The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-15
WORSE THAN WEYLER.
Cruelty Of Gen. irelas to Spanish
Troops.
PART OF ORDEN PUPLICO FORCE
MUTINY BECAUSE UNPAID.

Arolas Ordered Another Band to Fire ON
1hem and They misunderstanding an
Unarmed llutineer the General
Attacked Fl sm and Killed Him.
Havana, November II, via Key West.
November l4.--The mutiny of the Orden
Publico forces, which for two days
threatened the peace of this city, resulted
iu the dissolution of that body today,
when after the payment of some arrears
and the promise of a full liquidation OF
their pay. the revolving troops laid down
their arms. Captain General Blanco then
ordered all the foot and mounted regi-
ments of the Orden Publico to be dis
banded. that organization ceasing to exist
from this date.
AS originally planned, it was intended
the mutiny should extend to the Guariia
Civil and the artillery regulars and it
would in that event have assumed much
graver importance and might perhaps
have inaugnrated reign of terror AMI
bloodshed in the island. That the pro-
gramme as planned miscarried should be
source of congratulation to Spain and
be taken as a warning to prevent the
serious disturbances which are even now
being Matched.
For some time past the uprising of the
troops In regard to the non-receipt OF
their pay has been feared. Not only is
their pay owing for months and years,
but, what is more, the reserve pay of the
soldiers, their savings since the date OF
their enlistment, which were looked upon
by them as sacred, have been appropri-
ated, or stolen as the men say, by the
government which now only lends deaf
ear to their protests and refuses to return
the bard earned savings of the men.
What amount this reserve pay reached
among the many regiments In the island
| it Ia impossible to estimate, but it is
known that 1t aggregates millions.
This is the real question which has
been preuipitating riots. causing mutiny
here and compelling the men to insubOr-
dination at Neuvitas and which may yet
give rise to further Widespread disturb
ances in the isla nd.
The Havana mutiny which was started
yesterday morning was precipitated by
General Arolas, the military governor OF
the CITY, VIII SO fierce temper and brutal
treatment of officers are the source of
daily, spreading discomfort At midnight
on Wednesday,, Gen. Arolas, at the head
of battalion of regular infantry, having
been appraised of the intention of the
troops to join in the Tnutiny and demand
their pay, surprise 4 1si7 artillery outposts
stationed along the aaTs road inciud-
ing the Santa Clara 1eina Chorrera
batteries. disar,ning them and placed
them under surveillance
The next morning (Thursday) the third
company of the Orden Publico number
ing about $50 men, drew up before the
Captain Generals palace, on the Plaza
de Armes and demanded their overdue
,r6Q To,
refused. At that moment Gen.. Arolas ar
rived on the scene. In an excess of rage
he drew his baton of office and savagely
attacked some of the onlookers, seriously
hurting a government employe, who had
rushed ont OF the palace from curiosity
By this time the Plaza de Armas was
filled with widely excited crowds who
loudly condemned and cursed General
Arolas At that period of the excitement
the Orden Publico, with fixed bayOnets
assumed an attitude of deep hostility to-
wards General Arolas whom the men
considered responsible for the disgraceful
way in which they had heen treated.
That moment of suspense might have
been franaht with deep Significance had
not General Zolano, Captain General
Blanco's chief Of staff, appeared at the
palace door and commanded the attention
of the men. He then addressed them in
conciliatory tone, rebuked them for the
t1usuDUruluhblUu diiQ CJuu6tuu6u buu Al
advised course they were pursuing. Then
placing himself at their head Gen. Zolano
himself marched the men back to their
quarters, where he again addressed them,
promising them they would be paid.
This occurred at nine o'clock in the
morning and the day passed quietly with
out any further Incident until 4sk.
When the mutiDious Orden Publ1co
learned that Gen. Arolas has called over
1000 regulars in from the suburbs, and
believing that Gen. Arolas meant to dis
arm them, the Crden Publico again lett
their quarters, each man with 15U ROUNDS
of ammunition in his belt, and lined up
in the street opposite the armory ready TO
offer resistance il neoes sary.
Shortly after nightfall, Gen. Arolas at
the head of the regulars and preceded by
a band of music playing national airs,
arrived before the Orden Publfco's
quarters, where he halted. Before him
stood the mutiuous third company, grim
and snllen. Turning to the men General
Arolas reminded them that they we're
regulars and veterans, not mere police
men rs they had been tauntingly referred
to. The Orden Publico then gave three
cheers for Spain and the army, which
were Justify answered. 10 the disgust OF
General Aroias, however, right l,,,a on me ne
cheered their comrades and the Orden
Publico answered In turn.
General Arolas mad with rags, ordered
his men to charge, but they refused to
obey. He then ordered them to IRE,
which they also refused TO do.
General Arolas then realized he had
lost his moral influence over the men,
and after calling the officers aside and
conferring with them. for few minutes,
he left for the palace accompanied by his
staff and seven officers. About two blocks
away General Arolas' party came upon
an innocent and unsuspeoting member of
the Orden Publico who was unarnled
Mad with fury General Arolas drew his
sword and savagely attacked the man, in
fiicting on him severe wounds from which
the victim of the assault died this morn
ing. In the mix.up Lieutenant Malta,
General Arolas' adie de camp, had his
hand cut, supposedly by Arolas' sword
Toward eleven o'clock General Arolas,
who had been informed that further up
risings had taken place among other COM
| panies of the Ordcn Publico, now Some
what sobered and pacitied, returned to
where he had left the troops and ordered
| them away. Towards midnight most OF
| the regiments Of the Orden Publico, both
cavalry and infantry throughout the city
had nutinied and turned out, fully armed
into the streets