Extension of the provisions Of the
treaty to include other great disasters was
a special concession made to the American
Red Cross Society upon it's accession to the
treaty and known as the American amend
ment.
"The singular coincidence now presents
itself of both provisions Of the treaty be-
ing called into action in the same field. The
Red Cross Society has distributed the food
sent by the people of America to suffering
reconcentrados as long as such action was
admissible. Now that war Is imminent
and our guns are prepared to sweep the
island 1t becomes the duty Of the Red Cross
Society to retire from the threatened field
and place itself in position behind the guns
and wait"
Since arriving here Miss Barton has re-
ceived from prominent men in New York
requests that the society lend its efforts to
alleviate the suffering on the part of the
destitute Cuban element Of this city, Miss
Barton will have consultation with the
Mayor ofthe city, which will probably re-
suit in her securing speedier relief for the
sufferers.