The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-15
PORTO RICO NOT 4 HAVEN OF PEACf.
MURDER0US NATIVES
sionai Agitators--A Soldier Beheaded-A
More Rigorous Reign Begun.

The Philippines and Cuba were thus
far thought to be the only disturbances
in our new possessions, but now from
Porto Rico come reports of dissatlsfac-
tion. The natives want self-govern-
nent. They are not hesitating to use
the sword in numbering the United
states soldier whom they consider an
obstacle to independence.
The real situation In Porto Rico Is
not understood, writes n Chicago cor
respondent. People In the states gen
orally regard Porto Rico as sort of
haven of peace. The war department
has just requested of Gen. Henry that
he Immediately report how many regu-
lar troops he could spare from the is
land. He has only three regiments
the Eleventh infantry, the Nineteenth
infantry and the Fifth cavalry-and
two batteries of the Fifth heavy ar
tillery.
II need twice the troops I have"
said the general at his residence i'm San
Juan. The conditions here are alarm
Ing. These people are clamoring now
for local self government. They are
no more fit for local self-government
than i am to run n locomotive. More
troops are needed i'm the island. The
seeds of discomfort planted by profess
sional agitators are rapidly growing,
and can be kept down only by a strong
military force. The ill-feeling between
the natives and the American troops
seems to grow stronger every day"
At Caguay, n small town on the mil
itary road, twenty-five miles from San
Juan, soldier OF the one Hundred and
Forty-seventh New York was MUIR
dered last Saturday night in a manner
that illustrates the treachery of the
natives. Private Michael Burke of
Company l. had entered the Porto
a. IL.
was sitting at small table reading
when n native slipped up behind him
and, with one stroke of machete
sharpened to a razor edge, severed the
soldiers head from his body and sent
II rolling across the floor. Another
soldier happened into the club some
time afterwards. and saw the dismem-
bered trunk of the dead man still in
the chair, with the head lying where IL
had rolled. Several Porto Ricans were
standing quietly around, discussing
the matter. No one would admit hav-
ing seen the murder committed. Sus-
picion finally fixed upon one man, but
when provost guard went out to ar
rest 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 the soldiers asserted itself in
brutal assault on Private Fitzpat-
rick. The native police arrested F'itz-
patrick without a warrant and when
he resisted beat him insensible.
The soldiers of the four companies
of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh
stationed at Caguay waited until night
and then started out to police the
town." as they called 1t. Three cafes
We're "policed" I'm the most thorough
manner. tables being overturned and
mirrors broken. when the officers of the
regiment arrived and quelled the riot,
persuading the men to return to bar
racks. The next chapter in the Caguay
affair was the killing of Burke. The
withdrawal of the regiment to Brook
lyn for mastering out prevented more
serious encounters.
The conditions at Ponce since the
clash between the soldiers and the ma
tive police in which several Porto
Ricans were killed, have been border
ing on open battle between the troops
and the natives.
Gen. Henry began his administration
in Porto Rico by giving all the towns
and cities self-government and by
turning over in a great measure the
keeping of the peace to the native po-
lice force.
II have given them too much REIN"
he said. Now I'm going to take in the
slack"