The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-29
RECONCENTRADOS
HAVE ALL Gone
God Only Knows Where,
Says Congosto.
UNFORTUNATES ARE DEAD
SMILING STATEMENT OF THE
SPANISH OFFICIAL.
The Colonial Secretary Reaches New
York anG Talks of the Condi-
lion of Affair." in
Cuba.
UNFoRTUNATEs ARE DEAD
SMILING STATEMENT OF THE
SPANISH OFFICIAL.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Sept. 2S.-Among the
passengers who arrived to-day on the
steamer City of Washington from Ha-
vana were DR.. Jose Congosto, Colonial
Secretary of Cuba, and Captain Fred
Sharp, the latter of the Merritt &
Chapman Wrecking Company.
DR., Congosto was asked as to the
condition of the reconcentrados.
There are no reconcentrados noW,'
he answered with a smile.
What has become Of themW was
the next question.
They're gone
"Where?"
God knows was the reply.
do you mean to say that they are
all dead?"
THAT probably explains 1t better
than 1 can. 1t is a subject which pre-
fer not to discuss"
When asked as to the establishment
of a. new navy for Spain, DR.. Congosto
said:
Spain is still great country and
she ought to have a great naVy-and
probably will have"
Regarding the fall of Santiago and
the surrender of General Toral, DR..
Congosto said:
There were brave soldiers at Santi-
ago, and if their leader lacked courage
he deserves to be punished. Santiago
should not have fallen as 1T did, and II
Toral had not entered into negotiations
with the enemy it is likely that there
would have been a different story TO
tell to-day.
ct is not true that the Spanish army
there lacked supplies and ammunition,
for they had plenty Of both, which they
turned over to the Americans. If ToraI
had pushed forward, instead of retreat
ing toward the city, he certainly would
have caused a repulse. These are things
which he will have to explain.
THE evacuation of Cuba by Spain is
a matter of time, but when l left Ha-
vana everything was progressing well.
/ do not care to enter into all the rea-
sons for the delay, but one Of the prin-
cipal causes is the fact that we have
over 5000 sick, who must be taken care
of and cannot be left behind.
1.-THE problem of the future of the
island is a difficult one. l have studied
it without prejudice, and, as result or
this study of years, l believe that 1t
is a social problem and not political
one Of course, politics will enter into
the solution. but the main question is,
how to bring the most prosperity and
the greatest hapl mess to the people OF
Cuba 1t is probable that there will be
a large emigration to the island, and
this emigration may assist in solving
the problem. OF course difficulty will
be met in view of the dangers OF 1eVer
and the climate"
| Captain Sharp was greatly pleased to
learn that. the Spanish cruiser Maria
Teresa had been f1oated and taken to
Guantanamo He thinks the collier
Merrfmac, sunk in Santiago harbor, can
be saved.
Ventor Won Hollenstein, an American
citizen and a member of the German
Red Cross Society, who had been in
prison for several months in Havana,
charged with completely in the insur
rection of the Cubans, was also among
the passengers of the City of Washing
ton. He was released during the first
mart of this month He is crippled and
sick from the harsh treatment. he re-
ceived.