Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11

clara Barton, President Of the Red Cross
Of the United States. And hef ACTIVE, abla
and experienced assistant"
He says that the number of the poor and
destitute is 10 large that 1t Is impossible to
relieve large numbers In each locality; but
that he can state With confidence that un-
der the Present system 81 dlstrlbua6h t6A
supplies are not lost or wasted, But reach
those for whom they are intended.
4sfp.e F.el to Cook Eeed.
March 4, he incloses letter from Consul
Barker Of saguas who requests him to
transmit the following letter, which ia ad-
dressed to him (Gen. Lee):
Dear Sir: will thank you to commune
cate to the department as quickly as pos
sible the fact that the military commander
and other officers Of the military positively
refuse to allow the reconcentrados to whom
I am issuing food in it's raw state to pro-
cure fuel with which to cook the food.
I'm addition. they prohibit this class of
people u am only giving food to about one
fifth of the destitute, the authorities have
quit altogether) from gathering vegetables
cultivated within the protection Of the
forts, telling them the Americans propose
to feed you. and to the Americans you
must look .
"Yodrs very truly,
walter B. BARKER
consul "
March II, Gen. Lee informs the depart
ment that the governor general, by decree
March 5, prorogued in all parts to March
81. 1883, the decree of the general govern
ment OF April 10. 1897. relative to the sus-
pension of legal proceedings against real
estate, with the reservation Of what may be
agreed upon by the insular chambers, lin
due season."
March "a, Gen. Lee cables that the work
of relief is progressing. and gives details
about the distribution of supplies, and adds:
Have been greatly assisted by Mr..
Klopsch.'
March %, Gen. Lee reports that "instruc-
tons have been given by the civil govern
ment Of Habana that the 1lcaldes and
other authorities shall not give out any
facts about the reconcentrados, and, If any
of the American relief committees should
make inquiries concerning them. all such
inquiries must be referred to him.
Gen. Lees dispatches conclude with a
dispatch under date of April 1, transmitting
the decree of the governor general termi-
mating the concentration order.
There Is one communication from Owen
McGarT. consul at Cienfuegos, under date
of January 10, informing the department
that the sugar mills in his district had
been grinding since the LIST of the month
He says the utmost diligence is required to
prevent the firing Of the cane fields, and
concludes: 1.-THE sugar crop is the support
of all classes. especially the laboring class,
and should it be destroyed a famine would
be inevitable"
Matanxns.
The communications from Mr. Brice con-
sui a: Matanzas number only seven or
eight, and most of them are brief The
correspondence from him begins with the
18th of November last and closes with
the sth of February, 1898. Probably the
most striking feature of Mr. Brice's COM
munication is a distinct article written
on the 18th of January last and devoted to
Cuban restitution. In this he notes the
receipt of a circular letter of the State
Department dated ten days before This"
he says, ''intimates that help is to be ex-
tended by the United States to the starving
people of Cuba. The news of this relief
has been known he continues for the
past two weeks and has extended all over
the province. This consulate has been
asking 10 be remembered when this relief
comes" Mr.. Brice then gives &. number of
facts illustrating the suffering in the prov
ince. He says there are in Matanzas prov
IL ce alone 10000 people who are in actual
starving condition and require food, cloth
ing and medicines. Continuing, he says:
I'm addition to the ABOVE are thousands
of families of the better classes and for
vo11- do TOD
one meal a day and that very scant. They
have sold or pawned furniture, jewelry,
clothing, &C., to exc out an existence until
all is gone, or nearly so. Too proud to beg,
they suffer in silence, and maLy die Of
starvation. The daughter of former gov
ernor of this province was seen begging on
the streets Uncognito) of this city. Many
of these people call on me privately at my
residence asking ard praying, for Gods
sake, TO be remembered when this relief
comes from the United States One has to
be here. know and mingle with these peo-
pie to fully realize the terrible restitution
and misery existing in Cuba. 1t is to be
hoped that this relief from the United
States will come quickly, for hundreds are
dying daily of starvation. Conditions are
dreadful and no relief afforded by the
spanish
In his first communication of the series,
dated November II, Mr.. Brice stated that
neither the Spaniards nor Cubans Of that
section were in sympathy with the pro-
posed autonomy and reforms. He noted
the issuance of the order to municipal au-
thorities to issue rations and clothing, but
says that no attention was paid to it. In
this communication he places the death
rate at over eighty persons daily, nearly all
of whom were dying for want of feed, med
icines and clothing. LAS l write this" re
says, "a dead negro woman lies in the
street within two hundred yards of this
consulate, starved to death. She died some
time this morning, and will lie there maybe
for days"
Mr.. Brice also notes the issuance of an
order allowing the reconcentrados to re-
turn to the country, but he says tie re-
strictions in the order are such as to prac-
tically prohibit. IF they WENT he says,
what can they do without money, food
or shelter?" adding, "only those who can
obtain employment on sugar plantations
can live. Insurgents say no one will be al
lowed to grind in the province of Matan-
zas. The situation is indeed deplorable and
l-l-~