Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01
REVOLT rs SPREADING
SITUATION GROWING MORE
GRAVE FOR PALMA.
MORE

Thr situation was far darker in Cuba
last night than at any previous time since
the insurrection broke out. News OF an
uprising in Santiago province, while not
published at Havana at that time, Is
spreading about the city and causing the
gravest concern.
When Mr. Sleeper, the American charge
d'affaires at Havana, was told the con-
| tents of a Santiago dispatch. he endeavored
to verify it through the State Department,
but was told 1t was absolutely untrue
Subsequently. the dispatch was verified
from private and newspaper sources. The
extent of the rising in Santiago Is not
known, but 1t is the opinion here that the
worst calamity of all to the Palma gov
eminent would be an insurrection in east
ern Cuba.
Fighting at Cardenas.
Last night two reliable eyewitnesses stat
ed that Cardenas. which hitherto has been
considered a perfectly peaceful city. was
the scene Thursday of desultory fighting
between police and rural guards on the one
side and rowing insurgents on the other.
The only province remaining perfectly
peaceful is Puerto Principe. Americans
having great cattle interests there are ap-
prehensive lest 1t, too, become the field Of
insurrectionary operations.
cableeram from Cienfuegos last night
reported 1900 armed insurgents In that
vicinity and that all the small towns in
Santa Clara province are controlled by IN
surgents, who attack and loot trains and
seize the property of foreigners as well as
of Cubans.
Trinidad is surrounded by insurgents and
the government appears powerless to pro-
tect the property OF Americans and other
foreigners. Railway trains are held up at
will and passengers searched. The Cuban
Central railway has declined to assume
responsibility for the safety of passengers
or freight.
Recruiting in Progress.
Recruiting for the government forces L.
making good progress at Havana The gov
eminent continues to make fine Roadway
wherever there is open fighting.
The troopsfn the western portion Of Pinar
del RIO province have not yet come up with
Pine Guerra, and, according to press dis
patch there Is no present likelihood Of their
doing so, as the troops might march for ten
years and all the while Guerra would still
be just ahead Of them In the hills There
are thousands Of mountain trails with which
the insurgents are familiar, and which lead
In all directions. If Guerra cared to harass
the government, the troops could be killed
off by sharpshootere.
Cannot Cope With Insurgents.
The government has no cavalry in Pinar
del Rio, and the only real soldiers are the
artillerymen, but as they are afoot, they
cannot cope with the well-mounted vet
Grams of the insurgents. Guerra does not
want to fight. His scouts can always be
seen at distance along the government
line Of march. The correspondents report
more looting by Guerra's men.
Americans who come 20 the legation to
ask for the protection OF their property are
answered by an immediate call upon the
government of Cuba, which promises to do
the best 1t can for them. Charge d Anaires
Sleeper advises all such callers to file their
complaints in the local courts and forward
copies OF the papers to the legation.
There are many rumorS in circulation as
to what may happen September Is unless
new election is granted.
Revolt Sweeping Country.
To add to the general apprehension. the
American Protestant missionaries of Ha-
vana, who are in general charge of the
field. say that reports from missionaries
nous In stating that the Instruction is
sweeping all the country districts in the
western half of the island and that they
are unable to continue their work or ride
their isolated routes In their several dis
tricts.
The increasing gravity OF the situation
has revived discussion of the possibility
of Intervention by the United States. La
Discussion, the semi-off1cial organ of the
administration. in an editorial this even
| Ing, calls upon Cubans to lay down their
arms and save the repulic from the danger
of Intervention. The article appeals to
the patriotism of the people depicting the
results of Intervention. as follows:
Permanent Intervention would be worse