The herald., 1898-11-29
BLANCO'S RETIREMENT
SEES CUBAN CONFUSION WORSE
COMPOUNDED
THE PEOPLE LONG FOR PEACE
Which Can Only Come When the
United States Takes Hold of
Matters Energetically
Associated Press Special Wire

ASSOCldltQ IiCSo SPSSiot ''-S
NEW YORK, Nov. 2s-A dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says:
General Blanco's retirement and the res
ipnaton of the autonomist cabinet increase
the confusion here which preceded Ameri-
can control Regret is felt that the United
States does not take immediate jurisdiction.
Blanco is carrying out his original purpose
not to participate in any formal surrender
of authority to the American flag. Besides
his personal feeling in this matter he avoids
growing difficulties with the troops. one
million dollars is promised toward their
pavment, but advances on this amount have
not been received.
The Madrid government, however, is
showing how energetic it can be in embark
ing troops Transports now in the harbor
and to arrive within a few days will take
awav 5000 soldiers by December 10. Gen
eral Castelanos, who is the successor OF
Banco for the short period that remains
of Spanish sovereignty, has been IN COM
mand of the troops in Puerto Principe prov
ince He has the confidence of the army,
but the duties he will have to perform are
perfunctorv. The statement is made that
General Arolas, the military governor. will
continue in his place until the United States
assumes authority. lie will continue his
vigorous measures to repress disorder mere.
The resignation of the autonomist cab
met is not important but it increases the
embarrassment of continuing to exercise
Spanish authority when everything is ready
for American control. All the functions it
has had to exercise have been centered in
two epartments-treasury and justice, re-
spectively. Several weeks ago, orders were
given to transact no new business. Since
then the clerks and subordinates have been
engaged in completing the records and
closing I'D work. To form new autonomist
cabinet now for the last days of Spanish
rule. would be ridiculous. The Governor
General exercises all the necessary tunc-
tions. 1t is recognized that the American
military authorities must construct new
government The civil governor OF the
province of Pinar del Rio, who has resigned,
will remain in office for another week. by
that time the province will be under the
control of an American military COM
mander.
Fernandez de Castro, who has also re-
signed as civil governor Of Havana prov
ince, will not retire from office immediately.
He has been trying to improve the condi-
ton of Havana but has been without means
and the results have been unsatisfactory.
MANY insurgents have asked for and re-
ceived discharges without awaiting the re
turn of the Garcia commission from Wash
ington. The insurgent commanders have
completed a skeleton organization OF rural
police from the ranks of the insurgents
While this scheme is in line with the pol
icy of the United States, formal approval
has not yet been given it. Disquieting re-
ports are received from some parts OF San
ia Clara that the insurgents who have been
q part of Gomez's forces are not willing to
give up their arms when they disband.
Sugar planters in Santa Clara complain be-
cause the plans for the early withdrawal
of the Spanish troops were changed They
may suffer a temporary inconvenience, but
as the United States takes control in Janu-
ary there will be no interference with the
sugar crop.