The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-07

! PROGRESS,
provinces of Cuba are concerned. This
inactivity of the insurgents. in view of
the concentration of the Spanish troops
| in the coast towns, cannot be accounted
for by the Spanish commanders
Another matter which the Spaniards are
freely discussing Is the allegation that
very many of the American shells do not
explode and it is further claimed that
very little damage is done by those which
| Spanish officers are pokink fun at the
American gunners. claiming that they
| know but little about the handling Of
cannon.
The main point of interest here at pres
ent Is as to when and where the Ameri-
can troops will effect landing in Cuba
though the Spaniards pronounce them
selves confident of being able to repel any
invasion.
Eggs, corn meal. -four, etc, are becom-
ing more scarce in Havana and the prices
of all articles of food are doubling. though
very many families have left Havana and
large numbers Of houses are to let. Near
ly all the houses about the bay and along
the seashore from La Punta to San La
faro, and the suburbs OF Vedado and
! Carmelo, are unoccupied, their former &C.
cupants having moved to the outskirts
Of the city, being in fear of the bonn
bardment OF Havana by the American
fleet.
On the other hand many families from
Mariana are coming to Havana. owing 70
the withdrawal Of the garrison from that
place and the extension of the cultivated
zone.
At Esperanto a rich coal mine has been
discovered. II Is to be Immediately
worked. as will the coal mines at Chap
papole at Mariel and Caibiren, for naval
purposes.
There is still considerable coal in Ha-
vana. The gas company is using very
niue coal at present, as only the abso-
lutely necessary lights are used. Only
about one quarter of the usual number Of
street lamps are lighted. All the stores
and business houses are without gaslight
and the state Of semi-darkness in which
the streets are thrown gives Havana
quite wierd appearance at night, but it
saves the coal.
governing the price of provisions, the
military governor finds it Impossible to
prevent people charging double prices for
everything, owing to the discount of sill
yer. The army and laboring people are
paid in silver.
The number Of unemployed people in
creases every day. Thousands of labor
ers Of all classes are without employment.
The commercial houses, not LONG any
business have been compelled to reduce
wages so per cent, as a rule, and many
Of them are not paying any wages al all,
but are giving clean clothes and food to
their employees as the price of their labor.
which has led to many abuses.
The enthusiasm of the volunteers is
highly commended. They are doing duty
day and night not only without pay, but
supporting themselves In the bargain
Thousands Of additional volunteers are
said to have been enrolled in different
parts Of the island and the Spaniards say
they could get as many more if they had
arms to distribute to them. All the stores
Of arms belonging to the government have
been exhausted.
The former insurgent leader Masso IS
busily engaged in completing the forma-
ton Of the Fourth battalion of his brigade
of volunteers. They are nearly all natives.
Two battaIions of negroes are also being
enlisted here.
In spite of the lack of light, the volun-
teers drill every night in the public
squares.
There has been much comment over the
allegation that when the German Geier
passed through the blockade line she did
not salute the American fleet and that
the latter did not salute her, forming
a contrast with the manner in which /
salutes were exchanged between the Brit
ish and French warships and the Amer |
lean fleet. From this, the Spaniards claim |
to discern that cold feeling prevails be- /
tween the United States aid. Germany.
The Spanish officials have discovered in
the house of an English nurse, Sister /
Mary. who attended the sick and wound
ed survivors of the United States battle /
ship Maine in the hospitals, a considera-
bic quantity Of American relief provis- /
ions. Because she had not notified the /
authorities of the existence of these pro- /
visions she has been ordered to leave /
Havana, and Will go on the first oppor-
tunity. Sister Mary. it appears, has Of /
Tended the Spanish authorities in present /
ing herself at the palace in the interest .
of two American newspaper correspond I
ents who were recently in custody here.
She was denied access to Captain General .
Blanco or any other person in authority
and was informed 10y Adjutant General (
Sol9D0 tho DriSo~arr r-ara rrall norad
for and that there was no necessity for
her to trouble herself about them. Finally
she was requested not 10 take steps in
future to interfere in such matters.
Only official news has been received here
from the provinces of Santiago de Cuba
and Puerto Principe, but it is known that
all the efforts of the colonial government
to prevail upon the insurgents TO come 70
terms have failed, as every body expected.
The Spaniards in any case would never
agree to the proposition to disarm the
who are Ioked upon as being
the bulwark Of Spanish sovereignty in
Cuba and who serve without pay, and to
substitute for them a paid militia of ma
tlves, which would be 4 great burden,
they say. TO the island. especially as it
IS understood the suggestion included CIV
ing the insurgent commanders approx
mate rank in the Cuban militia, for st is
evident that the insurgent leaders would
be able at the right moment 70 proclaim
the independence of Cuba.
II IS reported that the military governor
VIII issue an order prohibiting the sale
Of provisions for delivery outside the city
".