Evening star., 1898-10-05
American Troops to Be in Western
Cuba This Month.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GEN. WADE
Unsatisfactory Condition of Affairs
at Havana.
SPANISH PROCRASTINATION

situation, cand1dly explained by one OF
the officials, is growing worse in Havana
and the surrounding country. The limit OF
patience has been passed, and it will de-
pend on Gen. Wade to say how many
troops are wanted and where they shall
be located. The commission which leaves
this week to select sites for camps will not
have much time in which to perform it's
duties, but it Is believed that it's members
will be able to make a prompt report, so
that the regiments which are intended to
go first can leave Florida within the next
two weeks.
Spanish PrOcrastinatiOn.
The unsatisfactory condition of affairs
in Havana and elsewhere is said to be due
to a variety of causes. but it all comes
back to the Spanish disposition to procras-
tinate and also to the evident determina-
ton OF the military and civil officials to
make all they can Of the little time that
remains them for plunder. Two weeks ago
wher the irritation was very strong on the
part of the American military commission
a corciliatOry attitude was taken by the
Spaniards in accordance with instructions
from Madrid. Ambassador Cambon, it Is
stated gave the direct assurance to the
State Department that there would be no
more obstructive tactics. This promise ap-
piled both to the admission of the food
supplies and to the arrangements for get
ting the Spanish troops out of the island.
1t was also intmatad that none of the
questions of dispute regarding what con-
stitutes Spanish government property and
the broader questions of The Cuban debt
and the future of Spanish subjects in Cuba
should be raised IN correction with 'he
military commissions in Havana. There
good reason for this. because the
American military commission would not
have entered upon those subjects, except
under instructions fror, Washington The
Spanish promises, however, proved untrust-
worthy and the old policy Of delay was OBJ
served. This has been carried to the point
where it is no longer possible to consider
Spain's wishes and Spanish Suscepti5ilitics
In preparing for American control. the
only matter now is tn" means of taking
control at the earliest possible date, ard.
as heretofore stated. Gen. Wade's recon-
men6ations on these points are awaited.
Necessity of Early Action.
Private anG semi-oficial advices give an
account of .he conditions at Havana, which
show the need of early action. Representa-
tves of the American military commission
who have beer sent out into the country
to investigate almost invariably bring back
arpaling stories of the distress existing
and of the heed for immediate relief. They
also commend the admirable self-restrant
which the il surgents showing. That is
the language of one of the investigators.
The landing of the food supplies from The
Comal at MataEZas will enable the relief
which is SO badly needed to be afforded.
Some of the food has already been taken
to Havana by railroad, and distributed
among the poor people at Los FosOs. Los
Fcsos is in the heart of Havana. During
the cone centration policy it was q settle
ment Of reconCentrados. who were finally
relieved throl eh the efforts of Consul Cen
eral Lee and some of the citizens of Ha-
VGna.
The AutonOmist Cabinet.
The accounts received from Havana have
something to say of the autonomist or CO.
lonial cabinet This cabinet is still assurrs-
irg to be the government Of Cuba, and the
farce of pretending that autonomy once ex-
iSted is to be kept up to the end. 1t repre-
sents nothing except the vanishing SOW
ercignty of Spain. However, 1t makes the
pretense Of exercising the functions of civil
government and of having something to
say about the evacuation of the island. It's
members, or some of them, think that they
are to be treated with as well as the Span
ish military Cnmission. It's greatest work
has been the drawing up of a statemcn.
reciting the history of protocols for sew.
eral hundred years past. This was the
labor OF Mr.. Montoro, the secretary of the
treasury, who is a very learned lawyer
After this statement had been drawn I'D
the autonomist cabinet thought that there
would he no more pres sure from the Amer
lean military commission for immediate
evacuation Or for reform in the manage
r:ent of public affairs. If 1t were not for
the tragic side, the situation. as described
a.,
be decidedly humorous. The Spanish cen
sorship of press tc,egrams is still main
tanned and the censor edits the Havana
new spapers so that they are not allowed 20
crttic!se the policy of the captain general
or of the autOnomist cabinet.
Captain General BInnco.
Some differ ence of opinion exists regar.l
ing Captain General Banco. At times lie
has shown a disposition to facilitate early
occupancy of Havana by the American
troops. AT other times he has apparently
sought to put obstacles in the way The
captain genera! Is reported to be anxious to
get back to ST ain and take part in political
affairs. He would leave everything to The
Spanish military commission and to the au-
tonomfst cabinet. This, however Sagasta
will not permit, and it is possible that Cap
tain General Bianeo will have to remain u1-
til the last Spanish soldier departs These
are not matters that concern the American
military commission. Whether Blanco stays
or goes the intention is that the American
tcops will be in possession by the end Of
this month. Military government is giving
such good results at Santiago that It Is felt
Just1f1able to place Havana under the same
rule.