Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-11
In PORTO RICO,
Situation There Not Understood
N This County,
A STRONG FORCE NEEDED,
Seeds Of Discomfort S0Vn BY ASl.
tctOrs Growing.
STRAIN TO THE SWAPPING POINT.
Instances Of Murder and Brutal
Assault Upon Soldiers by Natives
Of the IsIand-Gcneral Henry In -
Dilemma.

CHICAGO. March io.-The Tribune 10.
morrow will print the following special
correspondence from Porto Rico:
san Juan de porto Rico, March 1.-THE
real situation in Porto Rico II not under
stood. People in the States generally re-
gard Porto Rico as a sort of haven of
peace. The War Department has just
requested of General Henry that he I'M
mediately report how many regular
troops he could spare from the Island.
The li7ih New York started home last
Sunday. The regular regiments that re-
main are so scattered that in many placer
where there is necessity for strong
force only corporars guard can be
mustered, and territories where there are
continual mutterngs and the greatest
rule are uuguarded.
HENRY IN A DILEMMA.
General Henry Is In dilemma. lie
has only three regiments OF troops-ths
Eleventh Infantry. the Nineteenth ~
fantry. and the Fifth Cavalry-and I've
II need twice the number OF troops I
have" said the General az his residence
at SAN Juan. Because OF the easy vlc-
tory OF our troops here in the war. and
the apparent frierdliness OF the natives
to the American soldiers when they In
yaded the island. a notion prevails In the
States that there is little necessity for q
strong force to maintain order In the
island. The idea Is erroneous.
CONDITIONS ALARMING.
"The conditions here are alarming.
These people have been given every OPP
portunity, but they have thrown them
aside. They are clamoring now for local
self-goyernment. They are no more ut
| for local government than | am 10
run locomotive. More troops arc need
ed in the island. The seeds OF discomfort
planted by professional agitators ara
rapidly growing. and can be Kept down
only by strong military force.
"rhe ill-feelng between the natives and
| the American troops seems 10 grow
stronger every day. The American oin-
GERS have 20 maintain the greatest
vigilance to prevent their men from
wreaking vengeance on the natives, and
especially on the native police, for acts ot
violence that are continually committed
| against the troops.
TREACHEROUS MURDER.
| At Cagiiay. a small town on the mill
| tary road. $50 miles from San Juan. a sol
! dier of the nth New York was murdered
| last Saturday night In manner that
indicates the treachery of the natives
| Private Michael Burke OF Company l..
| had entered the Porto Rican Literary
| Club. of Caguay. and was sitting at "a
small table reading when a native slip
| ped up behind him. and with one stroke
of a machete, sharpened To a razor edge.
severed the soldiers head from his body,
| and sent il rolling across the fiOor. An
other soldier happened 10 go 'nto the clut
some time afterward, and saw the dis
rnembered trunk of the dead man stiil
! I'm the chair with the head lying where II
had rolled.
Several Porto Rcans were standing
/ quietly around discussing the matter. Nd
/ one would admit having seen the murder
con mtted Suspicion finally fixed upon
one man. but when provost guard went
| out TO arrest him he had fled, ana AZ
though the entire country around Casuay
was searched for the murderer, he mas
not yet been found.
SOLDIER TERRIBLY BEATEN.
Only four nights before the killing OF
Burke the bad blood between the haiives
and the soldiers asserted itself In "A brutal
assault upon Private Fitzpatrick. 1ne
| native police arrested Fitzpatrick without
| q warrant and when he resisted Deat
| him into insensibility. The soldiers OF
the four companies OF the lHth New iorh'
! stationed at Caguay, waited until nightj
and thcn started out "to police the town.
| as thev called H. Three cafes were
"polioed" in the most thorough manner.
| tables being overturned ana mirrors
| brnken when the officers OF the regiment
| arrived and quelled the riot. psrsuadinx
| the, men to return TO barracks. Inc next
| chapter in the Caguay affair was the
! killing of Burke.
The troubles al Caguay have been dnpii-
Gated at almost every place On MI ,s nah" IN ,hs
hack by a native the same night Private
! Burke was X LED.
ALMOST OPEN BATTLE.
The conditions al Ponce since the ciash
between the soldiers and native poiiSe
in which several Porto hcans MI. ~.s. hs.
ed. has been bordering on open battle De-
| tueen the troops and the natives.
Al San Juan a few nights ago, thre'
sailors from the United states cruiser
! Panther were wounded by bullets iron
| the rifles of the native police OF th'
| tnSyn who i'm attempting 10 arrest on'
| of the sailors, became excited and nfet
! unfortunately.
ELF-GOVERNMENT DOESN'T GO.
General Henry began his administrator
In Porto Rico by giving all the towns ant
| cities elf-gOyernment, ana o. turuht
| o,,.r In a great measure the keeping o
the peace 10 the native police force. II
| has been forced suminarily TO depose IN
oicaIdes and the councilmen of man,
towns and turn the local government; Owe
10 army officers. Things are stt"neo u
the swapping point.
| General Henrys face took on grimnes
that his troops used 20 see In the old day
AMI on the western plains "a he conciude'
his remarks about conditions on tt'
| island.
said now I'm going 10 take In IN
I slack"