Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-26
CUBAN MAJOR ANDRE
Colonel Ruiz Like the Man Hanged
by Washington.
WAS An ENEMY SEEKING TO BRIBE
Story Of the Tragedy Told by
Aranguren.
FRIEND SOUGHT A TRAITOR

FRIEND SOUGHT A TRAITOR
Copyright. 1898. by Charles NJ Pepper)
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
HAVANA, January %, 1893.
I have been asked for fuller information
about the Ruiz case than was published
at the time when the incident was fresh
In the public mind. 1t has ceased to be
discussed in Cuba, even as parallel to Ma
jor Andre. No similar cases followed be-
cause the immediate effect was to keep
emfssaries of the government from seek
ing to reach the insurgent camps with Of
fers of autonomy accompanied by bribes
However, an indication is given that Sa-
gasta will cite the incident In replying to
the last note of the State Department.
The hint is that he will claim Ruiz was
invested with the character of an envoy,
and his killing was an act Of savagery on
the part of the insurgents.
1t is highly desirable that the Spanish
premier bring this matter into the diplo-
matte correspondence. In view of the un-
usual circumstances the State Department
may then ask on what ground the claim
is made that Ruiz was invested with the
character Of an envoy and was entitled to
rules of war accord to spy or an emissary
seeking to bribe. At the time of Ruiz IS
death the Spanish authorities in Havana
were without knowledge of anything in
his mission which gave ii the character
of an embassy. They admitted he had not
gone out under flag of truce, with an
escort sufficient to protect him in his mis-
sion should treachery be attempted. / be-
heVe the flag OF truce is the only method
recognized by civilized nations of treating
with an enemy. 1t is mutual guarantee
of good faith, the responsibility of violat-
ing which is easily fixed. No flag of truce
has been displayed in Cuba since the war
began. After General Blanco took COM
mand no peace commissioners went out
under the white standard to propose an
armistice or cessation of hostilities, that
. the propositions of the Spanish govern
ment for autonomy might be considered
by the insurgents. Instead, private mes
sengers were sent out. That their chiet
mission was to bribe is now known In
most Instances they were treated as spies
and were hung or macheted. In some
Of the government, their lives were spared
and they were sent back with a warning.
1 have seen statement attributed to
Minister de LONE that five peace commits
sioners" who went to the insurgents had
not returned. No peace commissioners.
claiming the immunities of a peace COM
mission, have gone to the insurgents, but
there Is reason to believe that instead of
fve at least a dozen emissaries have been
treated as spies and executed. If the Sa-
gasta note gives the opportunity the
chance should not be lost to bring this
whole question to a head. 1t will be a
valuable chapter to the history of Spain's
methods of implanting autonomy The
consuls of the United States in Cuba. I'm
the performance of their duties, have pos
sib]y had occasion to report on the nature
of these peace commissions"
What Gen. Lee Learned
Recurring to the Ruiz case it is not GER
tain that the desire Of the Senate for a
further report from Consul General Lee
can be gratif1ed. His original report cover
ed the circumstances under which his good
ofhces were sought and a representative of
the consulate sent out to the insurgent
camp under the sanction of Captain Gen
eral Blanco. Lee found no evidence that
Ruiz went as envoy under a flag of truce
or that he had the right to expect i'm
munity if he undertook to convert Aran-
guren and the insurgents to autonomy.
The Spanish authorities at the time were
entirely dependent on Lee for information
They were in too much Of panic then to
talk OF ENJOYS. If they have since manu-
factured evidence for Premier Sagasta to
base a claim that Ruiz was invested with
the immunity of an envoy it will be inter-
esting to have that evidence analyzed in
the light of the American consul generals
report on which the palace itself relied.
Mr.. Tasca, the representative of the con-
sulate, found the insurgent camp within
twenty-five miles of Havana and only six
miles away from the Spanish forts. 1t was
located between Campo Floido, which is
heavy Spanish, cavalry station, and
town on the railroad called Aguacate.
Aranguren was absent at the time but
Lieutenant Colonel Lima, who was tenn
porartly in command, wrote sharp letter
which Mr. Tasca brought back to Havana.
At that time the main anxiety was to
learn whether Ruiz was dead. Colonel
Lima said he had been court-martialed and
executed. Afterward Aranguren himself
wrote a brief statement, saying Ruiz had
come. to the camp in the uniform of
Spanish military officer; had made propo-
sitions which were in violation of the
Cuban constitution had been court-mar-
tailed and executed. Though nothing was
said about the manner Of Ruizs death, it
ts believed that he was macheted
I am able to add to the incomplete ac-
counts heretofore given a full statement
from Aranguren himself. It is a letter
written few days ago in camp not so
many miles distant from Havana. The let
ter will be read with interest, and may
prove valuable supplement to Premier
sagasta's forthcoming diplomatic note to
Washington. =
1t Is as follows:
Ell Suces0 Ruix.
CAMPOS DE CUBA, Enero Is de 1893.
Ell dos del pasdo recibi una carta del Sr Rufx
bfen tpdecente por cferto, en- La que me media una
entrevsta. In cual concedi ignorzndo que dicho Sr
frera ayudante del Gral Rlanco que yiniera con
propostctones indignas de cal,alero, adyirtien-
dome que como particular amigo que eramos
redfa pasar verne cuando gustara. Fijado dla
, lugar de Il entrevista acuti ella CON
sorpresa vi que los que acudian al punto citado
ernn mnitarea Como que estoy advertido de ias
tnfam1aG O. acostumbr1 sl- Gobiarn0 aspanal me
cupnse una celada tamada por el por 10 que
decfdi retirRrme.
HecibtenAo a dia siguieDte una tarjeta del Sr
Rais en- que me decia que hahta aeudido h cita :
ain nesnltado. y en- n gre pedla m nlttmAtunz