The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
FITzHUGH LEES. REPORTS
ON THE SITUATION NEAR HAVANA
AND ON THE MAINE DISASTER.
Extracts from the Communications of
Other of Our Representatives.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE consular
correspondence with regard to the situation
in Cuba which was transmitted to Congress
to-day was prepared in response to resolu-
tons of inquiry adopted by both the House
and Senate. The correspondence was pre-
pared for transmission to Congress just be-
fore the blowing up of the Maine. and hav-
ing been held up since, now includes com
munications up to April 1. 1t covers the COM
munications of Consul General Lee at Ha-
vana, Consul McGarr at Cienfuegos, Consul
Brice at Matanzas, Consul Hyatt at San
tiago de Cuba and Consul Barker at Sagua lie
Grande.. The communications make about
go 600 words They deal largely with the
distress and suffering which exists in all
the districts. But General Lee reports quite
fully upon the DEGREES of the government
with regard to autonomy and other polit
zeal pAases of the situation. In preparing
the correspondence for transmission to Con-
gress considerable portions of the important
communications, and especially those
marked confidential, are omitted. The reso-
Iutons to which. they are the response in
each instance asked only for such corre-
spondence as was not, deemed incompatible
with the public interest to make public.
General Lees correspondence runs over
the period from Nov. II, 1897, to April 1. 1898.
Much of the correspondence is of a confiden-
tial nature, and of some Of the important
communications excerpts only are given.
The period of the correspondence after the
blowing up of the Maine contains no refer
encs to that event, such communications
probably being deemed irrelevant to the pur-
pose of the resolution calling for the con-
sular correspondence in the possession of
the government as to the situation OF af-
fairs in Cuba. The first letter of General
Lee contains B1anco's order, under date of
Nov. 1S repeating, or rather modifying,
General Weylers order of concentration,
which has heretofore been published by the
press. This order was made shortly after
General Lee returned to Havana from the
United States last fall. General Lee in this
communication also inclosed the proclama-
ton of J. M. Rodriguez, major general in
charge of the western department of the
Cuban military operations, addressed to the
Cuban people and informing them of the
first resolution" of the insurgent army to
continue lighting until the attainment of
absolute independence.
GENERAL LEES FIRST REPORT.
1t was on Nov. % that Consul General Lee
made his first report to the Department of
1t is as follows:
II have the honor to briefly submit a
statement Of what appears to be the politi-
cal condition of affairs in this island
''First-The insurgents will not accept au-
tonomy.
"Seeond-A large majority of the Spanish
subjects who ave commercial and bust
ness interests at.A own property here Will
not accept autonomy, but prefer annexa-
ton to the United States rather than an
Independent republic or genuine autonomy
Nnder the Spanish flag.
'"Third-The Spanish authorities are sim
cere in doing ali in their power to encour-
age protect and promote the grinding of
sugar. The grinding season commences in
December
Fourth-The insurgent leaders have
given instructions to prevent grinding
wherever 1t can be done, because by dmin-
ishing the export of sugar, the Spanish gov
eminent revenues are decreased. 1t will be
very difficult for the Spanish authorities to
prevent cane burning, because one man at
night can start fire which will burn hun
dreds of acres, just as single individual
could ignite a prairie by throwing a match
into the dry grass.
'Fifth-I am confident that General
Ranco and Pando, his chief of staff, as
we'll as DIR. Congosto, the secretary general
with all of whom have had conversations.
are perfectly conscientious in their desire
to relieve the distress of those suffering
from the effects of Weyler's recommendation
order. but, unfortunately, they have not
the means to carry out such benevolent
purposes
In this city matters are assuming better
shape under charitable committees. etc.
Large numbers are now cared for and fed
by private subscriptions. wit
messed many terrible scenes and saw some
die while l was present. am told General
Blanco will give 100000 to the relief fund"
HORRIBLE SCENES.
Nov. q General Lee sent TO the depart
ment the communications of two gentlemen
whose names, he says, are suppressed for
obvious reasons. but whom he knows per-
sonally as standing high in the community.
concerning the condition in Los Fosos (the
ditches) in Havana. The communication
says among other things:
-Four hundred and sixty women and chill
dren thrown on the ground heaped pell-
nell as animals. some in dying condition,
others sick, others dead, without the
slightest cleanliness or the least help not
even able to give water to the thirsty with
out religious or social help, each one dying
wherever chance laid him." The commune
cation goes on to state that the deaths
among these reeoncentrados average forty
or fifty daily and that on an averge there
were but ten days of life for each person
II says that these unhappy creatures re-
ceyed food only after having been eight
days in the fosos during which time they
were obliged to subsist upon the bad food
which the dying had refused. Some hor-
rible instances OF the distress witnessed
are given. Among the many deaths we
saw says the communication. there was
seen one impossible to forget. There is still
alive the only witness young girl of
eighteen whom we found seemingly life
less on the ground, On her right side was