The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-25
Is OFFERING CHR()NOS
Autonomy Wants Immigrant"
and lnsurgent Support.
CRISIS HAS BEEN REACHED
Sham Reform Will be Shamed
Before the World.
CRISIS HAS BEEN REACHED

Havana, Feb. 24.-Via Key WesD-At an
important meeting of the central commit
tee of autonomists, Senior Gown. secre-
tary Of the interior proposed an amend
ment increasing the committee from forty
to forty-five. The fifteen new members
will be taken from emigrants to the United
States and Insurgents of prominece, who
agree to support autonomy. The amend
ment was adopted by a large majority.
fifteen among whom were reformists.
1t is regarded as surprising that Span
iah resident SUPPORT the Iian. The COM
mittee also nominated delegates for the
election next month. 1t is believed that
the radicals will carry the election and
meeting is regared as the first political
battle of the campaign and the results are
highly important, because if the insur-
gents decline the extended hands of the
autonomists in a constitution securing
practical independence, autonomy will fail
in the eyes of the world and nothing will
remain except the Spanish flag and what
it implies. The query is then, what will
Spain do next.
General Pando, after leaving Havana
spent several days at Puerto del Pardo,
province of Santiago de Cuba He sent
emissarieS to the insurgent leader Capote
to negotiate a surrender, Pando having
$4,000 for the purpose. It is claimed that
he has not been able to find Capote and
that consequently he went on TO the city
of Santiago de Cuba. Manzanillo, and San
ia Cruz. where he arrived last Saturday.
On Sunday morning With a battalion of
soldiers, he took the steamer for Manila
milo to commence operations in the field.
The Infanta battalion under Major Pc
dro Iiivas left Candelaria, province of
Pinar del Rio, on Monday to reconnoiter
the Mulo Heights. No Insurgents weer
found until the troops reached the heights
when suddenly they were attacked by a
large force under General Maria Rodri-
CUES and leader Perico Diaz and surround
ed. a hot fight Cnsued, Major RBas was
killed by shots in tie mouth and heart.
The Spanish column effected retreat af-
ter considerable loss. Its casualties, in
addition to the loss of Major Rivas, were
is believed there were others killed. The
irsurgent loss is not yet known, but was
probably small.
The insurgents have raided the Smith
& Fisher plantation, on the Canambo, in
the Trinidad district, and killed one and
wounded five of the defenders. who num-
bered only sewn. They burned all the
building but the dwelling of Mr.. Smith,
and, according to the Spanish account of
the affair, took away or destroyed $1,000, 900
worth of provisions and merchandise and
got $4,000 in money.
United States Consul Barker. at Sagua
La Grande. is reported i'll. 1t is said that
he is theatened with pneumonia.
Today the principal streets and build
ings were getty decorated With flags and
bunting in honor of the Spanish soldiers.
2 029 infantrymen, under the command of
Jose Ambador, who arrived this morning
by the steamer Mcntevideo from BARGE
Iona
As an illustration of the want prevail
ing in the immediate suburbs of Havana,
it is said that during the last six weeks
% patients have died of privation at the
luDdlic dSy lGI1 d -1dLSjId III iIdI per
,iod the autonomist mayor of Havana has
given the asylum only $1,000. The former
mayor gave it $500 a month. with far
fewer deaths.
NO FAITH IN AUTONOMY.
Havana, Feb. 24.-(Via Key West -Un-
der the surface here there seems to be
deep feeling of unrest. No one believes
that autonomy is or can be anything but
a name. and there IS till more deep rooted
belief that the United States will not suf-
fer the present condition of things to con-
tinue much longer.
On Saturday last a yarty of forty guer-
illas left a fort on farm near Aguacate,
about forty miles from this city. "as was
their CUSTOM" 20 dine at a neighboring
place. During the absence of the guer-
Has a detachment of about fifteen insur-
gents occupied the fort and when the gar
rison returned from dinner, the insurgents
fell upon them with machetes and killed
. out OF tic forty suerillas. The remain
ing fifteen members of the government
forces succeeded in escaping.