The San Francisco call., 1898-10-07
STRIKE AT THE ARSENAL
AND SPANISH SOLDIERS CLAM.
 OR FOR BACK PAY.
Peculiar Condition of Affairs at Havana That May Yet Cause Delay in Evacu-
 ation.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

HAVANA, via Key West, Oct. 6.-Six hundred men, machinists, blacksmiths, skilled Workmen and laborers, have gone on a strike at the Havana arse nal, refusing to work unless they are paid five months arrears of wages. The strike began on Monday and no settle ment has yet been made.
 The Spanish cruiser Condo de Vena- ditto, the gunboat Galicia and the tor pedo- boat Nueva Esp8na are on the stocks at the navy-yard undergoing elaborate repairs, preparatory to their trip to Spain. The arsenal strike is liable to delay the evacuation. so far as the navy is concerned, unless the diff ferences are soon settled, as the vessels in their present condition are quite un- equal to a sea voyage, especially at this time of the year.
 The Spanish authorities continue to declare their inability to evacuate the island entirely before the end of Feb ruary The Washington Government, through the American Commissioners, continues to insist upon prompt evacu- ation. The Spaniards say, also, as a reason for delay, that in addition to the lack of vessels. a large proportion of their soldiers are too weak and ill to undertake the voyage during the winter season.
 General Blanco is beset on all sides with grave problems requiring cash solution. Unfortunately, the Madrid Government is unprepared to meet them, and the Captain General is thus placed in very delicate position. On the one hand is the naVy-yard strike. on the other soldiers Clamoring for back pay. Last week Blanco issued orders disbanding all the provisional regiments in certain places, as, for in- stance at Sancti Spiritus, but the troops refused to disband unless they first received their arrears of pay. Many of them went over to the Cuban ranks.
 It has leaked out that, in his extrem- ity. General BlancO summoned the gov ernor of the Banco Espanol and called upon him for an advance of money. The bank official at first refused, but finally yielded to BlancO's appeal and agreed to advance $200, 000 His weak ness is seriously condemned, many of the depositors threatening to withdraw their deposits.
 The commercial condition of the island instead of improving, seems to be at a complete standstill. The un- disguised corruption in every branch
  with distrust.
 There are other ominOus clouds on the horizon that indicate early trOu- be with the Cubans, who are now openly proclaiming their readiness to fight to the last drop of blood for abso- lute independence.
 Distrust and uncertainty as to the precise policy of the United States Government with regard to Cuba keeps the island in a precariOus and unsettled condition.
 Havana is excusably alarmed over the release of 700 Nanigos, who have been undergoing sentences in Spains penal colonies in Africa. These crimi- nals are mostly murderers, belonging to the Nanigo societies, whose initiation rites demand that the neophyte should murder the first person he meets in the street after the ceremony of drinking the hot blood of a cock If the feath- CTS in the cocks tail are black he must kill a negro; if white, the victim must be a white man, and if yellow, or buff then a mulatto or a Chinaman.
 These Nanigos have long been a menace to this city waging their bat ties in the streets and committing ter rible crimes. During the last few years upward of TOO of them have been arrested and sent to Ceuta. The re- port of their release and probable re- turn to Havana fills the population with dread