Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-24

Havana, March 20.-(Via Kew
WeSt)-The autonomist government.
| hacked by the military authorities here
and the government at Madrid. is now
playing its last card to secure peace IN
Cuba and prevent intervention on the
part Of the United States. Near Polo
Rlorto, province of Santa Clara, on the
west side of the trocha are gathered
! $500 -9ousand insurgents under
command of General Calixto Garcia
and other prominent chiefs, accom-
panied by Senior Masso, president Of
the Cuban republic, with several
members of his cabinet. Also on the
west side Of the trocha, less than 80
miles distant, are stationed 1000 in
surgents under Pancho, Garlic. Mon
teaguedo, Laroliez, Legion and Con-
zales. The Spanish commander, Gen
eral Pando, is within a few miles of
Gen. Gargia. Gen. Gomez is west of
the trocha within easy reach. All Of
the insurgent generals and officials got
through Pando's lines some time ago
and the latter gave UP the campaign,
which was to be a grand military coup
de grace in the province of Santiago de
Cuba or Puerto Principe. But passing
the trocha the insurgents turned ON
Pando's flank. 1t is possible that this
was winked at by Pando for the pur-
pose Of attempting to carry out his I'LL
terror political purposes. Such was the
position of all concerned when the
last advices were received in Havana.
Pando's purpose, to further which he
ordered a practical armistice in the
eastern part of Cuba, is stated as fol-
lows: ITO have a personal conference
with Calixto Garcia, President Masso
and other insurgents, and even with
Gomez, If possible, and make a formal
offer of autonomy according to the
program drawn UP by the radical wing
of that party. This offer includes. in
return for ending the insurrection, the
G1sarment and disbanding of all vol
unteers; commercial treaties to be
concluded without Spanish interior
| eIce; maximum sum of $4,000 900
annually to be paid to Spain by Cuba,
as the latter's nominal suzerain; no
insurgents to be shot or imprisoned
according to the existing insurrection.
and no insurgents to be sent as pris-
oners out of Cuba for future political
offenses." The Spanish officials be-
lieve that this proposition, being the
best ever offered and assuring prac-
tical independence, will be accepted.
Such views are not held by those &C
quainted with Gomez and the chiefs,
nor by the best class of business men
of Havana. In support of the latter
view, it is officially announced that
after all the efforts near Manzanillo
only two insurgents surrendered. 1t
is known besides that Pando in order
to advance his plans for his proposed
campaign in Santiago de Cuba has
greatly weakened all the tro5has, TAX
ing from them several Thousand men
and much artillery.
1t is regarded as certain that Gomez
and Garcia, after refusing to confer
with Pando, will take sufficient cattle
and provisions from the plantations
and inaugurate a raid uEon the prov
iGces of MatanZas and Havana and
probably Pinar del Rio, appearing near
here within fifteen or eigh cen days.
The general opinion is that the Pando
conference will be the end Of autonomy
and make Intervention of the United
States imperative which, it is asserted,
will be necessary to prevent outrages
which will disgrace civiliz tiCn and
also to protect American Cit ems in
Cuba. Undec the Circumstance tho
news from the scene of the conference
is awaited here with the greatest alx-
iety.
IG spite o. official denials it is be-
lieved that serious trouble for Spain
in Porto Rico is imminent and it is
asserted that he Spanish cruisr Viz
caya, when she leaves Havana, will go
to Porto Rio in order to strengthen
the hands of the government officials
there.
The report cir ulated chat General
Pando, the Spanish commander of
Cuba, has bee1 captured by the in
surgent general, Garcia, is untrue.
According to the latest advices, Pando
has left Ciego de Avilla and is pro-
ceeding eastward, probably with Puer-
to Prince as his destination.
One six-inch gun and a valuable
cable were recovered Saturday from
the wreck of the Maine. The bodies
of two victims were sent to Key West.
Clara Barton, after calling upon
Blanco, at his suggestion, visited the
heads of the colonial government. The
autonomists treated her with such dis
tirguished courtesy that she preached
to them the subject of the allotment
of lands to poor Cubans, engaging to
furnish their houses from America and
,, also to superintend any colonies thus
formed. She was told that the matter
would be carefully considered. After
she left, an official said: eve are
Spanish; does she think she can make
Yankees of us? Her desire must be