New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-08
DRILLING BOYS FOR WAR.
A SPECTACLE IN HAVANA THAT ENClTES
THE PITY OF BEHOLDERS.

WITH sroIcAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
DESPERATE. BIT RESIGNED
pLANCo's LATEST BANJO.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBrHE.l
Havana. April g. via Key West April TINS
community awaits developments with s'oica III
difference Among the officials. from Ranco
down. the feeling is one % resignation. iA'S
ire desperate. but they have done what they
.oud to save the remnant OF Spain's sovereignty
IN Cuba. They have also made the best prepaTa-
ton possible for repulsng a hostile attack
Some navy and army officers have real faNh
in tho extensive system Of land batteries ana
In the harbor defences OF Havana. The hl2hsr
officials however fear that II the point or nos
tnties is reached and the landing OF Americfr'
troops on the island is desirable for strategic
purposes. they Will be landed at Matanzas ana
other places and march overland while havana
Is blockaded.
The authorities are doing what they can 10
increase the number Of troops available for
duty. A decree addressed TO the civil Gov
errors calling on them for census or all ape
bodied persons between the ages or nineteen
and fifty who are not already enrolled IN 'he
Volunteers and similar organizations was IN
terpreted call TO arms for ali Spanish SUD-
jects. A denial was made OF this intention. but
drill Of new recruits among the Volunteers is
an exhibition to excite pity. Cradles literally
seem to have been empted In order 70 hll the
ranks. for many Of those bearing muskets are
boys under fifteen years old.
THE MAIN TRUST IN THE NAVY.
While the populace thinks itself ready to repel
q hostile force, the main trust Is still IN the
Spanish Navy The Oquendo. the V!zcaya and
the torpedo fotilla are on all tongues. and all
tongues wag periodically 1t is yet delusion
Of the Spanish classes that war IS not to be
feared because in addition 10 defending Cuba
the Spanish fleet would devastate the Atlantic
Coast and compel the Yankees TO sue for peace
Ofic!als who encouraged this belief when they
were stirring up patriotic sentiment are now
trying to moderate It. but without success. An
actual demonstration Of naval superiority is the
only thing which will cure that deluslon THIS
loyal feeling has reached such a pitch that II
peace negotiations on the basis OF independence
should finally prevail a serious problem would
- 70 regulate II without causing counter
revolution. The authorities believe they can
now admit that instead Of the insurgents seek
ing an arrDistice Sagasa has offered 1t. ana they
might even propose flag of truce That too,
Is progress. week ago such suggestion
could not have been made without arousing bit
Ter protest, To-day Il IS received with tolera-
ton.
Reports Of attempted mediation on the part OF
the Pope was a straw clu;ched at eagerly by
the ofic!als They even credited Il to degree
not warranted by their own knowledge OF the
circumstances While Madrid may not be able
70 entertain the idea. the representatives. or
Spanish authority in Cuba see how Immensely
better 1; would be for the Peninsula TO concede
independence through mediation y report that
England and one two other European couh-
tries had replied TO SPANS diplomatic note ny
recommending that Cuban Independence be
recognized is also current to-day. and has IN
creased this feeling. Nevertheless, Captain
General Blanco is doing his duty as solder Of
Spain IN preparing for war.
THE SPANISH POWER CRvMBIANG
I. the present tension should continue without
hostilities. It is a question how long the whole
structure of Spanish power in Cuba could keep
from going down with crash. Such tenacity has
heretofore been shown In holding rotten roofs
together that prediction IS uncertain. Never
theiess the whole ednce seems ready 10 fall.
The financial condition Is one Of hopeless and
absolute bankruptcy. The other day the Gov
eminent employees received their pay In bill
letes." or paper scrip and before the scrip could
be used it had gone down five points. This is
one Of many illustrations. Another problem is
how long the Autonomist Cabinet can keep I'D
an appearance of existence With the issue Of
the last manifesto 10 the country. in which
peace under the Spanish flag was invoked It's
functions practically ceased. That documen;
praised for its literary excellence. but u
brought no response from the insurgents They
not very active. but II is true that CaliXto
Garcia has moved O considerable body OF men
westward from Santiago Province into Puerto
Principe and his forces are crossing the Juca-
ron-Marco Trocha 10 join Gomezs command.
The purpose OF this movement IN to checkmate
any military demonstration which ight be at
tempted By General Pando with the aim Of
showing that a spark of vitality yet remains In
the Spanish troops.
THE EXODUS OF AMERICANS.
The probability Is that most Americans in
Havana will be away before they exposed to
the personal danger which might follow al out
break Of hos,ilities. They are getting away rap
idly enough. The precau.on ~ sending special
vessels has been wise ore. but the majority
will leave BY the regular boats. The Consulate
registry contains about two thousand names OF
Americans but most OF these OF naturalized
Cubans and their families and many do not
now live in the city. Some apprehension IL felt
about Americans in the interior. Ultra Span
iards in the past have shown much irritation
against Consuls Br.ce. az Matanzas. and Barker
at Sagua. Recently the feeling against Barker
has been renewed. He repeats. however. that ne
has no fcar OF his ability to close up the af-
fairs OF his Office without trouble. AT this writ
ing ne Is waiting fo- instructions.
The relaxation Of quarantine regulations so
as to permit all classes TO leave Cuba for the
United States Is taken advantage Of by large
number o! Cubans who would otherwise have
gone to Mexico. AS 1t ia. many will go 10
Mexico The dread OF what might happen in
Havana IN case OF war may be untounded. but
with a great many Cubans the only SAFE pro-
cedure IL 10 leave. This is especially true .,
families who have members in the insurrection.
In the country war between Spain and the
United States Will be the signal for an exodus
OF Cuhans TO the field to join the insurgents
In many localities their plans have been per
fected. and they have also succeeded ia possess
ing themselves OF arms. The precautions taken