The times., 1898-05-23
STARVATION THREATENS
The Havana Populace Forced 10
a Horse-Meat Diet.
THE AUTONOMISTS DECEIVED
The Secretary of the Interior Ac-
fully MisIed Him as to the Atti-
tude of the American Government
-Cubans Subjected to OutraSes.4 d

Tampa. May 22-Letters from Havana
by way of Mexico were received here to-
day under date of May TO- An important
one, addressed to a member of the Junta
by one of its presidents in that city, says
that the situation was already desperate
there and that the people were beginning
to eat horse meat. The insurgent bands,
the letter says, are controlling the in
terror and have taken possession of some
towns, while the Spaniards in large num-
bers control the northern coast A strong
military line has been placed along the
railroad between Batabano and Havana
to keep trains running from Havana to
the southern port.
On account of the great scarcity of coal
Gen. Blanco has issued an order shut
ting down the gas works and all factories
in which coal is needed and the coal has
been stored by the government for it's
use
Gen. Blanco says that when the Span
ish fleet reaches Havana Admiral Ger
vera viii be in a position to sail again if
he wishes and fight the American squad
ron. The prevailing idea among the Span
iards in Havana Is that the city will not
be bombarded at present by the Ameri-
cans because the Spanish fleet is near and
would catch them between two fires. s''
Gen. Blanco says that the dearth Of
provisions viii soon be relieved. AT a
council of the authorities held in his pal
ace he made this statement:
BE confident and let the people be con-
fident that Spain is not going to abandon
us.
Gen. Arolas, military commander of Ha-
vana, also said that in case of an attack
Havana was better prepared to repei it
than was generally believed.
The rabid Spaniards are making all ef-
forts to secure the good will of the Gu
bans and In a manifesto addressed to the
Spaniards they say:
Let us forgive small differences of the
past and unite like men against the com
mon enemy
The Autonomists are making, as always,
strong demonstrations of their Spanish
feelings, but privately some of them con
fess that they have been mistaken.
Senior Govan, secretary OF the interior.
says that he was deceived while in the
United States by Cuban established al
Washington, named Jose Ignacio Rodri-
lez, a lawyer, and by Judge Day. He
| explains that he was safe with his family
living in Atlanta, Ga, when an envoy
from Senior De LONE went there to offer
him a portfolio in the Spanish Autonomist
cabinet in Cuba He first refused but
! Senor Rodriguez wrote him a letter as
I suring him that the United States was
never to interfere in Cuba against Spain
/ and using for that statement the author
/ ity of Judge Day, at that time Assistant
/ controlling spirit in President Mckinley.
/ Cabinet.
Senior Govan went TO Washington, me
| Judge Day, and he says that the state
| ment Judge Day made to him was s.
convincing that he accepted the portfolio
Now Govan finds himself bottled up il
Havana when otherwise he would be a
Atlanta out of the blockade.
The Cuban families that have remain
ed in Havana are subjected now to tn
greatest outrages. An inspector of polio
searched, few nights ago. the house
of several families living a FL CeFre. II
was looking for a man who, II is said
came from the Cuban lines with a secre
message for the Junta. He did not fin
him, but arrested some women of goo
families.
All the political prisoners in Havan
Jail have been put in Morro Castle.