Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-11
THE PORTO RICAN
SITUATION.
Commanding General Henry
in a Dilemma.
MORE TROOPS ARE NEEDED.
Discomfort with American Rule
Growing Among the Isiandors3-
Tho Gcuerai's View OF The Situa-
tfoD-TrOubIc Between Soldiers
and Natives Tho slack IN tho
Reiu TO BE Taken Up,
(Ry Telegraph to vIrglnian-rilo.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-r
Chicago ILL.,, March 10.-The Tribune
tomorrow will print the following spe-
clal correspondence from Porto Rico
from a Tribune staff correspondent:
San Juan. dc Porto Rico, March l.
The real situation in Porto Rico is not
understood. People in the States gene
rally regard Porto Rico as Il sort of
haven of peace. The War Department
has just requested of General Henry
that lie 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 regular regiments that remain are
so scattered that in many places, where
there is necessity for strong force,
only Il corporal'S guard can be muster
ed. and territories whore thcrc are con-
tinual muttcrings and the greatest evil
dcnce of discomfort at the American
rule are unguarded
MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
General Henry is i'll L dilemma. He
has only three regiments of troops
the Eleventh Infantry. the Nineteenth
Infantry and the Fifth Cavalry-and
two batteries OF the Fifth Heavy Artil-
lcry.
~ need twice the troops have"
SAID the General at his residence at San
Juan. BccauSe OF the easy victory OF
troops here in ;he war and the
apparent friendlincSs OF the natives to
the American soldiers when they in
Naded the island. 3; notion prevails i'm
the states that there is little necessity
ior strong force To maintain order
in the island. The idea is erroneous.
The conditions here are alarming.
These people have been given every op-
portunity, but they have thrown them
aside. They are clamorng now for To-
cal government. They are no more fit
for local self-government than I am IN
run locomotive. More troops are need
ed IN the island. The seeds of discon-
tent planted by professional agitators
are RAPIDLY growing and can be kept
down only by a strong military force.
GROWTH OF ILL FEELING.
The i'll feeling between the natives
and the American troops seems to grow
stronger every day. The American OIL
GERS have TO maintain the greatest Wig
lance To prevent their men from
wreaking vengeance on the natives. and
csec!ally on the native police. for acts
OF violence that are continuously com
mitted against the troops"
y SOLDIER MURDERED.
Military road twenty-five miles from
San Juan, n soldier of the One Hun
dredth and Forty-SeVenth New York
was murdered last Saturday night in Il
manner that illustrates the trcachery
of the natives. Private Michael Burke
of Company H.. had entered the Porto
Rican Literary Club OF Caguay and
was sitting at small table reading,
when a native slipped up behind him
and with one stroke OF machette
sharpened 10 n razor edge, severed the
soldiers head from his body and sent it
rolling across the floor. Another SOL
der happened into the club some time
aftcrward. ana saw the dismembercd
trunk of the dead man still in the chair,
with the head lying where it had roll
ed.
Several Porto Ricans were standing
quietly around discussing the matter
No one would admit having seen the
murder committed. Suspicion finally
liked upon one man. but when n pro-
vost guard went out to arrest him he
had fed. and although the entire coun-
try around Caguly 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
natives and the soldiers asserted Itself
in brutal assault on Private Fit
patrick The native police arrested
Fitzpatrick without warrant. and
when he resisted beat him into insen-
sbility.
THE TOWN POLICED.
The soldiers of the four companies Of
the one Hundred and Forty-seventh.
stationed at Caguay. waited until
night. and then started out ito police
the town." as they called It, Three
cafes were "policed" in the most
thorough manner tables being over
turned and mirrors broken when the
officers Of the regiment arrived and
queled the riot. persuading the men
to return to barracks. The next chap
ter in the Caguay affair was the kill
ing of Burke.
CAGUAY TROUBLES DUPLICATED.
The troubles at Caguay have been
duplicated at almost every place on the
island At Guayama, soldier was
stabbed in the back by a native the
same night Private Burke was killed.
The conditions at Ponce since the
clash between the soldiers and native
police. In which several Porto Ricans
We're Killed. has been bordering on open
pa'tle between the troops and the ma
tives.
Al San Juan few nights ago three
sailors from the United States cruiser
PANTHER were wounded by bullets from
the rihes OF the native police of the
town. who. in attempting 10 arrest one
OF the sailors, became excited and fired
unfortunately.
GIVEN TOO MUCH REIN.
General Henry began his admnistra-
tion III Porto Rico by giving all the
towns and cities self-government and
by turning over in great measure the