The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-17
HAYANA,S ESCAPE
From Anarchy and BIoodshed Was
Very Marrow.

New York, Nov. IA special 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 or
picked men, better trained and more in
telngent than the ordinary Spanish SOL
der and with the bitterest feeling
against the government fell naturally
into the place of leaders of the move
ment which for the last week has kept
the city in a state of constant anxiety.
From them have come the directions to
be followed in attempting to force the
government to accede to the soldiers
wishes and while the other corps inpli-
Gated have been equally anxious as tha
Orden Publico to bring matters to a
crisis, the initiative has been left en-
tirely to the latter.
Their prompt removal from the is
land 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
eminent 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
for weeks which had presented the ap-
pearance of a besieged town have re-
sumed almost a normal aspect Sold
iers 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the bugle call have been Withdrawn to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 civil having not
been allowed to resume its functions.
The remaining element of danger, the
guardia civil is still in an unsatisfac-
tory condition. Prompt action of the
military authorities in checking the out
break has turned the spirit of the men
to some extent, but causes their discOn-
tent still to remain and the flame may
burst out at any moment. Isolated
and unarmed in their quarters in
Dragones street they are pOwerless for
IA mn ant lint ID VT-il1 w Ea
postponed in order that better oppOrtu-
mites may be taken advantage Of
The spirit existing among the men is
very bitter. If once the opportunity ar
Uses, it will not be wasted. The prin-
cipaI object of their hatred is General
ArOlaS. His stern, effective measures
night, together with his implacable
methods in dealing with individual re-
VOTERS has earned him the fiercest dis
like Of those disafected.
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. This was the plot OF
Saturday night but it fell through.
The situation still presents an unset
tied aspect. It has been discovered
that many members of the Orden Pub
leo especially of the Fourth company
escaped deportation by deserving and
flying into the country. Several bands
of these are now outside the city and
soldiers are employed in hunting them
down.
Another element of danger is the Gu
bans. MenOcaPs camp is situated only
two hours march, or half hours ride by
rail, from Havana.
On reports of the disturbances reach
ing him he held his men in readiness to
march on Havana, with a. view to pro-
tect American and foreign residents. A
special detail has been provided to
guard the salon trOtcha, the residence of
the American commissioners. In two
hours, MenOcal asserts, he would have
had 5000 men in the city and in "a
hours, 10000 Consequence of such
movement would have been of a, grave
charac ter. The Spanish authorities
would have never agreed to the use or
Cuban troops and the result would
have been triangular fighting in the
streets, Spanish troops and mutineers,
against each other and both against the
CubanS. This contemplated step by
MenOcal is one of the keenest criticisms
that could be passed on the American
policy of delay in occupying Cuba.
American residents in Havana. protected
from riotous Spanish soldiers by insur-
gents almost three months after the
peace protocol had been signed, would
make US the laughing stock of Europe.
Americans here express great indigna-
ton at the situation which renders such
a DrOOOSa1 DOSSibIR