The San Francisco call., 1899-03-11
NATIVES THIRST FOR
AMERICAN BLOOD

CHICAGO, March 10.-The Tribune
will tomorrow print the following spe-
cial correspondence from Porto Rico
from a Tribune correspondent:
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO. March
1.-The real situation in Porto Rico is
not understood. People in the States gen
orally regard Porto Rico as sort of
haven of peace The War Department
has lust requested of General Henry that
he Immediately report how many regular
troops he could spare from the island.
The One Hundred and Forty-seventh
New York started home last Sunday The
regiments that remain are so scattered
that in many places where there is neces-
sity for strong force only corporars
guard can be mustered. and territories
where there are continual mutterngs and
the greatest evidence of discomfort at
American rule are unguarded.
General Henry is in dilemma. He
has only three regiments of troops-the
Eleventh Infantry, the Nineteenth and
the Fifth Cavalry-and two batteries of
the Fifth Heavy Artillery.
II need twice the troops I have" said
the general at his residence in San Juan.
BECAUSE of the easy victory of our
trOops here in the war and In the appar-
ent friendliness of the natives to the
American soldiers when they invaded the
island. a notion prevails in the States that
there is little necessity for a strong force
to maintain order in the island. The idea
is erroneous.
THE conditions are alarming. These
people are now clamoring for local self
government. They are no more fit for
local self-government than / am to run
a locomotive. More troops are needed in
the island. The seeds of discomfort plant
ed by professional agitators are rapidly
growing and can be kept down only by
strong military force.
1.-The i'll feeling between the natives and
the American troops seems to grow
stronger every day. The American Off
GERS have to maintain the greatest vigi-
lance to prevent their men from wreak-
ing vengeance on the natives, especially
on the native police, for acts of violence
that are continually committed against
the troops.
At Caguay, a small town on the mill
tary road twenty-five miles from San
Juan a soldier of the One Hundred and
Forty-seventh New York was murdered
last Saturday night in a manner that
illustrates the treachery of the natives
Private Michael Burke of Company 1 had
entered the Porto Rico Literary Club or
Caguay and was sitting at a small table
reading, when a native slipped up behind
him and with one stroke of a machete,
sharpened to razor edge, severed the SOL
dier's head from his body and sent it roll
ing across the floor.
Another soldier happened into the club
some time afterward and saw the dis
membered trunk of the dead man still in
the chair, with the. head lying where it
had rolled Several Porto Ricans were
standing quietly around discussing the
matter No one would admit having
seen the murder committed. Suspicion
fixed on one man. but when a provost
guard went out to arrest him he had fed.
and although the entire country around
Caguay was thoroughly searched for the
murderer he has not yet been found.
Only four nights before the killing OF
Burke the bad blood between the ma
tives and soldiers asserted itself In a
brutal assault on Private Fitzpatrick.
The native police arrested Fitzpatrick
without a warrant, and when he resisted
beat him into insensibility.
The soldiers of the four companies of
the One hundred and forty-seventh sta
toned at Caguay waited until night and
then started out to police the town." as
they called It, Three cafes We're ''po-
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