New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-27
SPANS LAST DAYS IN CUBA.
GENERAL BUTLER SAYS The SPAN1ARDS
WILL BE OuT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
he GIVES MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION TO
THE PRESIDENT REGARDING THE STATE
OF AFFAIRS ~ THE ISLAND.

OF AFFAIRS ~ THE ISLAND.
Washington. Nov. 26-General NJ G. Butler,
Of South Carolina. a member OF the Cuban
Evacuation Commission. arrived here to-day
direct from Havana. in response to a telegraphic
summons from President Mckinley. This after
noon ho had conference lasting two hours
with the President at the White House. He
made an extended report Of the negotiations for
evacuation and of the terms on which the Span
Iards had agreed to leave the island by Janu-
ary / General Butler expressed the opinion
that all the Spanish troops will have departed
ten days before tho date fixed in the agreement
He SAYS tho Spanards have met tho Ameri-
can Commissioners with reasonable fairness. and
that there has been little friction. Some of the
claims thcy have made for compensation for
property have been ridiculous. and they WILL
Of course be abandoned in tho end General
Butler denies all the reports or dissensions
among the American Commissioners.
In addition to his report upon the actual Work
Of tho Joint Commission. General Butler gave
tho President much valuable information on
Tho general situation in cuba. the ability Of the
Cubans for self-govcrnment, tho sanitary con-
diton Of Havana and generally tho results Of
his observations in his stay there. Iio thinks
That the military government Of tho island must
only be as vigorous as may bo necessary 10
preserve order He believes the Cuhans are
ambitious for self government and anxious to
avoid friction with the American authorities
II military control is exercised with discretion
he believes there will hc little trouble.
one of tho most troublesome features Of the
situation is the criminal class and tho dlihcu''s
of determining in the case n prisoners who are
incarceratei for political offences and who f"r
crime. There has existed in Havana in inc
past an oath-bound organization resembling the
Italian Mafa known as the Nenigo. which was
4 source Of terror To The nha btants one or
the few commendahl bic acts Of Weyler was tne
deportation # about seven hundred Of the mem
hors Of this organization to the penal colony ot
Ceuta But fears are expressed that these
criminals may return or that tho order may pe
revived by some of those who we're not ue-
ported. ,,A
ono # the features IF the situation In whicn
the authorities here arc especially lnteres,eu
Is the sanitary condition Of Havana inc snip
ment of troops which has already begun ana
the existence If yellow fever in Havana al
tho year round make IT absolutely neCessdlS
that the city should he placed in thoroush san
tarv condition. General Butler describes me
CITY now as a pesthole. filed with unmentionaple
/ Nth squalor and destitution. The spanish a"- a"-
thoritfes have. however. agreed to heeln % me
work Of putting the city IN SANITARY 'ollul W. =
with the aid Of the American authorizes, ana
the work is to begin at once Genera ~ ~buti'r
paints a dark picture Of the desttutlon aInVns
the poorer classes. and saws It VIII prohapN
he necessarv for this country to furnlsh some
aid 10 the starving wretches -,
General Butler paid 2 high trlpu'S ~ ~
, f,.ciplnc and unccmplaininS suffering NJ the
Spanish troops They endured hardshlPs' ne
saws which would have caused American Sol
diers TO revolt. As an Illustration OF the an
mira bic discipline Of the Spanish soldiers. ne
sad that at ono time there were fortN-'hree
thousand Of them IN Havana. yet nc never saN
of Of of
of or sec a single Spanish soldier intoxicated.
General Butler will remain here several DAY -
and will probably have another interview WIN
Tho President lie will tNen 80 10 his home in
South Carolina. whence he viii return IN about
ten dsvs 70 Havana His wife and daughter
will accompany him on his return rms fact
leads to the belief that ne may he destined ior
military service in cuba. as his present MISSION
expires with the completion Of the evacuation