The herald., 1898-05-21
SPANlARDS At HAVANA
WORKING HA1D TO urP1ovz
'DEFENsEs
INTERIOR TOWNS EVACUATED
All Available Forces Concentrated In
Large Coast Cities Where Attack
aCay Be Expected
Associated Press Special wire


HAVANA. May .. via Vera Crus, May
ls.-The weight Of the blockade IL begin
ming to be felt here. Business IL almost vt
. complete standstiil and there il hardly
any movement in the streets which have
q sort Of holiday appearance. The parks
are almost deserted and there are very
few people to be seen on the Plasa de
Arms at night. although the band plays
there and everything possible 10 done TO
keep UP the spirits Of the people.
There Is feverish desire to leave the -
land and over 5000 people booked at the
office Of the consignees of the French
steamer Lafayette which leaves here to-
day for Vera Cruz. Mexico. with this letter
which will be posted at that port. In
fact, an actual panic now prevails while
when the blockade commenced there was
q feeling almost Of serenity among all
classes. But things have changed. Tne
grim earnestness of the Americans IL
steadily forcing itself upon the minds OF
even the most hot headed Spanish omcers'
though the latter are working vigorously
at the Notifications which have been con-
siderably strengthened and improved since
the war began. The Spaniards, 1t must be
admitted, are preparing to fight as desper-
ately as possible under the circumstances.
Many families without means. desiring
to emigrate, are endeavoring to borrow
money from more fortunate people In order
to pay their passage. But 1t II impossible
&c see how their condition will be improved
to any considerable extent even II they do
decide In leaving the blockaded city for
they have been rendered penniless and
their chance of earning livelihood in any
foreign country is very slim. There Ii con-
siderable feeling against the men who are
desirous Of leaving the city, and posted
on the corners of houses all over the town
you can see such notices a. follows: Here
are old women's shirts for men who are
abandoning tho island Of Cuba"
There has been no disorder in this city
or in the provinces SO far as known, though
1t is true people here are entirely ignorant
of what is transpiring at Santiago no mail
having been received from there for some
time past and the cable being in the hands
Of the government and almost exclusively
devoted to further military operations,
which are about limited to evacuating the
interior towns and concentrating the Span
ish forces at or about the large cities.
1t is reported here that Santa Cruz del
Sur, on the South coast of Puerto Principe,
has fallen into the hands of the insurgents.
II this is the case. the latter now have a
port at which their friends can land arms,
ammunition and supplies without inter-
ference. Other important events are said
to have transplred at Santa Cruz del Sur.
The officers of the Spanish gunboat Cuba
Espanola, have reached Sancti Spiritus
Province OF Santa Clara, by land and are
on their way to Tunas, and from there by
coasting steamer to Cienfuegos. One re-
port has 1t that the commander of the
Cuba Espanola burned or blew up his yes
sci in order TO save 1t from falling into
the hands of the insurgents. Another YER
sion of the affair says the gunboat may
have been captured by the insurgents.
Confirmation has been received here that
the Spanish troops have evacuated
Jiguno and Bayamo, in the Prov
ince Of Santiago de Cuba, and
that they have been occupied by the insur-
gents. The Spaniards say the troops de-
stroyed those two towns before leaving
them, but this II not believed. The troops
from these places retreated upon Manza-
Milo and some of them have reached other
coast towns by this time.
Although the prices Of provisions here
are very high, it is calculated that there
is food enough obtainable to last about five
months, because, 1t is claimed, considerable
stores were laid in before the blockade
and no provisions are allowed to be sent
from here to the interior towns. Eggs
cost ten cents each, glass of milk costs
from 20 to Is cents, and the size Of the
loaf OF bread has been reduced one-half.
This, however, was done before the block
ade began.
There are thousands of men from the
cigar, tobacco and other factories out Of
work and the authorities are employing
as many of them as possible on the forti-
fications. The number of men idle causes
great anxiety. Up to the present they have
been provided with food in one way or
another. mainly by their employers being
compelled to contribute to their maintain
ance. But the time must come when these
men will feel the pangs Of hunger, and then
rioting Is sure to follow.
People here are looking forward with
apprehension to the eventual triumph of
the insurgents, as 1t is believed they will
wreak vengeance upon the Spaniards and
upon those who have sympathized with
the latter.
The bulk Of the Spaniards, however, are
filled with war-like enthusiasm, and are
looking forward with confidence to an
eventual triumph over the American for
ces. They have great faith In the strength
of the Spanish feet and the valor of the
Spanish soldiers, and are looking forward