The Washington weekly post., 1899-07-11
Havana Papers Decry Reports
of LawlesSnesS.
WILDLY EXAGGERATED STORIES
Most of the Bandit Outrages Prove to BE
Petty Thievery in Isolated Piacss-Cu-
bans Believe It Hurts the Reputation Of
Their Country-Planters Want Rural Po-
lice to Protect Them from Narauders-
Comment on Gen. Wilson's Order.

Havana. July 10.-La Lucha to-day. in
an editorial regarding the stories of bri-
gandase published in the American and
Cuban press, complains of their frequent
recurrence, and says: These alarming
tales are generally put in circulation by
planters in isolated districts. who want
garrisons of American soldiers and who
fear retaliation from the CubanS for real
or fancled grievances; by planters wish
ing for protection against cattle thieves
and believing that rural police are need
ed, with a view of giving employment -
men who would otherwise menace he
community, by the Mayors of towns in
sympathy with the Cuban soldiers and de-
string them incorporated in regular body
by the insurgents themselves, who have
become accustomed 10 a nomadic exist
ence and desire to continue as rurales, y
SpaniarGs anX Gus to convince the wOr
that the CGbans are unreliable, and by
spectators who desire to depreciate val
ues.
The paper asserts that one reason why
these lawless incidents are magnified is
a mistaken notion of some of the 'rili-
tary commanders as 10 the way to make
4 province IeaCcable." 1t alludes, in this
connection, TO Gen. Wills ms recenS 0fdcc
forbidding the rural guards to give aEy
info rma sOE TO the press, and says tnat II
there were 10 attempts at concealme nj
and everything were given unreservedly
TO the papers there would be less seusa-
tionalism.
Sitting the St0ries.
The same issue that contains this eIi-
toriaI contains aIs1 in IFS telegraphic G. =
umns bandit stories from Puerto Principe,
ManzanillO and Cienfuegos.
Recently the Havana Herald abused it,
contemporaries generally for publishing
bandit stories. On the following ddy ii
devoted an entire column TO wild yarn
from Guanajay. AS a matter of fact. eV-
ery paper in Havana has objected to such
publication on the part of its rivals.
In most of these cases, when the evil
dance is carefully sifted, il turns out hat
the alleged brigandage is petty thleVery,
but there is no doubt that bandits do eX-
ist at several points, bands OF from ten to
fifty men, who have not the pluck TO 90
into the cities TO hol1 up banks and rail-
way trains. but prefer to attack Isolated
stores. raid small villages, and swooq
down upon distant plantations.
AT Boiucal two armed men hailed Julio
Any,IIo. owner of the plantation Santa
Rosa, and ordered HIM to open the door
of his house. He hesitated or refused,
and they fired twice through the window,
vhereupon he complied. The men were
Maxine Rodriguez ana Antonio Morono,
who escaped from BOjUcal jail last month.
They bound Angulo, searched the house,
secured S5l0 and, having ordered Hlm TO
bring an additional $500 to spot desiS-
mated within an hour, under threat 10 re-
turn and kill him, they LEFT with the
planters horse, rifle, and machete
Bandit Stories censored.
A short time afterward the same men
practically repeated this performance on
the plantation Guijales, belonging 10 Fer
min Diaz There they obtained 10 CEN
times. They went next to the adjoining
farm, the property of Jose Gonzales,
where they secured so and various arti-
cles of jewelry. finally disappearing un-
touched by the bullets fired from the raid
ed houses after their departure.
FL Reconcentrado publishes an extract
from La Verdad, of Cienfuegos, headed
Police News" which is followed by three
blank lines and then :he displayed sem
tence: This Section Prohibited by Su-
perior Order"
Commenting upon the censorship, FL
Reconcentrado asks what is going on at
Cienfuegos that it should be deemed nee
essary to suppress facts in this important
branch of the administration.
The Mayor OF AlquiZar has asked Gov
ernor Genera! Brooke TO cease sending
ratiOns to that point and to eXpend an
equal amount in the purchase of farming
implements, "in order that our people
may earn their livelihood instead of being
dependent upon aims. whose regular ar
rival tends TO encourage vagrancy and
to destroy self-respect"
Gomez VIII Remain.
Owing TO complications Of various sorts
in the supplementary army lists, an un-
expected amount of work is necessary.
This requires the continued presence here
of Gen. Maxine Gomez. who will not go
to San Domingo. at least for the present.
To-day he sent his son UrbanO thither 10
bring back the Generals wife and
daughter.
Yesterday there were 1909 men at Jigu.
raj awaiting the completion of the rolls.
At o'clock this afternoon the tempera-
ture in Havana was s. degrees Fahren-
heit The maximum reached during the
day was 90. which was the point reached
on June II, the hottest day Of the year
thus far. good breeze however, re-
lieved the intensity Of the heat.
The board Of agriculture of Puerto Prin-
cipe has appointed SenOrs Cardenas and
LLaces a committee to visit Washington
and ask for an appropriation for the
province TO enable 1t 10 purchase farming
implements.
The ManZanillo rural police have killed
Robinson Arito. an escaping outlaw.
At Bayamo 500 men are waiting pay
ment. About 2,0Jo weapons have been
delivered 10 the Mayor