The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-04-22
s1any Details Cut Out ana Names
Suppressed to Prevent the Span
inrds Taking nevcnse-1sepeti-
tion. of Tales Of. Cruelty Already
Familiar to Reader. * scene. OF
Starvation and Misery Such a.
Only spnniard. Would Tolerate
Thousands of Women and Chill
dren and Noncombatant. Have
PeriShcl.

cohsuiar correspondence with regard to the
situation In Cuba was transmitted to congress
to-day. 1t was prepared in response to resolu-
lions OF inquiry by both house and senate
Lees First Report.
1t was on Nov. 2sd that Consul General
Lee made his first report to the department of
state on the condition of affairs in Cuba. 1t
Nov. both. United States consulate gen.
.eral. Havana, Nov. 49, 1897. Sir:-I have the
honor to briefly submit statement of what
appears to be the present condition Of affairs
this instance.
"First-The insurgents will not accept auton-
omy.
.second-A large majority of the Spanish
subjects who have commercial interests and
own property will not accept autonomy. but
prefer annexation to the United States, rather
than any Independent or genuine autonomy
under the Spanish flag.
'Third-The Spanish authorities are doing
an IN their power encourage protect and pro-
mote the grinding of sugar cane. The grind
Ing season commences in December
F'ourth-The insurgent leaders have given
instructions to prevent grinding wherever 1t
can be done, because by preventing the export
OF sugar the Spanish revenues are decreased
1t will be very difficult for the Spanish au-
thorities to prevent cane burning. because one
man at night can start fire which will burn
could ignite prairie by throwing a match
into the dry grass.
"Fifth-I am confident that Gen. Blanco and
Pando his chief of staff, as we'll as DR.
conosto. the secretary general with all whom
I have had conversations are perfectly con-
scientious in their desire to relieve the dis
Weyiers RECOMMENDATION order, but unfortu-
nately they have not the means to carry out
such benevolent purposes.
In this vicinity matters assuming bet
ter shape under charitable committees, etc. !;
large numbers are now cared for and fed by
private subscriptions. witnessed
was present. am told Gen. Blanco will give
100000 TO the relief fund. >
Testimony of II Spnniard,
On December Gen. Lee sends another
communication containing the statements Of
Gen. Canalejas. the editor of the Madrid Ell
Heraldo. who had just returned from Pilar
del Rio after the conflict Of the Spanish
forces forces under Gen velasco and the Cuban
quoted as saying that the Spanish forces had
displayed their usual valor, but that the prov
ince was paeiied; that out OF $4,000 Spanish
troops only between three and four thousa nd
were able to operate. the remainder being
sick at hospitals or in prisons and towns;
that he believed autonomy premature and was
inclined to the adoption OF energetic military
acton 1or the purpose Of pacifying the prov
tnce; that the truth should be known in
spain, where public opinion and the press
had been deceived regarding the war and the
so-called pacifcaton of the Western provinces
Under Dec. 9TH. Gen. Lee sent a communi-
cation n, to the department regarding the meas
0res Tor the relief OF the reconcentrados much
Of which is not made public. In the portion
given out Gen. Lee says:
II see no effects of the governmental dis
tribution to the reconcentrados. am in
formed that only $4,000 in Spanish silver has
been delivered to the Havana province out Of
the 100000 said to have been set aside for
Reports from all parts Of the province show
that fifty per cent have already died and
many these OF them left will die and many
Oh these are women and children.
As to Autonomy.
THE condition of these people is simply ter.
ri Snff TN tha
hospitals for want of food. In some parts Of
the island, I am told there is a scarcity Of
1000 for soldiers and citizens and that even
cats are used for food purposes. 1t is 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
On Dec. 18th came the following:
Inc contest for and against autonomy Is a
most unequal one. For it there are five or six
head officers at the palace and twenty or
thirty persons here in the city against It,
First are the insurgents. with or without
arms, and the Cuban noncombatants: second
the great mass OF the Spaniards, bearing or
nonbearing arms-the latter desiring. IL there
must be change. annexation to the United
states. states indeed. there is the freest apathy con-
corning autonomy in any form. asks
what 1t will be or how it will come
Dec. 14th, Gen. Lee sends another CON-
munication saying that the total number Of
sreconcentrados in Havana province will reach
10000 and that the death rate from starva-
ton Will be over ten per cent. For the relief
been set apart.
Dec. % Cen Lee makes the first commun.-
cation about the new scheme of autonomy.
He rays that lie has been informed that the
authorities are engaged in forcing an autono-
nlstic cabinet and arranging for the mem
hers to take the required cath on June 1. and
nave an election thirty days thereafter.
From my present information most Of the
spaniards will refrain from voting and near
~ all the Cubans. the Cubans desiring an
independent republic and the Sraniards RE-
ferrins annexation to the United States rather
than autonomy. On the night of the 2ith
INST tnere seems to have been concerted plan
the people to the proposed autoncmstic plan
OF the Spanish government"
about two o'clock on the incoming of the 25th,
when mob assembled in the principal square
"Denth to Autonomy"
and ''viva Wcyler." He gays the men In the
MOB mad stones IN their pockets. and come of
them were armed with weapons. "They made
e demonstration. too against the office of the
= l Diaro De Larn:arin paper published in this
town favoring autonomy, but were disposed by
the military police and soldiers"
receipt Of President McKinleys proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States
TO make charitable contributions for the relief
following statement:
II have the honor to state as matter Of
public interest that the 'reconcentrado order
of Gen. Weyler. former governor general OF
this island. transformed about 400. 600 sef-sup-
porting people. principally women and children.
into a multitude. to be sul tanned by the con-
'tributions Of others or die of starvation. or Of
fevers resulting from low physical condition,
and being masset in large bodies without
change Of clothing and without food. Their
homes were burned their fields and plant beds
destroyed. and their livestock driven away or
KILLED. Tho estimate that probably 100000 of
the rural population in the province Of Pinar
Del Rio and Matanzas and Santa Clara have
died OF starvation or from resultant causes
and the deaths of whole families almost sim.
,ultaneously or within a few days Of each other
and OF mothers praying for their children to
be relieved Of the horrible surroundings by
death arc not the least OF the many pitiabls
scenes which are ever present. In the provinces
( Of Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cfba.
where tho "reconcentrado order could not be
enforced. the great mass Of the people are self
sustaining. ts b az
"a daily average Of ten cents worth Of food
TO 10000 people would be an expenditure Of,
5000 pc. day. and Of course the most hue
mane efforts on the par tot Cur citizens earnct
IN pe 90. accomplish such gigantic reliaf ami
. graf 'pcstion Of tfese people wiA havsat6 b
Tho Recent Riota.
.abAicone6 70 IL cir fate. ~ ~. ~
S Gsn. Lee enclosed In this communication IA
-A.Kk "A. ~