The record-union., 1898-11-18
Spanish Troops Fisrcsly Dislike
Havana's Military Governor.
Only Awaiting the 0ppar tunity to Put Him
Out Of the Way.

the Guardta C1v1le Is Still In an
Unsatisfactory Condition and
an Outbreak may Occur at Any
Moment.
NEW YORK, Nov. ia dispatch to
the Herald" from Havana says: With
the departure of the greater number of
the Orden Publico for Spain, one of the
principal elements of disorder is re-
moved from the city. This body of
picked men, better trained and more
intelligent than the ordinary Spanish
soldier, and with the bitterest feeling
against the Government, fell naturally
into the place of the leaders of the
movement which for the last week has
kept the city in state OF constant
anxiety. From them have come the
directions to be followed in attempting
to force the Government to accede in
the soldiers wishes, and while the other
camps implicated have been equally
anxious as the Orden Publico to bring
matters to a crisis, the initiative has
been left entirely to the latter.
Their prompt removal from the ISL
and was a step hardly contemplated
by the mutineers, and has checked for
the moment any immediate action on
the part of other regiments. The Gov
ernment apparently believes that the
trouble has been averted in the mean
time. and that the danger of an upris-
ing at any moment has passed.
Streets which for weeks had presented
the appearance Of a beseiged town have
resumed almost a normal aspect. Sol
diers camped at various points, who
slept under arms and were ready to
march at the bugle call, have been
withdrawn to the outskirts, leaving
only sentries and those on picket duty.
The city is still policed by soldiers and
municipal guards, the Guardia Civile
not having been allowed to resume it's
functions.
This remaining element of danger, the
Guardia Civile, Isl still in an unsatis-
factory condition. Prompt action of the
military authorities in checking the
outbreak has tanned the spirit of the
men to some extent, but causes for
their discomfort still remain, and the
flame may burst out at any moment.
Isolated and unarmed in their quarters
in Dragones street, they are powerless
for the moment, but the day will only
be postponed in order that better op-
portunities may be taken advantage Of
The spirit existing among the men
is very bitter. If only the opportunity
arises it will not be wasted. The prin-
cipal object of their hatred is General
Arolas. His stern effective measures in
checking the outbreak on Thursday
night, together with his implacable
methods of dealing with individual re-
volters, has earned for him the fiercest
dislike of those affected His life only
will appease them and one of the first
acts of the men should they have the
opportunity will be to murder Arolas.
but it fell through.
The situation still presents an unset
tied aspect. 1t has been discovered
that many members of the Orden Pub
lico, especially of the Fourth Com
pany, escaped deportation by deserting
and flying into the country. Several
bands of these are now outside the
city, and soldiers are employed in hunt
ing them down
Another element of danger is the
Cubans. MenocaPs camp is situated
about two hours march, or half an
hours. ride, by rail, from Havana. On
reports of disturbance reaching him. he
held his men in readiness to march on
Havana with view to protect Ameri-
can and other foreign residents. A
special detail has been provided to
guard the Salon Trocha, the residence
of the American Commissioners. In
two hours Menocal says he would have
5000 men in the city and in twenty
four hours 10000 The consequences
of such a movement would have been
of grave character. The Spanish au-
thorities would never have agreed to
the use Of Cuban troops, and the re-
suit would have been triangular fight
ing in the streets-Spanish troops and
mutineers against each other, and both
against the Cubans. Complications
arising from such a situation would
have been inexhaustible.
This contemplated step by Menocal is
one of the keenest criticisms that could
be passed on the American policy Of de-
lay in occupying Cuba. American resi-
dents in Havana protected from riotous
Spanish soldiers by insurgents almost
three months after the peace protocol
had been signed, would make us the
laughing stock of Europe Americans
here express great Indignation at the
situation which renders such a pro-
posal possible.
The American and Spanish Commits
sions, in agreeing upon January 1st as
the date of the Spanish evacuation of
Cuba took a precedent from the treaty
of peace entered into fifty years ago
between Mexico and the United States.
when an agreement was made as to the
date for the American occupation to
cease. Then, as now, it was known
that all the troops could not be EN-
barked by the date agreed upon. Theo-
retically the Spanish occupation will
cease by January 1st, though it is be-
1ieved that 25,O00 Spanish troops will
still remain in Cuba. These men will
continue to occupy their barracks un-
til they leave for the peninsula. It was
agreed that all arms save those in no.
sition shall be returned to Spain. There
yet remains to be settled the right of
that country to sell the bronze cannon
and to have pay for the public
buildings within the island.
General Greene expects the first
troops to reach Havana about Novem-