The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-09
WAR FEELING IN HAVANA.
GREAT ExoIrEMENr AeAINsT TEE
UNITRD STATES

UNITED STATES.
spaniards undaned by Assertions That war
Material u snuEGiea ts the Insurgents In
the suppiies Sent 70 tue Rsconcentrsase-
Cos. weyier's Oaisus Practices Revived.
HAVANA. March 8. via Key west-Forco
fighting around Havana and in Pinar del Rio
province. wild excitement against the United
States among the Spanish residents and volun-
teers In the city ana terror among tho Cuban
families over tho renewal Of Gen. weyler's
cruelties and methods Of persecution are the
leading features in to-day's news. There IL
fear that Americans here are now in great
danger OF their lives. Gen. Blanco haa thrown
Off tho mask Of meekness with which he
tried to impressin his favor public opinion In
the United States and 10 now fully satisfJing
the bloody instincts of the most rabid partisans
of weyler.
The Spaniards here arc showing the greatest
enthusiasm for q war against the United States.
A gala performance will be given this week Mt
tho Tacon Theatre to raise q popular fund
TO buy warships for Spain. Tho cheap.
est place will cost $40, Senior Don Manuel
Calvo. tho old leader of the incorporating
Spaniards. agent hero Of tho Spanish Colonial
Bank and Of the Spanish Transatlantic Com
pany. paid to-day $500 for his seat. 1t is ex-
pected that the performance will produce some
CSC. 900. which. In spite Of all the Spanish en-.
thusiasm. will not DO enough to buy . gunboat
of any service. But they say that 1t 10 only .
demonstration Of tho readiness to fight Of tho
Havana Spaniards.
Ono of thu Cauaea NJ comDlnint Rpainat tho
United States. which Ia publicly expressed hero
from Gen. Blanco down to the last volunteer.
10 that the United States are sending war sup
plies to the insurgents in the cases and pack
ages which are said to contain food for tho
starving reooncentrados. They mako that
charge to Gen. Lee, and to-day the Spanish
newspapers in Havana contain the statement
that the American Consul. Mr.. Barker. who has
rendered his resignation. is going to mako 'im-
portant disclosures " about that fact.
Tho alleged importation Of food, clothes, and
medicines for the reconcentrados." says a semi.
official note given to-day to the press, will soon
be exposed as one OF the most shameful acts Of
international treachery."
THE SUNS correspondent has not been able to
communicate with Consul Barker at SaEua, but
there is little doubt here that the supposed dis
closures are purely Spanish inventions. to mako
the Spanish rabble believe that the Government
keeps constant WAUGH On tuo pTOCceuluRSO Il tu0
Americana. Besides being o big lie that arms
and ammunition for the Cuban army have
ever been sent here by Americans through the
American consulates in the shape Of provisions
for tho reconcentrados, Consul Barker Is not the
man capable Of making any declaration against
his country in these trying moments. He is q
thorough American, and far from being dis
gusted with his Government for any fault In it's
recognition of its obligations to Spain, 1t Is now
an open fact that ho has resigned because no
cannot suffer longer delay in American inter
vention to stop the war.
The incident OF the American schooner Esther.
seized by tho Spanish gunboat Ardilla near the
southern coast of Cuba. Is thus explained. Tho
official Spanish statement given out here to-day
says that the Esther was seized within the limit
Of three miles from the Spanish coast. and that
when her Captain noticed the Spanish %gunboat,
and realized that he could not escape. he began
to make signals OF distress in order to conceal
the fact that he was in the flibustering
business. The Captain says that he was going
from Pensacola to Kingston and had TO ap-
proach the coast OF Cuba on account Of con-
trary winds and tho fact that he needed repairs.
He protests against the seizure of his vessel As
an outrage. and says that he will present TO his
Government a claim against Spain.
La Luchd announces to-day that tho United
States have backed down before the demand Of
the Spanish Government. and will not send the
supplies to the reconcentrados In warships, but
In merchantmen. There is great Joy among the
Spaniards over this news.
In less than three days over eighty we'll
known persons in Havana have been thrown
in tho dungeons of La Cabaha and Moro
Castle with the Same harshness end cruelty as
In times OF Gen. Weyler. The police declare to-
day that they have discovered and seized four
largo cases containing dynamite with which the
conspirators intended to blow up the buildings
of tho Spanish Government in Havana. Tho
seizure was made In q storehouse Of machinery
which Is in Obrapia street at tho corner of Cuba
street. All tho people In the house were ar
rested Immediately and sent to tho fortress Ia
Cabaha-
Col. Pagliery. tho Havana Chief Of Police, 10
practising tho utmost Weyleriike cruelty upon
tho prisoners. When they are arrested at mid.
night they arc taken first to the police station,
where they are subjected to tho greatest out
RACES In order to extort confessions from them or
to make them accuse other persons. The torture
called componte is used. Tho prisoner Manuel
Pardo of Lopez. who was said officially Sunday
to have offered . fierce resistance to his arrest,
compelling the Spanish police to wound him.
was really tortured by the componte. which
means that he was beaten with q manatee cano
until he lost consciousness.
Gen. Hernandez do VelaLco. In trying TO sur.
prise tho Cubans under Col. Pine Guerra. met
with q defeat at Pasos Leche. in Pinar del Rio
province. The Cubans were going to their for
titled stronghold at tho estate Branaju. where
Gen. Delgado Is with 200 men. and the Span
ish columns of Gen. Velazco and Of Gen.
BernAl, 5000 men each, did not dare to at.
tack him. Con. Hernandez de Velazco placed
his forces in ambush to surprise the Cubans.
but Col. Guerra learned, OF his plans. and instead
OF taking that route went to the place by another
ono and suddenly attacked the Spanish rear.
guard. Tho confusion was immense In tho
Spanish ranks. The detachment commanded
by Major Rijolles was put to flight Major
Lezcano and 200 Spanish soldiers under
his command shAmefully took to their
heels. abandoning tho post from which,
according TO Gen. Hernandez dA V~elaEco's plans,
they were going to fire on Col. Guerra's staff.
The Spanish General himself narrowly escaped.
and. though tho result Of tho action was not