The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-07
THE HAVANA DfffNSfS
STRENGTHENED By PLANTING
MORE GROUND
FOOD PRICES RISE STEADILY
But the People Believe That the Span
ish Fleet Is Coming to Their
Relief
Associated Press Special Wire

=
HAVANA, May rs, via Vera Cruz, Mex,
May 30.-The news of the arrival at San
tiago de Cuba of what is known here as
the first division Of the Spanish fleet has
considerably lightened the hearts of the
Spaniards and the news has been received
with great rejoicing. The feeling Of salts
faction is all the more intense as it is hoped
that the Spanish warships will soon enter
the harbor of Havana, after which, unit
ing with the second division of the fleet
under Admiral Gamara, 1t is believed the
naval forces of Spain will attempt to strike
decisive blow at some part of the United
States. At least this is the view Of the
situation taken by the Spanish authorities
here. Havana and the rest of the island
Of Cuba, SO far as heard from, is officially
pronounced to be entirely quiet No riots
or other disturbances are reported to have
occurred and the inhabitants profess them
selves to be longing for an encounter with
the forces of the United States. Prepare
tons for defense are being pushed night
and day and work is going on without ceas-
ing on the Notifications all over the is
land. The Spanish officials here claim that
ii $4,000 men were needed to take Havana
by land and sea when the war broke out,
at least 100000 men will be required to at
tack the Cuban capital now, in view Of
the new and strengthened Notifications
and also because the so-called cultivation
zone" has been extended to Rincon, Gala
bara, Bejucal, etc., which are inside of the
line of defense, thus, it is claimed, MAX
ing Havana a Spanish Sebastopol. This
increase in the cultivated area about Ha-
t.. s~.l~, 4.
itants with food a long time to come.
Another matter which the Spaniards are
freely discussing is the allegation that very
many of the American shells do not explode
and it is further claimed that very little
damage is done by those which do explode.
On this assumption the Spanish officers are
poking fun at the American gunners, claim
ing that they know but little about the hand
ling of cannon.
Eggs. corn meal, -four etc, are becoming
more scarce in Havana and the prices of all
articles Of food are doubling, though very
many families have left Havana and large
numbers Of houses are to let. There is still
considerable coal in Havana. Only about
one-quarter of the usual number of street
lamps are lighted. All the stores and bust
ness houses are without gasl.ght and the
state of semi-darkness gives Havana quite
weird appearance at night but It saves the
coal.
In spite of regulations for governing the
price of provisions, the military governor
finds it impossible to prevent people charg
ing double prices for evrythng. owing to
the discount of silver The army and labor
ing people are paid in silver.
The Spanish officials have discovered in
the house of an English nurse, Sister Mary,
who attended the sick and wounded survi-
vors of the United States battleship Maine
In the hospitals. a considerable quantity of
American relief provisions. Because she had
not notified the authorities of the existence
Of these provisions she has been ordered to
leave Havana and will go on the first oppor-
tunity.
II is reported that the military governor
will Issue an order prohibiting the sale of
provisions for delivery outside of the city
Of Havana. This would insure Havana's
store of provisions lasting for long time
to come.
The autonomists are daily giving more
island. They seem to have no idea of admin
lstration and as a result Captaln-General
Blanco is compelled to do most of that work
for them. Autonomy is mockery and the
captaln-general has the reins of government
entirely In his own hands. Besides there
are continual discussions between the So
called historical autonomists and the radical
autonomists, which, had the instruction
been subdued, probably would have caused
another civil war.