Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-27
Havana is Menaced by Both Famine
and Anarchy.
POLICE ON POINT OF REVOLT
British Subject Tells the Facts
Concerning Conditions There.
BLANCO FEARS THE WORST


Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press)
| KEY WEST, Fla, June H.-The most au-
| thentic and reliable news yet obtained of
| the true condition of affairs in Havana was
| today furnished to a representative of the
| Associated Press by British subject, who
| left Havana on board the British cruiser
| Talbot, and who arrived here yesterday.
| He says reign Of terror exists at the Gu
| ban capital. Captain General Blanco has
| issued a proclama ton announcing that any
| one daring to express an unfavorable opin-
| ion of. or suspected of being dissatisfied
with. the present policy of the government
| will be summarily shot without trial or in
vestigation.
This proclamation, 1t appears, caused dis
| satisfaction among the members of the
| Orden Publico. or police force of Havana
| who threatened to revolt if full Iations
| were not served out to them. Serious trou-
| BILE was expected, as the Orden Publico Is
| a numerous and well-armed body of men,
| The result is that today the Orden Pubico
| patrols the city and it's members are them
selves policed, Spanish infantry and artil-
| lery soldiers mounting guard over them at
| every corner.
Famine is Imminent.
| Famine, 1t seems Is imminent, and the
| stories of the arrival of supplies at Havana
! via Batabano are pronounced to be un-
! true. The informant of the Associated
Press thinks Havara cannot possibly hold
| out six weeks longer. The city is pro-
Lounced to be peric stricken, it's inhab-
itants expecting every moment to be bonn
barded by the American fleet, as they
| realize that Capt. Gen. Blanco's attitude
| releases the United States from the obli-
nf pI ha or hnr rd-
ment notice.
Riots are daily expected at Havana, ss
the troops are suffering from hunger, and
the volunteers are seeing their wives and
children dying of want. Under such con-
ditions the captain general cannot much
longer keep the military forces in check,
and a rebellion is likely to devastate Ha-
vana before the city Is captured by the
Americans.
Capt. Gen. Blanco admits that the sit
uation is desperate. He recognizes, it Is
pointed out, his Inability to control his
troops. goaded by hunger, much longer,
and he is reported to have said that he
will never leave Havana alive, as he Is
prepared to take his own life when the
outbreak occurs.
Senior Galban Rio, a prominent Spanish
| merchant. the refugee continues In his
5000 bags Of flour hidden at Gueniados, a
suburb of Havana, and was retailing it to
| the public Gen. Arolaz, the military gov
ernor of Havana, was informed that Senor
| Galban's trucks had traces of fresh -four
! upon them, and he caused the vehicles to
| be followed. The store being thus dsclos-
| ed, it was seized and distributed among the
| ravenous soldiers.
| TrnnnS In
| Referring to the strength of the Spanish
forces this British subject says there are
10000 men under arms at Havana, but
that the great majority of them are ready
| to surrender rather than die of hunger.
| In conclusion he says he credits the re-
| Fort that the gunners at Moro Castle and
| at other Spanish batteries were taken from
| foreign warships, and he says the consuls
| including Mr.. Golan, the British repressn
! tative, are strong Spanish sympathzers
| British Vice Consul Arastegei he con-
| tinues is a Spaniafd by birth and a re-
| porter for La Lucha, the mouthpiece of the
| government
| Mr.. Gollan, the British consul general
| he further remarks, gave a dinner on the
| queens birthday, at which all the guests
| were Spaniards and three British subjects
prominent socially and financially at Ha-
vana, were, 1t Is alleged, relegated by Mr.
| Gollan's orders to the forecastle of the Tai
| bot when she left Havana because they
| were Cuban sympathizers.
| 1t Is said that as result Of the enargeti. .
protests Of the Englishmen to the British
| foreign office and to the governor of ia
| maica, the Talbot will shortly return to
Havana with Mr.. Gollan's successor.