The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-11

Havana, Nov. 9 via Key West. Fla,
Nov. 10).--Since early on the morning
of Sunday last the streets of Havana
have again presented the appearance
of a state of siege. At every corner
four Regulars are stationed armed with
Mauser rifles, besides the usual city
patrol.
.As il is known, the Orden Publico
forces have been threatening trouble
over the refusal of the government to
pay uD the wages due them ii was at
first supposed that these military pre-
cautions We're taken owing 20 the fear
of an outbreak in that quarter Later,
however, ii was learned that Colonel
Masso Parro, late commander of the
disbanded Cuba Espanola brigade, with
his officers, had threatened to come to
the city, go to the palace and demand
the settlement of his and his officers
pay. Fearing that the arrival of Col
unei Parro would be the signal for
other malCOntents to join the move
ment and thus cause serious trouble,
Captain General BlancO forbid Colonel
Parro from coming to Havana. An
tCipating INSTRUMENTATION, however.
General BlanCO promptly took precau-
tions to quell any attempted uprising.
colonel Parro first attracted atten-
ton when, ranking as "a brigadier gen.
eral of the Cuban insurgents, he de-
serted to the Spanish ranks, was given
the rank of colonel and organized a
brigade of 1900 Cubans under his lead
ership. known as the cuban Espanoln
brigade, which did signal service for
the Spaniards during the late war.
About month ago, the brigade began
tU cause considerable trouble at Glen
fuegos by clamoring for their overdue
pay. They intrenched themselves on
the Tuhulcan estate. outside of the
city, and refused to disband or lay
down their arms until settlement
was made with them on a cash basis.
A. part of the overdue money was paid
to the soldiers and the brigade in turn
disbanded.
Open discomfort has since spread to
every branch Of the service. The
trouble in this connection has been
heightened now by the announcement
that the s24 which the government
agreed to pay to every enlisted man
obtaining his discharge will only be
paid upon the evacuation of the island
by the respective regiments to which
the soldiers belonged. This latest an
nouncement is a modification of pre-
vious decree providing that the troops
would only be paid upon landing in
Spain. This met with such an energet-
f. protest however that it was suhse-
quently revoked, over 10000 Of the en-
listed men asking for their discharge
in order that they might remain in
Cuba.
THE SUN CLAIMED.
When the partial payment before re-
ferred to was made to the Cuba Es-
pamela brigade, the money was divid.
ed among the rank and file, ColOne
Parro and his officers accepting q
promise of the future payment Of theil
salaries, the total amount being ovel
100000 which sum they now claim.
The battalion of Sancti Spiritus
Gucrillas was partially paid off last
Saturday. but the members shoWet
their discomfort by appointing u
committee to go to the palace in Ha
Nana and demand from Captain
General Blanco the payment of 800,
900 still due them
The Battalion Municipal, composed
of firemen OF Havana. who engaged
in active operations in the field fol
three whole years are owed $l,T00, 900
These are only 2 few instances
showing the position OF the Spanish
army here. whose discortent increase
daily causing a display OF armed force
In the streets of the city on the slight
est suspicion of an open manifesto
tion of such displeasure.
1t is alleged that the corruptioi
in the Department of finance of the in
sular government has reached sucl
pitch that employees and official
are openly taxed 20, so and 40 per cent
discount on their salaries, which they
are forced to accept or go unpaid. Th,
same corrurI system, it is further as
serted, perVades every branch of tn,
administration, the local press goin.
so far as to ask for the ousting o
municipal officers. saying that the au
tonomist control is worse than the ole
Spanish colonial administration.
This state of affairs has developed
ganG of thieves, murderers an,
burglars, jeopardizing the lives an,
property of peaceable citizens. Th
number of hold-ups and assaults mul
tiply daily. 1t may be safely sal
that nearly all the crimes are th
result of hunger and privation, tn
instinct of self-preservation beinl
stronger than any social law. TIL
situation daily grows worse: corrup
ton and bribery flourish, crime
spread and hundreds of persons di
from want.