The San Francisco call., 1898-01-20
QUIET IS
 RESTORED
 AT HAVANA May Be but the Calm That PrecedeS
 the Storm. Soldiers Declare Openly That BlancO Must Give
 Up His Post. They Would Not Fire Upon Rioters if He Ordered
 Them to Do So. PLANTS OF AMERICANS. Even Consul-General Lees Mail Is Held Up by Agents Of the
 Spanish Government.
Even COnsul-General Lees Mail Is Held Up by Agents of the
 Spanish Government.
Copyright. 1898. by James Gordon Bennett.

HAVANA, Jan. 19.-Aboslute calm now reigns in Havana, and 1t Is diffi- cult to realize that a few days ago the city was apparently on the verge of revolution. Although the rioting was practically over on Friday night, troops continued to be poured into the city up to Sunday. General Bernet arrived from Pinar del Rio on that morning with a force estimated at 2000 men and bivoucked in the railroad yards in Prado, where most of his forces remain. At about the same time a column of 1000 cavalry rode in and found quarters in Curtel de le Flu erza. In Cuba street, on artillery wharf, batteries of field artillery were planted in position to rake Cuba and Chacon streets.
 All public buildings along the harbor front, from Plaza de Armas to Punta, were crammed with troops and large bod les of cavalry and infantry were held in reserve in streets adjacent to Central Park. It is estimated that fully 12,00O troops were in the city in addition to the regular garrison.
 There was much speculation as to the cause of such extraordinary precau- tions in view of the fact that the city was apparently tranquil. An expla- nation offered for the concentration of troops far in excess of the apparent gravity of the situation is that General Blanco has determined to mobilize one quarter of the volunteer force and put 1t into the field in active service If he ever had such an idea, he has ap- parently abandoned it. much more probable solution is offered in the New York Herald's Madrid telegram in the papers received here this morning, stat ing that the riots were the result of a Conservative plot in Spain to over throw the ministry ard General Blanco and enforce the return of General Weyler
 There is no question that the bitter est feeling against General\ Blanco and autonomy is entertained in Conserva- tive circles and among volunteers and in the army. Volunteer officers are open in expressions of hostility and regulars are no less hostile, but are generally more guarded in their utter ances.
 A regular officer said yesterday that General Blanco would have to go. and If the regulars were ordered to fire on the volunteers or the people, he be- heved they would refuse to obey.
 learn that General Blanco has been distinctly notified that the army will not permit the Government to extend aid to recOncentrados while loyal sol diers are suffering from want of SUD- plies Circulars are daily distributed in the streets and cafes calling volun- teers to arms to avenge insults put on loyal Spaniards by the new regime. A bomb was exploded on Monday night at Infanta and Monte streets, but no damage was done.
 All American papers were again held in the pOstoffice to-day Many citizens complain that their letters have been opened as well as delayed In the last mail Consul-General Lees papers, ad- dressed to the consulate, were held up and General Lee sent a strong personal remOnstrance to General Blanco and later got his papers. To-day his papers were again stopped.
 The Herald's correspondent in Sagua la Grande writes that mail fo1 United States citizens there Is being tempered with, including mail for the consulate.