Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-12
PRESIDENT SMESSAGE
HISTORY OF the Cuban War ReyjeWed
at Length.
IMMEDIATE AcTIox OPPOSED
Waiting P0IICu OF tbs Administrations Continue
Little LONGER.
POSITION ON The MAINE DISASTER
Spain Indirectly, if Not Directly Response
bic for the Explosion
Executive Asks for Authority to Use the Forces Of the
United States in His Discretion His Reasons
for Opposing the Recognition Of
Cuban Independence.

Christian peoples. The policy of de-
vastation and concentration. inilugu-
rated by the captain generals band
OF October Il. 1856 in the province OF
l'inais del ltio, VAS thence extended To
embrace all Of the island to which the
power OF the Spanish arms MAS able
TO reich by occupation or by military
operation. The peasantry. including
all dwelling in the open agricultural
interior, We're driven into the garrison
toWHS or isolated places held by the
troors- The raising and movement of
prok-sYionS Of all kinds We're interIlict-
ed. The fields We're laid waste. dwell
lngs unroofed and fired, mills destroy
ed, and IN short everything that could
desolate the land and render it unfit
FOR human habitation or support. was
commanded by one or the other Of the
contending parties. and executed by
al the powers at their disposal.
HORRORS OF CONCENTRATION
'BE the time the present adminis-
tr;ltlon took office Il year ago, recon
centratiun, su-callcd had been mad.
effective over the better part of the.
four central and western PROVINCES
SAINT; Clara, Matanzas. Havana and
Plnar del Rio. The agricultural popu-
lation, to the estimated number OF
100000 or more. was herded within the
towns and their immediate vicinage,
deprived of the means of support rem
dered destitute of shelter left poorly
ltary conditions. AS the scarcity of
food increased with the devastation of
the depopulated areas Of production,
restitution and want became misery
and starvation. Month by month the
death rate increased in AN alarming
ratio. by March. 1897. according to
Conservative estimates from official
Spanish sources. the mortality among
the leconcentrados from starvation
ana the diseases incident thereto. en-
tIElH an
number No practical relief was ac-
corded 10 the destitute. The over
burdened towns, already suffering
from the general dearth. could give no
aid. So-ca!cd zones of cultivation
established within the immediate area
of effective military control about the
cities and fortified camps proved ilu-
sorry as remedy for the suffering
The unfortunates, being for the most
part women ana children with aged
and helpless men. enfeeDlcd by disease
and hunger, could not have titled the
soil. without tools. seeds or shelter for
their own support or for the supply of
the cities. Recommendations. adopted
aFoWcdiy as Il war measure in order
to cut off the resources OF the insur-
gents. worked its rredestined result.
AS I said in my message of last De-
cember. it was not civilized warfare;
1t was determination. The only peace
it could beget was that of the wilder
liesS ana the grave. 'N.MM ... .-
CCBANS. HOLD THEIR GROUND.
Meanwhile. the military situation
IN the island had undergone a noticea-
BILE change. The extraordinary :lctiv-
lty that characterized the second year
or the war, when the insurgents in
vaded even the hitherto unframed
fields OF Pinar del Rio and carried
havoc and destruction up to the walls;
| OF the city of Havana ITSELF had re-
| iapsed into Il logged struggle in the
| central and eastern provinces The
| spanish arms regained a measure OF
control in Pinar del Rio and parts of
| Havana. but, under the existing con
| ditions OF the rural country. without
| immediate Improvement of their pro
| ductive situation. Even thus partially
! restricted the rcvoutionists held their
! own and their conquest and subnis-
sion. out forward by Spain as the cs-
sential and sole basis of peace, seemed
as far distant as at the outset
! IN this state of affairs my admins
sratlon round itself confronted witt,
the grave problem Of its duty My
message o! last December reviewed
| ,. s'tuti,,"n and narrated the STEPS
taken with Il view to relieving its
acEteness and opening the way to
| some form Of honorable settlement
ne assassination Of the prime minis
ter. canovaS. led to. a change of gov
cfHment IN Spain. The former admin
| - $500 l'ie"St' 20 SuD1uSati0n With
""t concession. gave place to that of a
more liberal party. committed long in
advance to policy OF reform invo,y-
ing the wider principle of home rule
tor Cuba and Puerto Rico. The. over
lures Of this government. made
| through its new envoy, General Wood
ford. and looking to an immediate and
effective amclioration of the condition
Of tho island. although not accented
to the extent of admitted mediation in
any shape, We're met by assurances
that home rule. in an advanced phase
would be forthwith offered to Cuba
without waiting for the war to end
and that more humane methods
should henceforth prevail In the con-