New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-04
CALCULATING PORTO RICO.
NO CLASH BETWEEN SPANISH AND
AMERICAN COMMISSIONS.
SOME oUTRAGEs ON LIFE AND PROPERTY IN

SOME oUTRAGEs ON LIFE AND PROPERTY IN
SPITE OF EFFORTS TO KEEP ORDER
San Juan Porto Rico Sept. 26-The American
Commissioners to arrange for the evacuation or
Porto Rico have been eminently successful In their
dealings with the Spanish Commissioners. ana II
IL believed that within three weeks the last OF the
Spanish troops will sail for home and the stars
and Stripes will be unfured over San Juan
While General Macias and General Ortega. the
second in command in the island. In their converse
lions with the American Commissioners. fully
acknowledge the fact that the loss Of Cervera s
fleet cut off all hope of succor from SPAIN they
still maintain that the American Army had ire
mendous task before it in crossing the mountains
and Macias contends that the Army could not have
reached the gates of San Juan without loss OF
ten thousand men The little skirmishes on the
south coast he refuses 10 call reverses. because.
ne asserts his troops retired by his orders 10 thN
stronger positions in the mountain passes
General Brooke Admiral Schley and General Cor
don were exceedingly careful not 10 disturb the
Spaniards' illusions in this respect. and TO their
tactfulness is due the and facility with which
the negotiations were finally concluded. They de-
cided before the first meeting to stick TO the main
issue which the immediate evacuation or the
island and 10 be generous to the point of magnan-
unity in minor and non-essential matters
The Spanish Commissioners especially General
Ortega, were at first disincned to discuss the
main question. They raised a myriad OF minor
matters few of which had anything TO do with the
business in hand. All of these questions the Amer-
can Commissioners waved aside. pending the de-
csion Of the question Of evacuation. but for sew
eral days they allowed General Ortega to talk on
until he and hts colleagues were compelled TO re-
vert TO the main issue The language OF the pro-
tocol was plain definite and specific. 1t provided
for the immediate evacuation Of the island. On its
text the American Commissioners stood, ana 10
their qualification they found the Spanish Com
mssioners not only acquiescent but seemingly anx-
ious 10 retire from the island at the earliest pos
sible moment.
The Spaniards had transports to convey their
troops back to Spain. and were powerless TO obtain
them. They compelled 10 announce this 10
the American Commissioners. Until the Madrid
Government should send transportation no soldiers
could depart. While awaiting the arrival OF the
first transport the whole scheme for the retirement
Of the Spanish troops to San Juan was arranged
Both the Spanish and the American authorities
were being flooded with appeals for protection
The former were beseeched by the Spanish resi-
dents living between the lines and within the
American lines TO guard their lives and properly
from the rapacty OF the native Inhabitants VINO
were threatening them with all sorts OF persecu-
tons and the latter were the subjects OF the I'M
portunities of the rich Porto Rcans within the
Snanish lines who feared that the Spanish soldiers
would despoil them of their property ana perhaps
murder them Steps were Immediately taken 10
nrevent disorders far as possible
That there were outrages is beyond question Inc
natives burned Gotta and many fine Spanish hacleh-
dos in various parts Of the island the spanish
,roons massacred about ninety people in Gales
o,a later in suppressing an incipient rot al
Arecibo shot four natives. reign OF terror also
existed for time near Cocoas. In the centre Oh 'he
island About two hundred brigands' many Oh
,hcm said to be the convicts released py the
AMERICAN authorities at Ponce and others 1t Is
cold from, Hayti with their headquarters IN the
hort Of the mountains pillaged and ravaged the
country r., .ho,
T,,oro rore also disturbances at Fajardo when
tho Snanish troops departed. Some OF the rch
eucar planters had been driven out ai'er ,he siai'
torco of marines landed there had been WITHDRAWN
"a ,,non their return after the Spanish civil guard
retired the natives set upon the spanish residents
General Macas was compelled 10 SEM 'He sud'u
back in order TO protect them.
~, all things considered it is remarkable that
or. disorders did not occur and more lives were
M or,eced Undoubtedly every precaution was
,,r az soon as the Commissioners had arrived
-, ,he main conclusion 10 reduce the danger OF us
-der to a minimum. The neutral zone between
tho lines was wiped out. and the American soiue,s
ond tho Standards were permitted whiie III pursuit
ar" .sors N enter each others lines. This was
-, a., s,en II was then arranged that wherever
40 soon!ards evacuated a town the American
| ,roons should enter the town shoItH oeio'e ''
Sronsh retired. -. 49,, - .xo,
~ American Commissioners laid down the gem
, -.oosi,,on that the Spaniards could remove
al ,he,- personal ard private effects State papers
and everything belonging TO the military es'aoisn
mi that was movable. To this the Spaniarus az
s,,ted. and this is the theory upon "h'c" INC
evacuation is taking pace ..,o,
~ o,,y collision thus far has been In connection
,.,, sor,e e-inch siege guns on carriages. When
The first regiment Of troops was embarked on 'he
g. Fra,cisco last Thursday four OF these guns
were taken 10 the wharf ready Tor shipment me
American Commissioners protested. on the GROUND
~. o,,horgb the guns were movable from place
N Mace when in action they were mounted IN en-
. hresure- and fortified. and must he defended. In
NJ ner words they were not movable with heht-
ing line After some discussion the spanish COM
missioners agreed 10 this dehnitloh Oh ino'"''e
,, ,rhioh confined q :, rict,y to field artillery