The age-herald., 1898-04-12

sweet potato. In these d1StrlctS the re- lief. given to the reconcentrados by General Banco is a farce"
 The land near the town comprised in the zone of cultivation, the statement says, has been rented by four Spaniards who have wealth and influence and they employ the few reconcentrados who are able to work at 30 to 40 cents per day, but nobody can leave the town without pass good for month and which costs 20 cents. The workmen have to leave at in the morning and not being able to take meals with them, are obliged to work until in the evening without food
 The women who leave in search of vege- tables are sometimes deprived of them on their way back by gueffllas. In fifteen days two hundred recoqcentrados have died in Guines from starvation.
 On February 15 General Lee transmitted to the department a letter with it's trans lation signed by the insurgent commander in chief, General Gomez, addressed to President Mckinley. General Lee says the letter was delivered by a messenger who at once departed before he saw or had any communication with him. The letter is as folows
 Gomez Thanks the United States
 (Translation)-To William Mckinley, President of the United States: Sir-The heroic Cuban press as characteristic of it's moral being and developed to high degree one of the most noble sentiments, namely, gratitude; whoever has done well for Cuba wins for himself forever the lively recog- milton of the sons of Cuban soil
 Your great people have given to the whole world an example of lofty virtue and to the shame and stain of Spain not only has it shown compasion before the great mis- fortunes brought on Cuba by the ferocious Spanish policy, but has extended helping hand to the unhappy victims of the war fare carried on by the army of that nation.
 trr1n nf a par with that great and generous inn pulse and if Cuba by it's geographical st- uation and the necessity of It's commercial existence be called to maintain, once that it is free, and for the mutual benefit or both countries, closer relations with your great republic than with any other nation whatever from this day forward Cuba Will consider herself bound by a closer tie in the affection it bears for the noble Ameri- can magnanimity.
 However true and minute may be the re- ports that you have heard, never will you be able to form just conception or all the bloodshed, the misery, the ruin and the sorrow caused to the afflicted Cubans to obtain her independence, and how the des- potic spirit of Spain, irritated to the last degree before the most just of all rebellion has revelled in the most implacabie oe- struction of everything, lives and property.
 The revolution as absolute master or the country has never prohibited any cit- izen whatever his nationality from earning bis living and it has happened that as soon as the barbarous concentration decree was derogated innumerable families nave left and still leave the city for the neios' impelled by hunger to wrest from the frult- full Cuban vegetation the means or reieV- ing the most pressing needs of life, the unhappy beings ignore the fact that span iards by steel and privation has Shrouded their hearts in mourning, so also It may De said the flora of Cuba was in mourning devastated by the bullet and torch. Where for being in the same circumstances these unfortunates have the same moral right to participate in the relief furnished to needy Cubans by our generous people. Many a widow, many mother, many an orphan do we meet in our way who asks of us succor that we are not able to give but most sparingly and upon pointing out to them the charity awakened in their be- half in your noble nation. I desire to honor myself by offering my services to cooperate in the noble work with all the power and means within the reach of the force command.
 am sir, with the most dlstlngulsheu consideration,
 (Signed.) M. GOMEA.
 March l.
 March IA General Lee encloses letter from Consul Barker of Sague, who requests him to transmit the following letter which is addressed to him, General Lee:
 Not Allowed to Procure Fuel
 Dear Sir-I will thank you to communi- cate to the department quickly as possi- ble the fact that the military commander and officer of the military positively refuse to allow the reconcentrados, to whom am issuing food in it's raw state, to pro- cure fuel with which to cook the food.
 "In addition, they prohibited this class of people q am only giving food to about one-fifth of the destitute the authorities have quit altogether from gathering veg etables cultivated within the protection of the forts, telling them the Americans propose to feed you and to the Americans you must look
 Yours very truly WALTER B. BARKER, Consul. March IT.
 The above correspondence is submitted with descriptions from each consul, which only add to the narrowing tale of suffering and misery.