Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-15
ORDEN PUBLICO IN OPEN REBEL
LION AGAINST AUTHORITY.
MEMBERS DEMAND THEIR PAY
DISBANDED TO PREVENT A REPETI-
TION OF THE TROUBLE.
Some Money Given Them and Prom-
ises of Full Liquidation Made
Gunrdia CiyiIe Gives Indi-
cations of an Intention
to Cause Trouble.

HAVANA, Nov. IS, VIA KEY WEST,
FLA, Nov. 1.-THE mutiny OF the orden
| publico forces, which for two days threat
ened the peace of this city, has resulted
| in the dissolution of that body to-day,
| when. after the payment of some arrears
and the promise of a full liquidation, the
revolving troops laid down their arms. Cap
tain General Blanco then ordered all the
foot and mounted regiments OF the orden
publico TO be disbanded. that organization
ceasing 10 exist from this date.
AS originally planned, it was intended
that the mutiny should have extended to
the guardia civIe and the artillery regu-
lars, and it would in that event have as
sumed much sraver importance, and
| might perhaps have inaugurated reign of
terror and blcodshed in the island.
For some time past, the uprising of the
troops. in consequence OF the non-receipt
of their pay, has been feared. Not only
is their pay owing for months, and in some
cases for years, but the reserve pay of
the soldiers, their savings since the date
of their enlistment, which were looked
upon b. them as sacred, have Been appro
priated or stolen. as the nreh say, by the
government which now turns deaf ear to
their protests. J
What amount this reserve pay reaches It
Is impossible to estimate, but it is known
that it aggregates millions. This is what
has been precipitating riots and causing
mutiny here. impelling the men to insur-
ordination at Neuvitas and which may yet
give rise to further widespread disturb
ances in the island
The Havana mutiny, which was started
yesterday, was precipitated by General Ar
oiaS. the military governor of the city.
whose fiery temper and brutal treatment
of officers is the source of daily spreading
discomfort. At midnight on Wednesday.
General Arolas, at the head of battalion
of regular infantry, having been apprised
OF the intention of the troops to join IN the
mutiny and demand their pay, surprised
the artillery outpost stations along the
Fedado road. including the Santa Clara
and Reina Chorrera batteries, dsar:ned
them and placed them under surveillance.
The next morning Thursday the Third
company of the ordeh publico, numbering
about 10 men. drew up before the captain
generals place and demanded their overdue
pay. The mel were ordered to retire, but re-
fused. General Arolas. who arrived on the
scene almost simultaneously, in excess
OF rage. lifted his baton of office and sav-
asely attacked some of the onlookerS. seri-
oualy hurting government enploye who
had rushed cut OF the palace from curios-
ity.
BY this time the Plaza de Armas was
filled with wildly excited crowds. who loud
ly condemned and cursed General Arolss.
At that period of the excitement the orden
pubico, with fixed bayonets, assumed an
attitude of deep hostility toward General
Aroias. whom the men considered respons-
ible for the disgraceful way in which they
lad been treated. That moment General
Solano, Captain General Bancos chief of
staff. appeared at the palace door and
commanded the attention of the men. He
addressed them in conciiatory tones. up
braided them for their insubordnation and
condemned the il-advised course they were
pursuing. Then, placing himself at their
head. General Solano himself marched the
men back to their quarters, where he again |
addressed them, promising them they
would be paid Thursday. The day passed. |
quietly without any further incident until
dusk.
The mutinous orden publico had then |
learned that General Arolas had called |
over 1900 regulars in from the suburbs. |
Believing that General Arolas meant TO |
dsarm them, the orden publico again left |
their quarters, each man with $50 rounds |
of ammunition in his belt and lined up liz
the street opposite the armory, ready to |
offer resistance il necessary.
Shortly after nightfall General Arolas at |
the head of the regulars and preceded by |
band of music playing national airs, ar
rived before the orden publico'S headQuar-
tiers, where he halted. Before him stood the |
mutinous Third company, grim and sullen. |
Turning to the men, General Arolas re-
minded them that they were regulars and |
veterans, not mere policemen, they
had been tauntingly referred to. The or
den publico then gave three cheers for
Spain and the army, which We're Justify
II no rct Of A
las, however. right on the heels of these
'vivas,' the regulars cheered their COM
rades, and the orden publico answered in
turn.
General Aroias. mad with rage. ordered
his men to charge. hut they refused to
obey. He then ordered them to fire, which
they also refused to do
General Arolas then realized he had lost
his moral influence over the men, and |
after calling the officers aside and con-
ferring with them a few minutes. he left
for the palace. accompanied by his staff
and seven officers.
About two blocks from the scene of the
mutiny. General Arolas' party came upon
an innocent and unsuspectins member of
Mad with fury. General Arolas drew his |
sW ord and savaSely attacked the man, |
on him severe wounds. from
which the victim of the assault died this
morning.
In the mixup, Lieutenant Malta, Cen
|
cut. supposedly by General Arolas' sword,
as il the only one drawn.
Toward II o'clock, General ArolaS who
had been informed that further uprisines
had taken place among other companies
Of the orden pubico. returned to where
he had left the troops and ordered them
away, leaving a guard stationed in the
buildings adjoining and facing the bar
racks of the orden publico. who. by this
time. had been persuaded by their own Of
hcers TO Withdraw within their quarters.
HAVANA. Nov. H.-Last night the guar
lila cvile oItp0stS. stationed at Arroya
Apollo. Jesus del Monte Calvario and Man
qua. or the outskirts of Havana number
ng about 200 men. gave indications of an
Intention TO follow the example of the or
len publico and come to the captain gen
rails palace TO make a demons tration |
against the Withholding of their pay
The military authorities. as d measure of |
Drec aution. sent a battalion OF regulars 10
he barracks: and siinilar precautior was |
AIKEN at the guardia civile barracks in |
Havana 10 communication between the |
wo detachments being allowed.