The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-15
The Mutiny Of
Soldiers.
''ORDEN PUBLICO."
Forces Dissolved After
Threatening Havana.

Havana, Nov. II, via Key West, Nov.
14-The mutiny of the Orden Publico
forces, which for two days threatened
the peace of this city, resulted in the
dissolution of that body today, when,
after the payment of some arrears and
the promise of a full liquidation of their
pay, the revolving troops laid down
their arms.
Capt. Gen. Blanco then ordered all
the foot and mounted regiments of the
Orden Publico to be disbanded, that
organization ceasing to exist from this
date. AS originally planned. it was
intended that the mutiny should eX-
tend to the guardia civil and the ar
tillery regular, and it would in that
event have assumed much sraver i'm
portance and might perhaps have in
augurated a reign of terror and blood
shed in the island
That the program as planned mis-
carried, should be a source of con-
graduation to Spain and be taken as
warning to prevent the serious dis
turbanceS which are even now being
Matched.
For some time past the uprising of
the troops in regard to the non receipt
serve pay of the soldiers, their saw
ings since the date Of their enlistment,
which were looked upon by them as
sacred, have been appropriated or
stolen, as the men say by the govern
ment, which now only lends d deaf ear
to their protests and refuses to return
the hard-earned savings of the men,
What amount this reserve pay
reaches among the many regiments on
the island, it is not possible to esIi-
mate, but it is known that it aggre-
gates millions. This is the real ques-
ton which has been precipitating riots,
causing mutiny here and compelling the
men to INSTRUMENTATION at Nuevitas,
and which may yet give rise to fur
ther Widespread disturbances in the
island.
The Havana mutiny, which was
started yesterday morning, was preeip-
ltated by Gen. Arolas, the military gov
ernor of the city, whose fiery temper
and brutal treatment of officers are
the source of daily spreading discon-
tent At midnight on Wednesday, Gen.
Arolas, at the head of the battalion of
regular infantry, having been apprised
OF the intention of the troops to ioin
IN the mutiny and demand their paw.
surprised the artillery outposts sta
TONED along the Vedado road. includ-
ing the Santa Clara and Reina Choir
rera batteries, sdisarming them and
piaclng them under surveillance.
Inc next morning (Thursday) the
third company of the Orden Puhlicn
numbering about $50 men, drew up be-
lore the commanding generals palace
on the plaza des Arnes and demanded
their overdue pay. The men were Or
dered to retire, but refused. AT that
moment Cen Arolas arrived on the
scene. In an excess of rage, he lifted
ms baton of office and savagelv ar
tackled some of the onlookers. seriousiv
hurting a government employee who
had rushed from the palace from Gu
rloslty. By this time the plaza de
| Armes was filled with wildly excited
crowds, who loudly condemned and
cursed Gen. Arolas.
| AT that period of the excitement the
Orden Publico, with fixed bayonets. as
sumed an attitude Of deep hostility to-
! wards Gen. Arolas, whom the men con
sidered responsible for the disgraceful
way IN which they had been treated
That moment of suspense might have
| been fraught with deep significance had
not Gen. Zolano, Capt. Gen. Blanco's
chief of staff, appeared at the palace
door and commanded the attention of
the men. He then addressed them in
| a concilatory tone, upbraided them for
their characterization, and condemned
the ill-advised course they were pur-
suing
Then placing himself at their head
Gen. Zolano himself marched the men
back to their quarters, where he again
addressed them, promising them they
would be paid
This occurred at 8 o'clock this morn
ing, and the day passed quietly without
any further incident until dusk
Shortly after nightfall, Cen Arolas
at the head of the regulars, and pre-
coded by a band of music playing ma
tional airs, arrived before the Order
Publico's quarters, where he halted
Before him stood the mutinous thirc
company, grim and sullen. Turning t
the men, Gen. Arolas reminded then
that they We're regulars and veterans
not mere policemen, as they had beer
tauntingly referred to- The Order
Publico then gave three cheers fol
Spain and the army, which were lusti
Iy answered. To the disgust of Gen
Arolas, however, right on the heels O
these ''vivas,' the regulars cheereC
: ltheir comrades and the Orden Publict
answered in turn.
: Gen. Arolas, with rage, ordered hi
men to charge, but they refused t
: obey He then ordered them to fire
which they also refused to do. Gen
Arolas then realized he had lost hi
moral influence over the men, ana at
ter calling the officers aside and confer
ring with them for a few minutes, h
left for the palace, accompanied by hi
D staff and seven officers. About tw
blocks from the scene, Gen. Arolas
party came upon an innocent and un
S suspecting member of the Orden Pub
s leo, who was unarrned. Mad wit
fury. Gen. Arolas drew his sword ant
savagely attacked the man, inflictin
on him severe wounds, from which tn
n victim of the assault died this morn
: ing.
i. In the mix-up, Lieut.. Malta, Ger
= Arolas' aidedecamp, had his hand cut
= supposedly by Arolas sword, as
Z was the only one drawn. Malta ha
!, his wound dressed, and, although h
e was forced to carry his injured arm i
a sling, he stuck by Gen. Arolas a.
night.
Toward II O'Clock, Gen. Arolas, VIII
had been notified that further upris
- ings had taken place among the me
: | somewhat sobered and pacific, retnrne
to where he had left the troops and OF
dered them away, leaving a guard sta
n toned in the buildings adjoining an
= facing the barracks of the Orden Pull
q leo, who by this time had been per
| suaded by their own officers to with
!. draw within their quarters. Toward
: midnight most of the regiments of tn
# Orden Publico, both cavalry and infant
ry throughout the city, had mutinie
and turned out fully armed into tn
streets. Gen Arolas, with the regulars
Imet them at the Calzada del Monts
e where a repetition of the earlier in
t cidents occurred, the troops again re
g fusing to obey orders when command
n ed to fire
!, A conference then took place be