The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-02
Bandits Raid Village Of
San Andreas.
Havana Editor Brought Up With
Round Turn.

Havana, May 1.-During the last few
days some of the local papers that are
printed in English have published sensa-
tlonal stories regarding the disputes be-
tween the soldiers and the Cuban police,
| evidently with the intention of prevent
ing an understanding between them and
If possible of stirring up more trouble.
Without doubt there have been instances
where both the Americans and Cubans
have been blimeworthy. Still there has
really been nothing to warrant such
quently, Major General Ludlow, military
governor of the Havana department. sum-
moned an offending editor before him and
warned him that he must desist trying
to embroil the soldiers and police.
"If you refuse" said the general, II
know of two ways to compel you. One
would be to put into force the military
regulations and send you to the guard
house, and the other would be to send you
before the local judges for the applica-
tion of the Spanish laws. Personally,
you may abuse me as much as you like,
but for the future you must abstain
from your present methods in the other
NATTER
Gen. Ludlow complains that one Of the
principal difficulties Havana is now
Suffering from is the presence OF many
worthless Americans. men who come
here virtually to change the usual sphere
of idleness. In the opinion of Gen. Lud-
low, it Is advisable to wait until autumn
bsfore endeavoriDg 10 raise the SIC, QUO, 600
90 M NV For ,fat,,-
plated system of sewerage and other
public improvements in Havana. He be-
lieyed it quite probable that the money
can be obtained here in Cuba.
Governor General Brooke and Gen.
Gomez-both of whom are annoyed at the
slow progress made in arranging for the
distribution of the $8, 600, 900 to the Cuban
troops-held another conference today.
Gen. Brooke emphasized the necessity
of disposing of the question at once, and
Gen. Gomez quite agreed with the 6 v
ernor general. AT their previous confer
ences the Cuban commander had freely
admitted that the rolls, as drafted by the
Cuban military assembly were too large;
and Gen. Gomez undertook to get tile
facts from the individual commanders
and to make the corrections according
ly In the smeantime Gen. Brooke was to
make independent inquiries. The results
of the two Investigations are nowhere
near an agreement For instance, the
agent of Gen. Gomez in the province of
Santiago, reports that there are seveI.
teen thousand six hundred Cubans there
entitled to share in the distribution.
Gen. Wood. military governor OF Santi-
ago department, does not tgule out half
that number. Gen. Gomez roughly esti.
mates the entire army at about 81. 100.
men.
The governor general thinks it would
be unbusnesslike to begin the distribu
tion until something more definite is
known and he has been urging Gen.
Gomez to collect more facts upon which
they could proceed. The conference to-
day consisted of an exchange of oral prop
ositions, several of which were rejected,
but ultimately Gen. Brooke wrote out
one which Gen. Gomez took home with
him for further consideration.
According to despatch from the
Puerto Principe province, the village OF
San Andreas was recently raided Dy
band of 40 outlaws. led by Antonio
Barcelo, formerly citizen of HOlguin,
santiago province The place was com.
pletely sacked, the bandits carrying of
20 horses, large quantity of clothing
and groceries, ana $1s00 in money. Five
mounted armed men, ths dispatches
say. attacked store in the village OF
Tiena Axue, abducted the proprietor and
his wife and carried away 500 in money.
begging for projection; and force OF
rural guards Is greatly needed. The
country folks are moving into the larger
towns for safety, while the planters,
many of whom have bought quantities
of sugar cane in isolated localities fear
that the inarauders WILL oestroy IL before
it can be gathered.
La Verdada, the leading newspaper In
the city of Puerto Principe. commenting
upon these conditions, bitterly denounces
the American administration, charging
the United States authorities with being
"slow to relieve need" and with eing
more occupied with triiles than with
the serious work of reconstruction"
air. beattie, weslthy sugar planter,
who has arrived here from DlanZanillo,
saws that many laborers who We're form
erly soldiers in the Cuban army, are
greatly disgusted at what they know of
the way many of the Cuban officers
made mn money, while the war was in pro-
gress. According to Mr.. Beattie. any
Cuban general might give orGer for the
purchase OF cattle to De killed and dis
tributed for food among the starving,
put the officers who secured the orders
sold the cattle to friendly planters and
then divided the purchase money accord.
ing to rank.
Mr.. Beattle was very anxious to get
rid of the Spanish regime and he gave
the Cubans all the help in his power, but
he declares that he would much rather
have Spanish than Cuban rule as the
latter is now expressing itself. In his
opinion the United states should remain
in military occupation of Cuba at least
ten years, ana he would have Washington
make an announcement tl the world at
once to that effect. This would make
practicable the immediate investment
Of capital large amount of which is
now lying idle in Cuba. only waiting
ior aefnite expression of policy by Pres
idsnt Mckin ev.
Collector Tasker II. Bliss has hereto