The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-30
: X I R !! !!
DELICATE
SITUATION.
Troubles Multiply on the
Hands Of General Shafter
at Santiago.
CUBAN BANDITS DEMANDS
Respectable Residents Fear q
Reign Of Looting and
Murder.
ALL TRADE PARALYZED
Guarantees Asked From Our
Government of An Ample
Force to Preserve Peace.
MERCHANTS TRYING 10 SELL
immune Regiments to Take Control
Of the Province--Other
Troops to Come
Home.
ALL TRADE PARALYZED
Guarantees Asked From Our
Government of An Ample
Force to Preserve Peace.
MERCHANTS TRYING TO SELL

lBy Gable. Copyright, 1898. by The Associated
Press
SANTIAGO DE CUBA. July 20. 1885,
q2:15 P. M.)-Delayed in transmission.)-
The nervousness among the Spanish and
foreign merchants here, due, they claim,
TO the uncertainty as to the attitude of
future administration of public affairs in
Cuba.'' is seemingly increased by the re-
port that the American troops are to be
withdrawn.
This morning the correspondent of the
Associated Press had an interview with
General Shafter and called his attention to
the claims made by the merchants here
as to the '.impossibility of a resumption
of business unless assurances were given
by the United States Government that
enough American troops would remain to
maintain order and that stable govern
ment would be established" Thereupon
General Shafter cabled the facts as set
forth by the merchants to Adjutant-Gen-
eral Cprbin, requesting authority to give
them the desired assurance in the name
of the President.
General shafter says that four immune
regiments from Alabama and Mississippi,
in all 5000 men, half of whom are expected
today will remain to garrison the city
He has recommended the withdrawal Of
the cavalry and their return north as soon
as their state of health will permit.
1t is understood that the balance of the
Fifth Army Corps will go to Montauk
Point, Long Island, and there is great re
joicing among the troops.
The situation here is an extremely del
icate one. On the one hand the Cubans
clamor for the entrance of their troops
into the city. On the other. the Spanish
such a possibility, and the uncertainty
as to the final conditions causes grave
apprehensions.
The merchants are all anxious to dis
pose of their merchandise at a sacrifice
and to leave the island rather than to re-
main under Cuban rule They say
definite assurance by proclama-
ton of the continuation of the
American occupation of the city until
49,, ,s7a. II ,r,,o 10 ~ ,,,,7o. 1c
tablished government is necessary to any
immediate resumption of business and to
the future prosperity of the city's COM
merce.
1t seems, from survey of the situation,
the nature of the Cubans and their native
army, that it is fairly doubtful whether
they would be able to maintain order 1t
appears prudent at this juncture to make
the facts and conditions and thus antici-
pate some possible criticism of the dras-
tic measures which may be rendered
necessary her shortly. measures which, if
unexplained, might lay the Military Gov
ernor and the associated authorities open
to censure.
The rumor of the withdrawal of the
American Army. coupled with a report
that the Cubans will enter the city, has
aroused in the merchants and land own
ers grave fears. which have been alle-
waited to some degree by General Shat
ter's assurance that four immune regi-
ments were expected to remain in occu-
patton Of the city, for the preservation
Of order
one feature Of the situation. not with
out its amusing characteristics, is the
constant stream Of native residents who
are presenting claims to the authorities
here AGAINST the United States govern
ment for losses sustained at the hands Of
Cuban troops damage to property rob-
berry and plunder, durIng tlls last three