Evening star., 1898-06-06
THINK AMERICA Is UNPREPARED
All Quiet at Havana, But Trouble
is Imminent.
PROVISIONS ARE SCARCE
Copyright 1898, by Associated Press.)

| Spaniards, ard the news has been received
with great rejoicing. The feeling of satis-
| faction is all the more intense as 1t is hoped
the Spanish warships will soon enter the
| harbof of Havana, after which, uniting
| with the second division of the fleet under
admiral Caalara, it is believed the naval
| forces of Spain VIII attempt to strike a de-
| clslVe blow at some part of the United
| states. At least, this is the view of the sit
! uatlon taken by the Spanish authorities
| here.
/ All Quiet In Cuba.
Havana and the rest of the Island of
| Cuba, SO far as heard from, is officially
pronounced to be entirely quiet No riots
| or other disturbances are reported to have
| occurred, and the inhabitants profess them
! selves to be longing for an encounter with
i the forces of the United States. Prepara-
| t1ons for defenses are being pushed night
! and day. and work is going ON without
| ceasing on the Notifications all over the
| island. The Spanish officials here claim
| that If $1,000 men were needed to attack
Havana by land and sea when the war
broke out at least 100000 men will be re-
| quired to attack the Cuban capital now in
| view of the new and strengthened fortifica-
tions, ard also because the so-called "cuIti-
walton zone" has been extended to Rincon
Calabafar, Bejucal, etc, which are inside
of the line of defenses now, thus, it is
claimed. making Havana Spanish Sebas-
topol. This increase in the cultivated area
about Havana will, it is asserted, support
the Inhabitants with food, although no:
with luxuries for a long time to come
In spite of this outwardiy cheerful aspect
of affairs, bitterly anxious feelings exist
People go so far as to charge Sencr Moret
tie former minister of the colon es of Spain,
with being a traitor and having sold Cuba
to the. United States" This causes discon-
tent to prevail, and if the Spanish Il eet does
not arrive here before food becomes really
scarce terrible rioting may be reported.
Little Business Being Done,
There are hardly any business transac-
tons, and the city looks deserted there
being few people on the streets. The fami-
lies remain at home, excepting when the
SOUND OF gun fired from one of the forts
causes the people to rush to the windows or
into the streets, and if several shots are
fired, thousands rush to the wharves, to
the vicinity Of the bay and to San Lazaro
avenue to see if the American fleet is ap-
preaching.
Although the streets are almost deserted.
groups of people from early morning until
late at night. This is particularly the case
with La funta, which is generally crowded
from daybreak until dark
Inc Spaniards comment continually unon
the taclcs OF the American fleet and natu
rally, they are very severe in their criti-
clsiiis' LOT they do not understand the
hiethou Oh warfare adopted Many of them
go SO Tar as to say the United States is
not prepared Tor war, that no plans have
peeh decided upon, and that the authori
ties at Washington are not serious in tho
steps taken.
lheh' again, the Spaniards are reioicinp
greatly at the reported small amount nf
damage done by the American bombar6-
ments, and they also pretend to he b,nn,.
over the seeming delay, which they claim is
giving Spain the opportunity to nre-
pare Tor more vigorous defense than
coulo otherwise have been made
indeed, the Spanish military and
naval authorities are beginning to nurse
themselves with the belief that the naval
and military power of the United States
has been exaggerated by the uewspanars
and they are comforting themselves with
the idea that Spain is showing herself able
to night such giant as the United States.
Scarcity of Provisions,
Advices from Caibarien and other towns
show that scarcity Of provisions exists.
and Puerto Principe reports that many
families have left that city for the country
districts.
No encounters between the Spanish
troops and the insurgents have recently
been announced, and the official reports
only refer to insignificant skirmishes. in
which the Spaniards, of course, have had
the advantage.
Railroad communication between the prov
ince of Santa Clara and the provinces of
Matanzas and Havana has been interrupt
ed several times and the trains are some
times twenty-four hours overdue on ac-
count of the blowing up of the culverts
by the insurgents The damage, however
was soon repaired. This has happened even
in the province of Havana. Twice within
the last ten days culverts have been de-
stroyed with dynamite. in one case near
Minas, six miles from Havana and in the
other case near Guines.
But 1t is maintained there is no real in
terruption Of railroad traffic, the telegram
lines are working well and the insurgents
In this province are not giving any signs
of life. In fact. were it not that the city
is blockaded, people would hardly be aware
that war was in progress. at least SO far as
the western provinces of Cuba are concern
ed. This inactivity Of the insurgents, in
view of the concentration of the Spanish
troops in the coast towns, cannot be az
counted for by the Spanish commanders.
Another matter which the Spaniards are
freely discussing is the allegation that
very many Of the American shells do not
explode, and it is further claimed tha+ ,,or,
little damage is done by those which do ex-
plode. On this assumption the Spanish Of
hcers are poking fun at the American gun
ners. claiming that they know but little
about the handling Of cannon.
The main point Of interest here at pres
ent Is as to when and where the American
troops will effect landing in Cubs, though
the spaniards pronounce themselves conf
dent Of being able to repei any invasion.
EGGS cornrneal. nour, ETC.. are becoming
more scarce In Havana end the prices of