New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-12
V1NoW BROS 10 Aston Place. New York City, Sole Agents ie'
v1NoW co.. d. pt9p Al Farngon Road London T. IT, Eng:

,ao,,,g y, ,ne hare ground without bedding OF any
kind. without food. save TO SUCH as we nave peen
able TO reach with provisions sent 1ur own nooe
ueoole and the most distressing feature Is that fully
81 ner cent are ILL., without medical attention or
medicine"
Mr. Barker ADDS that Il s. 90 could be telesraphed
TO Consu-Cfeneral Lee blankets. cots and medicines
could be purchased there in the several towns ad-
tacent and thus he could thousands who must
die i, compelled 70 await the sending OF these sup
plies from the United States. Il have" ne adcs.
found the civil Governor willing to iend every ao
IN his power but ne admits that ne can GO hothih1
hut assist with his civil officers IN expedt!ng reflex
sent by the United States. The military oostruct
in every way possible
BLANCO's MEASURES A FAILURE.
In the earlier parts OF his correspondence Xr.
Barker indicates the reasons why General Blanco's
orders relieving the reconcentratos must prove OF
no avail He says that while the first article OF the
order grants permission TO the starving class 10 re-
,urn 10 the country the third article ahrogaes this
permission In exacting that the places 10 which
they 20 must Re garrsoned This CONDITION alone.
he saws will preclude over one-haf or these por
unfortunates for their homes are in ruins and the
sugar estates able maintain guard can care for
o,lv q small percentage OF the whole. While ne
aoes not question the good intention OF those then
g., ~ Yer ne says 1T Is self-cvident fact that the
rnor,tes are utterly helpless to extend any RELIEF
- los who have thus far survived the panss OF
-" His observation does not bear out the
s,,+srent made by the Captaln-General through a
,et,er 70 the Spanish Minister that EXTENDED zones
q, cultivation have been organized the daily ra-
,Io,s arc provided by the State. and that work Is
furnished. .,.u,.- -
grinding cane under the present conditions He
saws IN his letter OF November % that ne had hsa
interviews with most OF the large Planters IN HIS
consular district and they had stated that, unless
assured Of immunity from Gomez they wouio no.
a,ternnt 10 grind as by doing they woula
,hai- IL "
unouestoned fact that the military are poweriess
70 give this necessary protection
Mr. Barker devotes much space to the suffering
and mortality OF the people OF the province no
places the mortality figures for six OF the prin-
cpal cities OF his district for the period beginning
January and ending November 10. 1897, at soSSs
This IS the Official record. and he declares that
fully o per cent should be added to cover deaths
OF which record was kept
SPANISH SOLDIERS VICTIMS. TOO.
"t-ndoubtedly" he says. "one-half the concen-
trated people have died. and to-day Spanish sol'
dlers are companion victims OF the surviving nom
combatants This appalling death roll is mute. yes
convincing proof Of the terrible destruction or lie
OF the main policy pursued IN attempting to suo)u-
gate the Island With me the conviction is firmly
rooted that within sixty days 80 per cent OK ths
populace Will reach a state OF craving hunger. nor
do | feel that am speaking Numerically when
include the rank and file Of the Spanish Army The
true status viewed at present. will bear out this
opinion The suffering among the troops as wen
as the reconcentrados simply beggars portrayal
while discomfort ripens daily"
on December 10 Mr. Barker related the particu"
lars OF a visit he made TO five OF the principal rail-
road towns In hi. consular district which tour had
been undertaken TO verify previous statements. IL
covered the towns Of Santa Clara. Cruces. Esper.
ANA Jico,ea and Santa Domingo. The report says:
THE desttution Is simply too narrowing to re-
cite and must become intensified each day. The
death rate FOR last month shows an increase %
about - per cent. In these towns / got my infor"
nation from the Mayors OF each. From them
learned while there issue OF food running
from three to five days beginning on the Sth ult.
consisting Of six ounces Of bacon or jerked beef
and six ounces Of rice for adults. with half this
allowance for children under fourteen years the pit.
lance given was sufficient only for one-fourth TO
e-tenth OF the starving No further relief has
been given up 10 date. and the Mayors Of these
towns authority for stating that the Captain
General had ordered dscontinuance OF food to the
concentrates"
This order from the Captain-GenerA was sp-
parently given because Of the insunicieucy Of the
food supply for the Spanish soldsrs The Mayor Of
Santa Clara also told Mr.. Barker that the MILL
| tary commander had informed him that he w