The times., 1898-02-28
BY LAND AND SEA FORCES.
How We Would Crush Spain's Army
in ('uha


ing by murderous treachery of more than
30 American seamen, were merely the
expression in Havana of a Weyler plot in
Madrid. WeyIer ordered it, and it was
done. More and more is this the Spanish
whisper in Havana. There are TWO fac
tions in Havana. among those who come
about the standards Of Spain. There is
the Weyler contingent that tribe of lust
and rapine, blood and cruelty These op-
pose autonomy. despite Blanco, and also
decry sagasta. They cling to the machete
and the torch as methods of Cuban pacif-
| cados. Unconditional submission is their
{ uban bend heir sole alternative ccnces-
sion is death.
These adhere to Weyler They come
about him at call like hounds about a
hunter, and they hate the Yankees. This
hatred scowls from their brows and spar
ldes from the black depths of their wick
ed eyes.
There is the other contingent. that sup
ports Blanco in Cuba ana Sagasta in
Spain. They do not favor autonomy in
their hearts. They adopt the principle
that half loaf is better than 70 bread
and it is to be feared that privately these
autonomists do not love the Yankee any
| better than do the Weyler folks But
they maintain a better muzzle on their
feelings.
mo one of the co-Sagasta contfn-
gent would have set spark to the mine
that destroyed the Maine 1t would mean
war and the death of Spain. Incidentally
it would destroy the chance of autonomy
strew failure and disgrace on Sagasta and
| Blanco, and make Cuba free. The au-
| tonomsts, for all these reasons. would
have handled the United States and all
things flying its flags with soft. safe
delicacy.
There is not plan of the Weyler con-
tingent into which the sinking of the
Maine or the killing of twelve score and
ten American soldiers would not dovetail
1t would humble the Yankee flag. it
would spill the Yankee blood it would be
desperate blow at the Yankee naval
trength-desideratio tions. all of them. to
! set your true Spaniard abaze with joy
AS to the war thus invoked. that con
| fict would advance the Wevler power
and the Weyler plot. 1t would strike
| down autonomy. 1t would free Cuba
and, best of all compensation for the lat
| ter, it would dump the blame at the Sa-
gasta door. To Americans Spanish de
| feat means Cuban liberation but immi-
nently does it mean the disgrace and
| downfall of Sagasta's government. 1t is
on this last that Weyler counts On the
ruins of Sagasta he will build his fortunes
and the fortunes of those who followed
! his banner.
Among the young officers of Spain who
| have access TO these batteries which CON
troll the harbor mines WeyIer had his
men. Among those hundreds of his fol-
| lowers who wear the epaulettes of Spain
one could be found to explode the mine b.
meath the Maine.
| ''Weyler gave his order and the Maine
went down. It is significant that the
! above is the general story among Span
iards Not alone do the Weyler people
tell it as they joyfully congratulate each
| other over the blow to the Yankee but
| the Blanco party have the same story
| Blanco himself believes it. 1t is even said
that the two or three guilty. as the agents
Maine could be apprehended. Blanco
could lay hands upon them. Their imme-
| diate superior officers could point them
| out; but Blanco doesn't dare.
These wretches are never to wear
| Spanish bonds, at least. for the destruc-
| ton of the Maine. 1t would do Spain no
| good. 1t would neither avert "a war nor
| stay defeat and in the final crash. with
| Sagasta to go down and Weyler seize the
! power it would leave Blanco and who
| ever had part or lot in their arrest or
! punishment as open targets to the Weyler
revenge
| Moreover, the arrest OF these murder
crs would entail such dishonor on the
Spanish army that century's sponge
might not suffice to wipe it out, and it
would confess Americas case against
| Spain
Besides, Blanco and his people are as
eager today to cover and shield the
Names assassins as is Weyler himself.
Speaking of Weyler ] have heard. by
| the way. that De Lone is a trusted ad-
herent of Weyler and that his recent let
! ter concerning Mckinley. autonomy and
| kindred matters was mistake neither in
its writing nor its discovery
Il am told that the De Lone letter and
Maine destruction had common purpose
and common inspiration. The one was
written and the other sunk by secret
work of Weyler, and the object of each
was war and the ruin of Sagasta
| with every Spaniard in Havana adj
mittins by every private fashion that
the Maine fell prey to Spanish treach-
cry, it might seem strange that McKfn-
| ley should waste time with inquiry: but
the naval people here are very hopeful
| of 1t all They say investigation is a
ruse, Il mere time-getter. The naval peo--
pie feel as sure of coming brush with
. Spain as of the decks beneath their feet
! One of them said today:
What is the use of Congress appro-
prating 100000 TO raise the Maine? Be
| fore the work could be half ACCOMPLISH
ed the wreckers would be forced TO give
! it up Why? Because Havana harbor
will be battle-ground Within two
months. say before April l, or May. I'll
wager my commission the Americans viii
/ fight the Spaniards for the city. 1t will
storm shot and shell there. With such a
| feature, it's all nonsense wasting money
to raise the Maine After the Dons are
/ thrashed it will be different
I'm me mess room. ward room and fore
! castle men and officers forward and aft.
the talk buzzes of our coming war with
Spain. And the officers at least have ii
| all figured out Here's how they talk it:
There's no doubt of SIMPSONS report
| The sinking of tha Maine will ha traca1