The times., 1898-04-12

The consular correspondence for which
the country has been waiting long and
eNpectantly, was transmitted TO Congress
with the message yesterday. The Times
gives below an abstract Of the let -eTs nd
reports which the President has held up
50 long because he knew that their pab-
location would madden the American Ueo-
pie:
The CorrcsGonsieEce.
Gen. Lees correspondence runs over the
period from November L. 1872. 20 April /
1895 Much Of the corresro srondence is Of a
confidential nature ard Of some Of the in
portant communications excerpts only are
given. The period Of the correspondence
after the blowing up of the Maine contains
no reference to that event, such comnuni-
cations probably being deemed irrelevant
10 the purposes Of the resolution calling
for the consular correspondence in the
possession of the Government as TO the sit
uation of affairs IN Cuba.The first dispatch
Of Cen. Lee contains Gen. Blancos order,
under date of November Is, repeating, or
rather modifying. Gen. Weyler's order OF
concentration. which has heretofore been
published by the press This order was
made shortly after Gen. Lee returned to
Havana from the United States last fall.
Gen. Lee in this communication also in
closed the proclamation Of J. n. Rodri-
guez. major general in charge Of the west
ern department Of the Cuban military op-
erations addressed 10 the Cuban people,
and informing them of the firm resoiu-
ton OF the insurgent army to continue
fighting until the attainment Of absolute
independence. 1t was on November 2
that Consul General Lee made his FIRST
report to the Department of State on the
condition Of affairs in Cuba. 1t is as fol-
lows:
United States Consulate General
Havana. November -. 1897.
Sir: ] have the honor to briefly submit
q statement OF what appears l. be the
present condition of affziEs in this island.
lst The insurgents viii not accept au-
tOuemy.
2d. A large majority Of the Spanish sub
jeets who have commercial and business
interests and own property here viii not
accept autonomy. but prefer annexation
10 the United States rather than an inde-
pendent republic or genuine autonomy
undo the Spanish dag-
Sd. The Spanish authorities are sincere
in doing all in their power to encourage,
protect and promote the grinding Of su-
gar The grinding season commences IN
December.
9Th. The insurgeut leaders have given
Instructions TO prevent grinding, when
ever II can be done because by diminish
ing the export OF sugar the Spanish gov
ernmeat revenues are decreased. 1t viii
be very difficult for the Spanish authori-
ties TO prevent cane burning, because one
might al night start a fire which viii
burn hundreds Of acres. just as q single
individual could ignite a prairie by throw
ing iGatch into the dry grass.
5th. i am confident that Gen. Blanco
and Pando. his chief OF staff, as well as
Or. CoHgosto. the secretary general. with
ali Of whom / have had conversations,
are perfectly conscientious in their desire
10 relieve the distress of those suffering
from the effects Of Weyler's reconcentra-
tion order, but, unfortunately, they have
mol the means 10 carry out such henevo-
lent purposes. In this city matters are
assuming better shape under charitable
committees, etc. large numbers are now
cared for and fed by private subscrip-
I0us. / witnessed many terrible scenes
and saw some die while ! was present
j am told Gen Blanco will give 10000 TO
the relief fund.
Die Like Animals.
November q Gen. Lee sent to the de-
partment the communication of two gen
tlemen whose names, he says. are sup
pressed for obvious reasons, but whom he
knows personally as standing high in the
community, concerning the condition in
Los Fosos Che ditches) in Havana The
communication says, among other things:
''FOur hundred and sixty women and
children thrown on the ground heaped
pei nell as animals some in a dying con-
dition. others sick, others dead, without
the slightest cleanliness or the least help,
not even able TO give water to the thirsty,
without either religious or social help,
each one dying wherever chance laid
him.
The communication goes on to state that
the deaths among these reconcentrados
average forty or fifty daily, and that on
an average there were but ten days of
life for each person. It says that these un-
happy creatures received food only after
having been eight days in the fosos, dur
ing watch time they were obliged to sub
sist upon the bad food which the dying
had refused Some horrible instances Of
the distress Witnessed are given.
among kAe many deaths we saw, says
the communication, there was seen one
impossible 10 forget. There is still alive
the only witness, a young girl Of eighteen,
whom We found seemingly lifeless on the
ground. on her right side was the body
OF q young mother, cold and rigid, but
with her young child, still alive, clinging
10 her breast. On her left side was the
corpse Of a dead woman holding her son
81 a dead embrace. A little further on
FuCF h.s IN her q
daughter Of fourteen, crazy with pain.
who. after twelve or fourteen days, died
in spite Of the care she received"
Further along the communication says
that II any young girl came in who was
nice looking she was infallibly condemn
ed 10 the most abomiuabe Of trafiics.
The communication says that 100 per-
sons had entered the fosos since August,
and 0f those but 2f3 were then living. IL
places the number Of deaths among the
reconcenurados at Il per cent.
An omciaI Thug.
On December Gen Lee sent 10 the
State Department communication re-
ferTing 10 a cipher dispatch he had sent
two days previous, in which he informed
the department that he had learned from
The United States consul at Matanzas Of
IN extensive and dangerous conspiracy
under the ex-governor Of the province di-
rected against Americans, action against
them 10 be contingent on the movement
or the United States Government in favor
OF the independence Of Cuba"
Gen. Lee stated that rumors had been
more or less frequent regarding the riot
Gus intention Of some OF the dissatisfied
elements against American citizens there