New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-12

The agricultural population. 10 the estimated
number Of 100000 or more. was herded withip
the towns and their immediate vicinage de-
prved Of the means Of support. rendered des-
titute of shelter, left poorly clad and exposed
TO the most unsanitary conditions. AS the
scarcity Of food Increased with the devastation
Of the depopulated areas OF production. desti-
tuition and want became misery and starvation
Month by month the death rate increased in
an alarming ratio. BY March, 1897. according
to conservative estimates from official Spanish
sources. the mortality among the recommendation.
lrlnl starvation ard diseases thereto incident.
exceeded 30 per centum Of thier total number.
No practical relief was accorded 10 the desu-
tute The overburdened towns. already suffer-
ing from general dearth. could give no aid. The
so-called zones OF cultivation" established
within the immediate of effective military
control about the cities and foraihed camps
proved illusory remedy for the suffering.
The unfortunates. being for the most part wom-
en- and children. with aged and helpless men. en-
feebled by disease and hunger. could not have
titled the soil without tools seed or shelter. for
their own support or for the support Of the
cities.
NOT CIVILIZED WARFARE.
The RECOMMENDATION. adopted avowedly as a war
measure in order to cut off the resources OF tho
insurgents. worked It's predestined result. As
said in my Message OF las, December. It was
rot civilized warfare. 1t vas determination. The
only peace It could beget was that OF the wilder
ness and the grave.
Meanwhile the military situation In the island
had undergone a noticeable change. The ex-
traordinary activity ttat characterized the sec
ond year OF the war. when the insurgents in
vaded even the hitherto unharmed fields Of Pinar
del Flo and carried havoc and destruction up TO
the walls OF the city OF Havana Itself.
lad relapsed into a dogged struggle In
the central and eastern provinces. The
Spanish arms regained a measure OF con-
troll in Pinar del Rio and parts OF Havana,
but under the existing conditions Of tho rural
country. without Immediate Improvement OF
their productive situation. Even thus partially
restricted. the revolutonists held their own ana
their conquest and submission. put forward by
Spalr as the essential and sole basis OF peace.
seemed as far distant at the outset
A GRAVE PROBLEM PRESENTED.
In this state Of affairs. my administration
| found itself confronted with a grave problem Of
| its duty. My Message OF last December reviewed
the situation and narrated the steps taken with
| a View to relieving its ecuteness and opening
| the way to some form OF honorable settlement.
! The assassination Of the Prime Minister. cano-
vas, led to change OF Government in Spain.
| The former Administration. pledged to subJuga-
ton without concession gave place to that Of .
more liberal party. committed long In advance
| TO a policy Of reform involving the wide princi-
| pie Of home rule for Cuba and Porto Rico. The
overtures Of this Government. made through It's
/ FOrd nd q
| an immediate and effective amelioration OF the
condition Of the island. although not accepted
| 10 the extent Of admitted mediation In any
shape were met by assurances that home rule.
in an advanced phase. would be forthwith
| offered 70 Cuba, without waiting for the war to
end and that more humane methods should
thenceforth prevail in the conduct OF hostilities
| Coincdentally with these declarations. the now
| Government OF Spain continued and completed
| the policy already begun by its predecessor. OK
testifying friendly regard for this Nation by re-
| leasing American citizens held under one charge
| or another connected with the insurrection, 20
| that by the end Of November not a single per
| son entitled in any way TO our national protec-
| ton remained In Spanish prison
| While these negotiations were in progress the
Increasing destitution OF the unfortunate recon-
| centrados and the alarming mortality among
l
which had attended the limited measure OF re-
lief extended to the suffering American citizens
among them by the judcious expenditure
| through the consular agencies Of the money ap-
propriated expressly for their succor by the joint
resolution approved May "a. 1897. prompted the
| humane extension OF a similar scheme or aid 10
| the great body Of sufferers. suggestion to this
end was acquesced in by the Spanish s.uthori-
| ties On the Oath OF December last caused to
| be issued an appeal TO the American people. In
viting contributions in money or in kind for the
succor Of the starving sufferers in Cuba, follow
| ing this on the Sth OF January by similar pub
lie announcement Of the formation OF Central
Cuban Relief Committee. with headquarters In
New-York City. composed OF three members rep
| resenting the American National Red Cross and
1 the religious and business elements OF the COM
munity
The efforts Of that committee have been un-
| firing and have accomplished much. Arrange
ments for free transportation to Cuba have
greatly aided the charitable work. The president
| Of the American Red Cross and representatives
I OF other contributory organizations have gener-
| ously visited Cuba and co-operated with the
| Consul l-General and the local authorities to
make effective distribution Of the relief collected
| through the efforts OF the Central Committee.
! Nearly 100000 In money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers. and more Is forth
| coming. The supplies admitted duty free.
and transportation to the interior has been A.