The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-15

of the message upon the authorities at
Madrid. Up to tonight Senior Polo had
received no Instructions to withdraw,
nor was there any intimation of such
instructions.
AT the other embassies and legations
the message aroused the greatest in
terest, but it cannot be said that it
was received with satisfaction. In 9TH
er high diplomatic quarters some QueS-
tion was expressed as to the portion OF
the Presidents message in which he
speaks, in the name of civilization, of
the duty of stopping the war in Cuba
and the fntimation was made that the
great powers of Europe, so far aus they
represented civilization, did not sup
port this view expressed by the presi-
dent. There has been no further con-
ference between the ambassadors and
ministers of the powers, nor is there
any present Indication of further ac-
ton from that quarter.
No new diplomatic phases of the
question developed today ait the state
department. Secretary Sherman said
he would not be surprised if the Mad
rid cable report proved true tina Min
lister Woodford was about to leave
Madrid AT the same time the state
department WAS without advices that
step actually had been taken. General
1OO A' III iOo(C Illd L L Id CADCCltu
that his arrival will be the signal for
a notable demonstration.
tTle war and navy departments con-
itlnued their active preparations today.
While eventualities ara being prepared
for, the sentiment in army and navy
circles lis that war is not so imminent
as 1T seemed to be a few days ago. 1t
can be stated ON authority that no con-
sideratiOn has yet been given to- the
withdrawal Of the United States fleet
at Key West, as the administration
holds that the situation has undergone
no change which makes this withdraw
al necessary or advisable.
CUBAN CONSULAR REPORTS.
The consular correspondence with re-
gard to the situation in Cuba. which
was transmitted today, was prepared in
response to resolutions OF INQUIRY
adopted by the house and senate. The
reports deal largely with the distress
I'M sufferings which exist in all the
districts, but General Lee reports quite
FULLY upon the DEGREES of the govern
ment with regard to autonomy and
other political phases of the situation.
In preparing the correspondence for
transmission to congress considerable
portions or the important cornmunica-
tions, and especially those marked con-
fidential, are committed. General
Lees correspondence runs over the
period from November 18th, 1897 to
April list, 1898.
Under date of March 9th, General
Lee enclosed a statement from two
gentlemen whom he knew as men Of
veracity, telling of the condition of re-
concentrates in 1.-The ditches' on the
outskirts of Havana. Among 46O
women and children whom they found
there, forty or fifty were dying daily,
giving relatively, it is stated, ten days
of life for each person.
I'm one crowd" says he report, "a
poor WOma was lying surrounded by
her children who contemplated them in
silence, without a lament or shedding
a tear, they themselves being real
spectreS of hunger emaciated in a hor-
rible Again it is said: eff
any young girl came in, amy way nice
looking, she was impOlitely condemned
to the most abominable of ttraffics. Be-
tween August and November all but
397 of l, 700 people who entered the
bitches, had died"
On December l, 1897 General Lee tele-
graphed the partment from the consul
at Matanzas of IAN extensive and dam
geIOus conspiracy there under the ex-
governor of the province directed
against Americans. "Action against
Them" saws General Lee" to he contin-
gent upon movement of the United
States government in favor of indie
pendence of Cuba"
Tive days later General Lee sent a
mailed report saying: Il still thing that
two warships, at least, should be az
Key West prepared to move here at
short notice and that more of them
should be sent to Dry Tortugas and a
coal station established there.
March 14th General Lee enclosed a
letter from Consul Barker of Sagua.
who requests him to transmit the fol
lowing letter, which is addressed to him
General Lee):
Dear Sir:-I will thank you to COM
municate to the department as quickly
as possible h fact that the military
commander and other officers of the
military positively refuse to allow the
re~concentradcs to whom I am issuing
o in it's raw state to procure fueI
with which to cook the food."
Consul Brice, at Matanzas sent in
seven or eight reports and most all OF
them told of the terrible suffering ir
his district. He said he saw the daugh-
ter OF a former governor of the prov
ince begging, ~incognito, on the street
He described the Intellectual attempt
of h authorities to relieve the starry
ing people. Thousands had died OF
hunger.
Consul Barker covered the conditions
in Santa Clara province in a number
of communications. His letters consti.
tuted one long story of distress, of sick
ness, destruction and death, unit, in
deed the picture, even as drawn IL the
plain language of official cOmmunica-
TORS is revolving.
The reports on the condition of at
fairs at Santiago Were made by Consul
Hyatt. He told of the awful deaf
rate from inSufhciency of food and alsG
described the attempts made to force
autonomy on the Cubans. In conclud.
ing one OF his reports he says: 1T is
beyond the power of my pen to describe
the situation in eastern Cuba. Senalfd-
ity, starvation, sickness and death neet
ONE in all pdaces.'
John F. iowa, Vice consul at Sagua
la Grande, under of November
18th, 1897 stated that the autonomisi
party in that district could o exist. In
describing the suffering he
mo history in the world, ancient OF
] modern, saw In instance of this fright