Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-16
ABOUT PORTO RICO.
Mutterings Of Discomfort Among
the Natives at American Rule
PORTO RICAyS WANT INDEPENDENCE.
Col. Hubbeii, Of the Amer'e IN Army, Thinks
AN Insurrsclinn Of the Natives Il Hound
to Come Sooner or Lateral Con-
Apiracy Frustrated.

Chicago, March 1.-THE Tribune TO.
day prints the following special cor
respondence from Porto Rico from a
Tribune correspondent: The real situa.
! ton in Porto Rico is not understood.
People in the states generally regard
Porto Rico as a sort of haven OF peace.
The war department has just re.
quesied Of Gen. Henry that he imme.
diately report how many regular
troops he could spare from the island.
The regular regiments that remain
are so scattered that in many places
where there is necessity for strong
force only a corporal's guard can be
mustered, and territories where there
are continual mutterings and the
greatest evidence of discomfort at
American rule are unguarded. Gen.
Henry is in dilemma. He has only
three regiments Ct troops-the Elev-
enth infantry, the Nineteenth in.
fantry and the Fifth cavalry and
two batteries OF the Fifth heavy artil-
lery. Said the general:
need twice the troops have Because Of the
easy victory Of our troops here In the war, and
in the apparent friendiness OF che natives to
the American soldiers when they invaded the
island, notion prevails In the states that
there is little necessity for u strong force to
tatn nrda Ia h., t,In - d,
erroneous The conditions here are alarming
These people have been given every oppor-
tunity, but they have their own theme aside
They are clamoring now for local self-govern-
ment They are no more ut for local self
government than | IAN to run locomotive.
More troops are needed in the island The
seeds Of discomfort planted by professional
agltators are rapidly growing and can be kept
down only by strong military force The Ill
feeling between the natives and the American
troops seems to grow stronger every Day The
American officers have to maintain the great
est vigilance to prevent their men from wreak-
ing vengeance on the natives and especially
on the native police for acts OF violence that
are continually committed against the troops.
The condition at Ponce since the
clash between the soldiers and the ma.
tive police, in which several Porto
Ricans were killed, has been bordering
on open battle between the troops and
the natives. At San Juan few nights
ago three sailors from the United
States cruiser Panther were wounded
by bullets from the rifles OF the native
police Of the town, who. in attempting
to arrest one Of the sailors, became ex-
cited and fred Unfortunately
Gen. Henry began his administration
in Porto Rico by giving all the towns
and cities self-government and by
turning over in a great measure the
keeping of the peace to the native po-
lice force. He has been forced sum-
marilv to depose the alcade and coun.
cilmen OF many of the towns and turn
the local government over to the army
officers. Things are strained to the
swapping point Gen. Henry's face
took on IA grimness that his troops
used to see in the old days ont on the
western plains as he concluded his re-
marks about conditions in the island.
~ have given them too much rein" he
said. Now I'm going TO take in the
slack"
PLOT TO MURDER TROOPS.
Chicago, March ia special to the
Tribune from New York is as follows:
The Porto Ricans want independ-
ence, said Col. William p. Hubbell,
Of the One Hundred and
regiment, yesterday
upon his return from Porto Rico. Col.
Hubbell declared his belief that an
insurrection of the natives OF Porto
Rico is bound to come sooner or later.
He says every evidence of the forth
coming uprising was given in Porto
Rico, especially in the latter part of
the stay of the regiment there. He
said:
The demonstrations made at our departure |
convinced us that the majority Of the natives
were glad to get rid Of us Our first difficulties
On the island were caused by our suppression
Of secret society known as the Black Hand.
It was organized on the same lines with the Ku
klux in this country plot was formed Of !,
which we obtained ample proof to enter our
barracks by stealth and put the entire portion
Of the regiment which was at Caguay to the
machete. Fortunately, we were placed on our
guard and the conspiracy was frustrated