The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-07

iAehNeAAc, May 10 WA NSAe ~ -
Mexico, May 3o).-The preparations fol
defense are being pushed night and
day, and work is going on without ceas-
ing on the Notifications all over the
island.
The Spanish officials here claim thai
If $4,000 men were needed to attack
Havana by land and sea when the wal
broke out, at least 100000 men will be
required to attack the Cuban capital
now, in view of the new and strength
ened Notifications, and also because
the So-called cultivation zone" has
been extended to Rincon, Calabara,
Bejucal, etc, which are inside of the
line of defense, thus, it is claimed,
making Havana a Spanish Sebastopol.
This increase in the cultivated area
about Havana will, it is asserted, sup
\ ply the inhabitants with food for a
long time to come.
In spite of this outwardly cheerful
aspect of affairs, bitterly anxious feel
.ingS exist. People go so far as to
charge Senior Moret, the former minis
ter of the colonies of Spain, with being
a traitor and having sold Cuba to the
United States" This causes discon-
tent to prevail, and if the Spanish fleet
does not arrive here before food be-
comes really scarce, terrible rioting
may be reported.
There are hardly any business trans
actions and the city looks deserted,
there being few people on the streets.
The families remain at home, except
ing when the sound of gun fired
from one of the forts causes the people
to rush to the windows or into the
streets. and if several shots are fired,
thousands rush to the wharves, to the
vicinity of the bay and to San Lazaro
avenue to see if the American fleet is
approaching.
AMERICAN PLANS CRITICISED.
The Spaniards comment continually
upon the tactics of the American fleet,
and, naturally, they are very severe
in their. criticisms, for they do not I'M
derstand the method of warfare
adopted. Many of them go so far as
to say the United States is not pre-
pared for war; that no plans have
been decided upon, and that the au-
thorities at Washington are not serious
in the steps taken. Then again the
Spaniards are rejoicing greatly at the
reported small amount of damage done
by the American bombardments. and
they also pretend TO be happy over the
seeming delay, which they claim is
giving Spain an opportunity to prepare
a more vigorous defense than other
wise could have been made In other
words, the Spanish naval and military
themselves with the belief that the
military and naval power of the United
States has been exaggerated by the
newspapers, and they are comforting
themselves with the idea that Spain
is showing herself able to fight such
giant as the United States.
It is maintained there is no real in
terruption of railroad traffic the tele-
graph lines are working well, and the
insurgents in this province are not Civ
ing any signs of life. In fact were
it not that the city is blockaded, people
would hardly be aware that war was in
progress, at least so far as the western
provinces of Cuba are concerned. This
inactivity Of the insurgents, in view
OF the concentration of the Spanish
troops in the coast towns, cannot be
accounted for by the Spanish.
AMERICAN GUNNERS RIDICULED.
Another matter which the Spaniards
are freely discussing is the allegation
that very many of the American shells
do not explode. and it is further claim
ed that very little damage is done by
those which dc explode. On this as
sumption the Spanish officers are polk
ing fun at the American gunners,
claiming that they know but little
about the handling of cannon.
The main point of interest here at
present is as to when and where the
American troops will effect a landing in
Cuba, though the Spaniards pronounce
themselves confident of being able to
Iepel any invasion.
Eggs cornmeal, flour. etc. are becon-
Ing more scarce in Havana, and the
prices OF all articles of food are doub-
Inns, though very many families have
left Havana, and large numbers of
houses are % let.
There IS still considerable coal in
Havana Only about one-quarter of the
usual cunber of street lamps are
lighted. All the stores and business
houses are without gas light, and the
state OF semi darkness gives Havana
quite a weird appearance at night
In spite of the regulations in force
for governing the price of provisions,
the military governor finds it impos-
sible to prevent people charging double
prices for everything, owing TO the dis
count Of silver. The army and labor
ing people are paid in silver.
THOUSANDS OF UNEMPLOYED.
The number of unemployed people in
creases every day. Thousands of labor
ers Of all classes are without employ
ment. The commercial houses have
been compelled to reduce wages 80 per
cent, as a rule, and many of them are
not paying any wages at all, but are
giving clean clothes and food to their
employees as the price of their labor,
which has led to many abuses.
The enthusiasm of the volunteers is
highly commended. They are doing
duty day and night mot only without
pay, but supporting themselves in the
bargain). Thousands of additional vol
unteers are said to have been enrolled
in different parts Of the island. and the
Spaniards say they could get as many
more if they had arms to distribute
among them. All the stores OF arms
belonging to the government have been
exhausted.
The former insurgent leader, Masso,
is busily engaged in completing the
formation of the Fourth battalion of
his brigade of volunteers. They are
nearly all natives. Two battalions of
negroes are also being enlisted here.
It is reported that the military gov
ernor will issue an order prohibiting the
sale of provisions for delivery outside
of the city of Havana This would in
sure Havana's store'of provisions last
ing for long time to come.
The autOnomiStS are daily giving
more proof of their utter inability to
govern the island. They seem to have
no idea of administration, and as a re-
suit, Captain General Blanco is COM
PEELED to do most of that work for
them. Autonomy is a mockery, and
the captain general has the reins of
government entirely in his own hands
Besides, there are continual dissensions
between the so-called historical auton-
or1ists and the radical autonomists,
which had the instruction been sub
dued. undoubtedly would have caused
another civil war.
Coughs. colds, pneumonia and fevers |
NAV be prevented by keeping the blood |
pure and the system toned up with /
Hoods Sarsaparilla-