The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27

s, who alone have organization and

saers, wEo alone have organization and
arms.
In consequence of the assurances that
American life and property would be pro-
tected General Lee said that he had do
clined to make application for the pres
encn of one or moro warships in Havana
harbor and had advised Americans who
had wives and children not to send them
away, ast least for the present.
81 still think: continued General Lee,
ssthat two warships at least should be at
Key West prepared to 1aove at short no.
tice, and that more Of them should be at
Dry Tortugas, and that a coaling station
should be established there. Such proceed
ings would seem to be in line with that
prudence and foresight necessary to afford
safety to Americans residing on the island
and to their properties. .
Under the same date General Lee sends
another communication containing the
statements of Sepor Canalejas, the editor
of the Madrid Ell Heraido, who had just
returned from Pinar del Rio province aft
er the conflict between the Spanish forces
under General Valasco and the Cuban
forces under Diaz, in which Canalejas was
quoted as saying that the Spanish forces
had displayed their usual valor, but that
the province was rot paci6ed; that out OF
IL, ,000 Spanish troops only between 5000
and 4, 900 were able to operate, the balance
being sick at hospitals, or in garrisons
and towns; that he believed autonomy
premature and was inclined to the adop-
ton of energetic military action for the
purpose of pacifying the province; that
the truth. should be known in Spain,
where public opinion and the press had
been deceived regarding the annihilation
of the war and the so called pacifcation OF
the western provinces.
Cats Used as Food.
Under date of Dec. General Lee sent
communication to the department. regard
ing the measures for the relief of the re-
concentrates, much Of which is not made
public. In the poxtion given out General
Lee says:
81 see no effect of the governmental dis
tribution to the reconcentrados. am In
formed that only s1s, SEQ in Spanish silver
has been dedicated to the Havana prov
ince out oe the 500, 900 said to have been
set aside for The purpose Of relieving them
on the island, and that reports from all
parts Of the province show that SO per cent
have already died, and that many Of those
left will die, and most of these are wom-
en- and children I am informed an order
has been Issued In some parts Of the Is
land suspending The distribution to recon
centrados.
ssThe condition of these people is simply
terrible. hear Of much suffering in tho
Spas;sh hospitals for want Of food. hear
also that the Spanish merchants in some
parts of the island are placing their estab-
lishments in the names Of foreigners to
avoid having their provisions purchased
on credit by the military administration.
In some parts Of the island am told
there is scarcely any food for soldiers or
citizens and thas ever cats are used for
food purposes, selling for 80 cents apiece.
1t is "a fair Inference to draw from existing
conditions that 1t Is not possible for the
governor general to relieve the present
situation with the means at his disposal
s.FITzKUGH LEE.
Dec. 13 came the following:
ssSIR-I have tho honor to make the fol-
lowing report: The contest for and against
autonomy IS most unequal. For It there
are five or six Of the head officers at the
palace and 90 or 80 other persons here in
the city, Against it, FIRST. are the insur-
gents, with or Without arms, and the Gu
ban noncom batants; second, the great
mass of the Spaniards bearing or nonbear-
ing arms-the latter desiring, il there
must be change, annexation tc the Unit
ed States. Indeed, there is the greatest
apetby concerning autonomy in any form.
No one asks what it will be or when or
how it will come.
81 do not see bow it could be even put
into operation by force, because as long as
the insurgents decline to accept it so long,
the Spanish authorities say, the war must
continue ,"
Half the Keconcentrados Dead.
Dec. "A General Lee sends another COM
munication saying that the total number
of reconcentrados in Habana province will
reach 100000, and that the death ratio
from starvation alone would be over so
per cent. For the>relief of these people,
he says, S12, 500 in silver has been set
aside, $50 that il every dollar appropriated
reaches them the distribution will average
about IL cents to person, which, OF
course, will be rapidly exhausted, and as
/ can hear of no further succor being af-
forded it is easy to perceive what little
practical relief has taken place in the con-
dition of these poor people,
Dec. 2S General Lee makes the first
communication about the new scheme OF
autonomy. He says that ho has been In
formed that the authorities are engaged
in forming an autoromist cabinet, arrang-
ing for the members to take the required
oath on Jan. 1, and "also for an election
80 days thereafter. Ny present in
formation is that most Of tho Spaniards
will refrain from voting and nearly all the
Cubans. -
ssThe feeling in Havana, and, I hear, in
other parts Of the island, is strong against
it, the Cubans desiring an independent
republic, and the Spaniards pseferring an
nexation to the United States rather than
autonomy.
'sOn the night Of the oath inst. there
seems TO havo been concerted plan over
the island to testify, the disapprobation OF
49,, x~oo-to ~ tho y,r0pocod opO,oicfic