The evening times., 1899-04-05
CUBAN PICTURES
OF DESOLATlON
Red Gross Work i'm Towns Deci-
mated by War.
Nearly Five Hundred Sick Children
in Guinez.
l-5 ------------
Formerly known as the Market Gar
den of transformations
in Other Towns.

Recent advices received at the National
Red Cross headquarters from the expedi-
ton in Cuba furnish a more detailed ac-
count of the condition in that island than
has been heretofore received.
The hospital work is progressing very
fayorably, and is being extended as rap
idly as possible. Agents have been sent to
some of the larger towns in the VICINITY
of Havana and have fully investigated the
conditions among the nativese.
Reports from GuineZ, San Fiipe, Bejucal
Rincon. Santiago. de las Vegas. Ca'abazar.
and Lesengeias have been received. They
been reported.
GuineZ. town which before the war had
population of 10000, now numbers six
or eight thousand. There are $50 sick
children badly in need of care, clothing.
medicine and food. An orphan asylum is
located in the town. 1t has seventy in
mates and but one dish in its pantry. The
children are obliged TO eat from this dish
sitting on the floor. and without spoons,
knives or forks. The few men who are left
find work on the plantations in the sur
rounding country.
The district in the immediate vicinity of
Guinez before the war was called THE
Market Garden of Havana" A large part
of the vegetables and other food Lrod-
ucts sold in Havana was raised on the
farms in this vicinity. Formerly three
million dollars worth of goods were ship
ped each year TO the Havana market, but
nothing is sent now.
San Filipe a town of 1000 inhabitants,
is reported TO be in especially bad con-
a 20 L.,
tion consists of girls. ranging in age from
fourteen 10 sixteen years. All are in need
of help. There is no hospital here and
until the arrival of the Red Cross agent
nothing had been done TO relieve the suf-
fering. Many of the children here have
had no change of clothing for more than a
year, consequently many are suffering from
skin Diseases
Beiucal. a town of 5000 inhabitants, is
said to be in good condition. A hospital
has been established by a number of Cath
Ollie sisters, and has received a quantity
of supplies from the Government. At San
tiago de las Vegas. town which before
the war numbered II 900 inhabitants, there
are now only 1000.
Those who were driven into the town by
the Spanish soldiers during the reconcen-
tTado period are now living in eleven large
barracks built for the Spanish troops.
There is a great deal of suffering here oc-
casioned by lack of supplies and bad wa
ter. The work Of the Red Cross is being
confined as far as practicable to the hos
pitals which have been established by the
Cuban condition. This is done so that
there will. be no conflict with the Govern
ment agents who are distributing foo !
among the suffering natives.
There has been some difficulty experience
Z ed n the SuDDlieS the
Cross into Cuba free of duty. The Gov
eInment promised 10 al ow all goods con-
signed 10 the Red Cross agents in Cuba
free entry. Through some misunderstand-
ing of the collector of customs at Havana
considerable delay was caused in getting
the first consignment though. The Presi
dent recently issued a special order which
cleared up the difficulty and now nc
trouble is being experienced.