The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-24
Spnniards Secretly Encouragin the
HOt-Headed Insurgents to
Stir Up Mischief.
REIGN OF PLUMBER In CUBA
BLANCO'S CORRUPT OFFICERS
STEALING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.
Money ExtOrted from Soldiers for
Their Passage HOme-Havana Off,
ciaIs Unpaid-The Cuban Assembly.

HAVANA. Oct. %. via Key West, Fla,
Oct. 23.-Paz y Libertad, one of the daily
papers of Cienfuegos, published with the
sanction of the government, prints u nan
ifesto with over three hundred signatures,
a great many of which are those of Span-
iards openly prociaiming Cuban independ-
ence
Owing to the fact that Spanish officers
are selling commissary stores ct any price
obtainable, army supplies are now drug
in the market in the interior, making legit-
innate trade impossible. 1t is asserted that as
the Spanish rule in Cuba draws towards
a close corruption plunder and robbery
become daily more open and wholesale. Tie
commission on transportation, charged with
furnishing passage tickets to Spanish Of
ficers returning to Spain, is charging an
arbitrary rate of $4 each for berth. If
the victim refuses to give UP he is made
to wait for several steamers, the commits
sion claiming that there is no room. Cen
orally the officer is glad to pay the tax in
order to get away. This ABUSE is openly
spoken of. but the present situation is a
free-for-all, grab-as-grab-can game and ev-
cry one appears eager to make money while
the Spanish still shines.
The official report of the burials In the city
of Havana, since the first Of The present
year, shows that there have been 1851
interments. The average death rate Keeps
on steadily at forty-seven per Cay.
Great discomfort prevails among the Span
ish troops because of non-oaymeat, in
some cases for six months, in Others for
seven months. and in still others for even
eight months, and the soldiers fear that
they will be embarked for Spain without
receiving their pay.
REVOLT AGAINST POOR FOOD.
The poor quality of the food supplied to
nearly all the soldiers has occasioned much
ill-feeling, and serious insubordination is
feared in several localities. In tile province
of Puerto Principe of the 800 members of
the civil guards 800 have deserted and gone
over to the insurgents. AT tJueyitas the
Taragonna battery became insuborGinate
and attempted to join the insurgents on
account of the short rations and the
wretched quality of the food supplied by
their chief General March, in command
in that province on learning of this oc-
currence, went to Nuevitas and succeeded
IN controlling the soldiers by furnishing
them with good and plentiful ratlons.
Many soldiers until recently We're desert
ing, but General Blanco's decree regarding
dsbandment has Dut stop To The defec-
tions. Over 5000 soldiers have been mus
tered out since the issuance of the decree.
The sanitary brigades of Havana, Guara>
bacoa, Regla and Guines, with those of
several other localities in Havana Irov-
inces, have petitioned General Blanco that
they be disbanded and that they may re-
main in the island. Some Of tine engineer
brigades have also solicited their disc har ge
here The for ri ff
posed of the best drilled soldiers. Over
four hundred of the 700 members Of the
Orden Pubico at Havana have also asked
to be mustered out, in order that tkey may
remain in Cuba, and 20 per cent. of all the
civil guards in the island have made a
similar request. None of the artillerymen,
however, has asked to be allowed 10 re-
main. The reason for this is said to be
that the artillery chiefs maintain an fnpest
administration and that the soldiers are
well supplied with food and clothing and
are paid up to date
About fifty Cuban patriotic clubs have
been organized in Havana under the man
agement, in a large majority of cases, of
physicians, lawyers and other professional
men. Many of the members of some of
these clubs attended the first meetings
wearing the Cuban and American flags
crossed The presiding officers OF several of
the clubs. noticing the insignia in the but
tonholes of the coats of the members, or
dered that in future only the Cuban flag
should be worn. In many instances this
order was complied with
PREACHING A HOLY WAR
The Cuban General Rego has arrived at
Havana from Puerto Principe, and is
preaching in the Havana cafes and at the
inc o;+
against the Americans. He has interviewed
many of the leaders of the Cubans and has
urged the carrying on of war against
Americans if independence is not at once
granted to Cuba The Cuban Colonel Tor
riente has also arrived at Havana from the
east and is carrying on a strong campaign
against the Americans and Calixto Garcia,
whom he processes to look upon as traitor
to the Cubans and as bribed by American
gold Colonel Torriente, in an interview
with the editor of one of the leading news
papers of Havana, made all sorts of dec
larations against General Calixto Garcia
and the Americans but the censor would
not allow an account of the interview to be
publish sd. fearing that it might give rise to
disturbances.
A secret circular has been sent to the
presidents of all the Cuban patriotic COM
mittets denouncing large number of
Cubans who are looked upon as traitors to
the cause of Cuban independence and are
charged With being attached to the Amer
leans. The circular recommends a vigorous
contest against not only Spanish residents.
but against Americans as well. who are
endeavoring 10 steal the cubans victory
Colonel Cervera, the Spanish military
governor of Marianao. pays daily visits to
the insurgent camps in his district adyis-