The times., 1898-06-17
THE TRUTH ABOUT HAVANA.
Report OF "A CoIIesror dent Recently
Released From Cabanas Fortress.

.
Released From Cnbanas Fortress.
(From the Chicago Tribune.)
Kingston. jamaica, June 1.-THE de-
fenses and strength of Havana have been
enormously increased since the war be-
gan. From the sea the city is now prac-
tically impregnable, that is, provided the
Spaniards will fight and make use of their
defenses. Several new and formidable
batteries have been placed in position
east of Merro Castle.
The Santa Clara battery has been
strengthened by two Finch guns. West
of the harbor from Punta to the Almen-
darez River all along ,ne snore con-
tinuous rampart has been constructed
armed with cannon of every sort. At the
mouth of the harbor several modern
quick-firing guns nave been placed in po-
sition. some of them 6-inch and S-inch.
200 Pieces of Cannon Placed.
The strongest battery recently built
is in the big stone quarry one mile and
a half west of Punta, with six 4-inch and
l2-inch guns. and it is w7ii protected with
earthworks finely and skilfully built. On
all sides of the town the work has gone
on with equal vigor and a double line of
defenses was nearly finished when | left
Havana last week
1t was not possible for me to make a
personal inspection of these defenses, but
| know on good authority that over Z0)
pieces Of cannon of various caiibers and
effectiveness have been p:aced on these
ramparts. Guns cannot be scarce in
Havana. for two weeks ago six were sent
by rail to Cienfuegos.
Ships Run the Blockade.
The biOckada IS not While
was in Havana two ships entered the
harbor bringing large cargoes of -four.
cattle and other provisions The duty on
eatables has been removed by the gov
ernment on imported goods TO encourage
the blockade running This seems 10
have been the incentive to successful
work of this character. When l left the
harbor there were three vessels rrepar-
ing to make the run up to Vera Cruz for
supplies, and the ships which came in
seem to have had no trouble in eluding
the United States vessels patroling the
coast.
Fifty Thousand Troops IN the City.
Inside the city ramparts there are So
900 troops. including the volunteers Ev-
| cry day the number of the latter is in
creased, the citizens showing intense pa
triotism and evincing eagerness to en-
| list and defend their city against the
! Yankees
The troops are In excellent physical con-
| dition, and their good temper and spirits
are marvellous. Few troops IN the world
! would display such patriotic spirit under
! the circumstances. They have had no
| pay for nine months. and long Siege of
! the city makes starvation one of the pos
| sibiltties and even probabilities. yet there
is no Sign of dissatisfaction. Neither is
! there any appearance of epidemic 1t Is
| said there are 10000 men in the hospit-
/ ais on the island, but these estimates are
! untrustwerthy.
Plans TO massacre Cubans
The volunteer force Is composed mainly
of spaniards of the deepest dye and the
/ most Intense patriotism. who will never
! surrender They will fight to the last
| ditch and will die in defense of their
| country. If the worst comes to the worst
! and defeat becomes inevitable, they will
| probably pus to death every Cuban in
1 Havana
Their intense hatred of the native popu-
| lation of the island Is shown by the fact
j that conspiracy was recently formed
/ among the volunteers on a certain night
/ for another ST. Bartholomew Eve The
4 plan was to massacre ever Cuban in the
! city. Through the inadyertence of some
| of those implicated in the plot Gen
/ Blapco was informed of 1t. The ring
! leaders were promptly arrested and are
! nowasina Cabanas fortress. Every night
! after dark detachments of volunteers
| drill III rhe public squares and every day
! brings fresh recruits.
| One Of the most significant features OF
| the last two or three weeks developments
| is the fact that Capt. Massopara, one of
| ~ ha irCt IN
| ince has deserted his country's cause and
! has sworn allegiance to Spain. He Is now
| at the head of Cuban volunteers enlisted
to fight Spain.
Cubnns to Fight for Spain.
| The slowness of the United States in
prosecuting the war has had the effect of
cooling the ardor of the Cubans in Ha-
vana. They seem to be disappointed in
their hopes of immediate liberty, and
much as 1 regret to say it. the truth must
be told. large number of them are max
| ing friends with the Mamman of I'm
| righteousness. and, bought by Spanish
! gold, are enlisted under the banner of the
| country which has so long oppressed
! them, and are ready TO fight the nation
| which has made such sacrifices to free
| them.
! Such is the condition in Havana. and it
| is the opinion of experts that it will take
at least 1900 men TO capture the city.
! Even then there will be a hard and bitter
! fight. and If the invading troops effect
! their purpose without a loss of 80 per cent
| of the army it will be nothing short Of the
| miraculous.
The general aspect of Havana is peace
! full in the extreme. One would little think
a war was in progress and that the
| town was practically under siege. were it
not for the work on the Notifications and
| the occasional firing of guns a sea. which
| brings the crowds out on the Punta to
watch the fight. Otherwise the streets are
| quiet.
Stage Imaginary War Scenes.
Te band plays in the park as usual, and
the theaters are open every night. The
performances consist chiefly of imaginary
scenes from the war. The Spaniards are
making great sport their mimic stage
of the bombardment of Matanzas, where
| the death of mule was the only damage
done. The Bombardment of the Mule is
| represented on the drop scene by a mule
surrounded by admiring Americans in
Stars and Stripes with pigs faces.
/ Another thrilling scene reproduced
! nightly is taken from the fight at Glen
fugos and is called the Battle of the
| Sharks" because the American fire is
| supposed to have hurt one of the sharks
which infest the bay. Each performance
| is wound up by a grand panorama of the
fight at Manila. in which Spanish ship
| sinks an American war vessel amid great
| enthusiasm. f'-- ---'-~
The real news from Manila had not