The times., 1898-09-26
MANY CUBANS STARVING
Spain's Plan to Make the ISL
and a Cemetery.
AGENTS SENT BY GOMEZ
Coming 10 the United States to Seek
Aid for the Sick and Destitute
A DepIorabIe State of Affairs Ex-
listing in the IsIand-The Forth
coming Elections.

Senor Gonzalo de Quesada, the secre-
tary Of the Cuban legation in this city.
late last night received an important dis
patch from a Cuban official at Key West
announcing the arrival at that place of
several commissioners from the camp of
Gen. Gomez, at Rojas Caibarien. and
stating that they depict horrible state
of suffering among the people of Santa
Clara province.
The telegram stated that the commits
sioners are coming to this city, and
makes an urgent appeal to the Cubans
here to use every effort to reach some
solution of the problem.
When seen by a reporter not long after
the receipt Of the telegram, Senor Que
sada said: II am very sorry that / can
not let you see the original telegram, but
it was OF such Importance that have al
ready brought it to the attention of the
Government of the United States. II
states that the commissioners have
reached Key West, about three days out
of the camp of Gen. Gomez, and says
that they depict starving condition of
affairs in the Cuban army. and begs that
something be done to avert probable
trouble in the future.
1.-The object of the Spanish government
is to delay the evacuation of Cuba as long
as possible and by so doing to starve the
Cubans so that they will not live to Ell
joy the freedom which they have so long
coveted as the greatest of earth's bless
ings
Spain's Treachery.
spain is now doing everything within
her power to prevent the Cubans from
supporting themselves and viii hold on to
Cuba just long enough to accomplish her
base desire OF making a cemetery out of
the island.
The ports OF the island are not yet
opened and in order to promote this gi-
gantic scheme OF starvation, she is op-
posing free entry into Cuban harbors OF
steamers bearing relief supplies 10 The
starving people Of the various provinces
OF the island.
Only last Thursday afternoon note
was delivered to the Spanish demanding
free admission of the cargo of the trans
port Comal Instead of that the Spanish
wanted to impose a duty OF $69.G10, even
though the vessel entered the harbor OF
Havana on such mission of charity.
Tine Spanish officials are desirous of
delaying the evacuation until the last day
OF February and the Cubans claim that
by that time. under the present insuf1er-
able state of affairs, the people of Cuba
viii have been starved to death, and the
island made one great cemetery.
The Spanish realize full well that they
will have to leave the island that is
one of the terms upon which the final
peace settlement is TO be made. But di-
plomacy tells them that by delay in evac-
uating and the retention of their troops
in the island for six months their policy
of starvation can be all the better pro-
In0ted and they intend 10 stay as long as
they can.
Suffering is Intense.
THE suffering in the provinces is report
ed from reliable sources to be intense.
The members of the revolutionary army
have now killed their horses and pack
animals for food and are without pay or
money 10 purchase the very necessities Of
life. The fear of the leading Cubans is
that in the last extreme OF desperation
the suffering soldiers of the Cuban forces
VIII soon cause trouble and hence their
activity recently in trying to bring this
Government to a full realization of the
present situation. They are seeking to
have this Government arrange for the
free entry of relief supplies in Cuban
ports and are afraid that action will be
taken too late TO be Of any service 10 the
already starving people.
You can readily see what the plan of
the Spanish is in dealing with the Ameri-
can Commissioners in Cuba. They are
seeking TO delay the evacuation. Cuba
is lost TO Spain, and before taking her
exit she is anxious to leave the island
cemetery as sort of revenge. If the
evacuation could only be made to extend
six months Spain will have accomplished
her object. The ports are as yet closed
and the members of the Cuban reVolu-
tionary army cannot go into the cities
and procure food, as they are without
money. They cannot purchase food and
cannot support themselves in the field
under present conditions, and as the ports
are closed relief cannot be furnished them
from without the island. The Spaniards
would like before leaving TO see the Gu
bans starved to death.
They are desirous of bringing about
condition Of irritation among the Cubans
by which they viii be forced for their
own preservation to go into the towns
and take food. Then if the Cubans COM
nit depredations the entire Cuban people
will be blamed. Talk about humanity!
Is there any humanity in this?"
The Coming Elections
Senor Quesada also explained to Times
reporter last night the object of the com
ing Cuban election. TO be held on the 10th
of October. II has been stated that the
American Commissioners in Havana are
opposed to this election, for the reason
that the matter is one that is to be set
tied by the American Government He
said that the object of the election is
not to choose officers for a permanent
form of government.
'Tt is" he said ito elect a provisional
assembly, which shall provide for another
permanent assembly, TO be elected later
When this first provisional assembly has
been elected its members will await the
wish Of the American Commissioners and
see what they want before attempting to
establish a permanent form of govern
ment.
Complying with the constitution of the
republic the only laws which today have
force in Cuba, we have called for this
provisional assembly OF representatives to
meet on the 10th Of October, so that the
urgent questions dealing with the pres
ent and future Of Cuba shall be discussed
and determined. The reason of our resolu-
ton in this matter can be readily under
stood.
when the republic of the Cuban peo-
pie. in arms. assembled at Jimaguya in
September. 1895. they agreed upon and
voted a constitution in conformity TO the
necessities of the war. This constitution
was 10 last two years unless the war end
ed before. These two years having ter
minated the assembly met again and de-