Evening star., 1899-04-29
BANDITS AT WORK IN CUBA
Several Towns Sacked, inIsantiago Province
Thundsy
Gen. Wood Says the Planters Connive
At Disorder to- Have Troops
Senta In.

La Lucfa of Havana publishes a dispatch
from Holguin. province, of Santiago de
Cuba, reporting that bandits last Thursday
sacked the villages of Saro, Eutia, Pere-
grlna, Canelon and Sama all In the north
ern part OF the province, and that another
party OF hfteen attacked San Andres, about
twenty miles northwest OF Holgun. The
outlaws robbed the houses at each place.
securing principally groceries and clothing.
Ihe dispatch says that Cuban Gen. Sala-
gar with seven men, pursued the bandits
and overlook them in the vijalu noun
ta1ns, where a hot fight ensued. The rob-
pers were eventually driven from behind
the rocks and retreated, leaving one dead
"a negro-four horses and several bum
dies of plunder. The dead man was identi-
fed as Domingo Martinez, a Jamaican who
had long resided near Holguin.
according to La Lueha's correspondent,
the alarmed Inhabitants of the district will
seno petition to Gen. Brooke, asking au-
thority to raise Cuban forces to defend the
various villages. A squad Of American cav
airy mas oeen sent into the hills from Hol-
gum 10 search for the marauding bands.
AS hearing on La Lucha's dispatch, Mai,
Gen Leonard Wood, military governor of
Santiago department, wires the governor
general that the planters in the neighbor-
hood OF Holguin have been oonntving at
the operations of the bandits in order that
american troops might be stationed on the
plantations. Gen. Wood says the reports of
outrages are exaggerated.
Santa CIara's Bad Condition.
AdVlces from Santa Clara show that that
province is far behind either Santiago or
Puerto Principe in the matter of admins
trative reform. Every old Spanish office is
still i'll existence. The Cuban civil govern
or, Jose Maria Gomez, is seemingly allowed
independent sway, irrespective of the army
j..
his time showing it in public places Gomez
mas had quarrels with the mayors of sew
eral cities over the matter of appointments
TO the rural and civil guards, the mayors in
slsung that they should be permitted to
make the appointments to the civil guards.
Sanctl Spiritus is probably the worst man.
aged city Of Its size in the world. With
populatlon Of less than 10000, 5000 of the
inhabitants are receiving government ra-
tions. The entire country surrounding Sancu
Spritus Is probably fine for the purpose
OF raising fruits, vegetables and everything
required for domestic consumption as is to
be FOUND anywhere. The city is doing very
well as regards stores and cafes, and vet
there Is no local taxation, the revenue he
Ing entirely derived from the customs re-
ceipts of the island. This source of revanue
Is lhsu1nclent FOR the maintenance of the
city government, and the mayor Indignantly
declares that II he does not receive a larg-
er allowance Immediately he will dismiss
the police force, close the schools and sus-
pend the civil government
Mayor VIII Resign.
The condition Of the city of Santa Clara
Is somewhat better than at Sancti Spiritus,
but 1t is still SO bad that the mayor IS 60
ing to resign, owing to trouble with Gov.
Gomez over the matter Of appointments. TO
rations are now distributed at Santa Clara
Numerous truck farmers in the neighbor-
hood are raising an abundance OF vegeta-
bies. There is little local taxation, and
nothing is being expended for the Improve
ment OF roads. Col. Noyes of the I'd Cav
airy, who is in command of the military
forces at Santa Clara, intends making am
pie improvements as far as his powers will
permit. In this, however he will be ham
pered by the restrictions of the govern
ment at Washington, which desires to give
the civil governor every possible chance.
There are splendid possibilities for Santa
Clara province, with its fine meadow lands
and magnificent rivers. only. requiring cap
ital and energy to insure a magnificent fu-
ture.