The evening times., 1899-03-20

compared with nothing-enlisted the serv-
ices OF General Menocal of the Cuban ar
my, as chief of police. and he was able to
induce some of the best officers and SOL
diers of that army to don the uniform. by
representing that in the circumstances 1t
was really military duty. That the force
is a good one. even superb, there has been
every reason to believe. In spite OF the
natural prejudices of the policemen in IA
vor of Sunday balls, fights, drinking, and
the like, the men have performed their
duties with courage and fidelity. The
force being made up largely of those who
had served Cuba or who had been resi-
dents of Havana, its performances have
not been resented to the degree they would
have been had the American soldiers done
police work.
The Infamous criminals from the penal
colonies who had served as Weyler's police
and who were promptly ousted by McCui-
lagh. remain in Havana, not daring 10
show their rogue faces in Europe. They
have affiliated with the most degraded
creatures. the nanigos. and inspired them
to resist every municipal regulation. Soma
OF the most ignorant of the Cuban soldiers
associate with them and know no higher
pleasure than to fight the police. 1t was a
combination of these that caused the
trouble of Saturday night and yesterday.
No less than fifty balls were in operation
Saturday night in the vilest dens of the
town and unlicensed drinking was COM
mon to all. Fights innumeI able were the
result and necessarily the Intervention OF
the police The confirmed criminals, ex-
policemen, and their nanigo companions,
got into trouble with Cuban army officers S
and the police promptly undertook to re-
store order. y regular battle followed.
with the lawbreaEers firing on the law
officers from the windows and roof of a
house. The casualties are not fully known.
but at least four men were killed and
three-score wounded, of whom several will
die. The aid of the army may be neces-
sary to quell the threatened riots
What most interests the American read
er. aside from the revelation of the kind
of characters there are in the Cuban capl-
tai. is the splendid behavior of the police.
expect a sterner devotion to duty or great
er bravery. Captain Estampes, formerly
a colonel in the Cuban army and a natural
lied American citizen. refused to withdraw
from the conflict when he received his first
wound, but continued TO lead his gallant
men until he received another that will
prove mortal. All the policemen showed
the same fearless devotion in attacking the
nanigos, who are desperate criminals.
Probably more such trouble is TO come, but
we have every assurance that it Will be
braveIy met.
IL is not TO be expected that good order
can be established in Havana or anywhere
in Cuba for long time. For more than
three years the island has been veritable
hell. Women and children have died il
the streets from starvation; women have
been outraged by Spanish soldiers under
the instructions of their officers; homes
and crops have been destroyed and muir
der and assassination ceased to excite in
dignation. No life was secure and every
man was for himself. from the time the
Spanish army butcher came. That desert
ers from the Spanish army, irregular
guerrillas from the Cuban army, imported
! criminals. and the degraded orders of ma.
! tives should undertake 10 make their living
| by looting. brigandage, and murder, is
matter of course. Not until all these des.
| perate classes are subdued and banishe(
can there be any serious consideration o.
the question of government