Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02
MAY MAKE TERMS
WITH THE REBELS.
Vice President Mendez capote
Favors a Compromise.
HE AND PALMA AT ODDS
Meanwhile, Revolution is Said to Be
Growing.
NEITHER CAN WHIP THE OTHER
Consensus Of Opinion at Havana
Seems to Be That That City Will
Not Be Taken.
CAN WHIP THE OTHER

HAVANA, September 1.-"Neither side
can whip the other" is the concise state
ment now heard everywhere in Havana,
and it may also be fairly construed to be
the growing convictions of thoughtful per-
sons throughout the island. In Havana at
least this conviction has led. among all I'M
prejudiced persons. to expressions of an
ardent hope that the prerogative Of the
Platt amendment soon will be utilized by
the United States for the purpose Of eff
fectually putting an end to a condition that
everybody believes is otherwise bound to
grow more and more intolerable.
Nobody appears to believe that the in
surgents will take Havana, although this
Is not regarded as Impossible, especially
when it is considered that cooperate On
in such q movement assuredly wouil
come from within. Everybody conced IS
that the government troops can continue
their record of victories In almost all
open fights with the insurgents, but how
the government with the forces now at
it's command and in view of the small!
number of enlistments ever can prevail
against Its enemies, who fight in the
same old method of guerilla warfare, is
same old method Of guerrilla warfare, is
solve.
Instruction Growing.
That the insurrection is growing con-
stantly is undeniably evidenced every day,
and the decree of pardon recently extended
by the government has brought no appre-
ciable change In the situation. One of the
few Americans who joined the insurgent
ranks came into Havana tonight. He has
been farmer in Cuba for several years
past and presumably is a reliable source of
Information. He informed the correspond
ent of the Associated Press that the 5000
insurgents now south of Artemisa in scat
tered parties shortly will concentrate with
others from the vicinity of Guanajay, with
the intention of capturing both Artemisa
and Guanajay and holding the entire width
of eastern Pinar del Rio province.
They will thus control the situation far
better than did the Spanish troops In the
days of the famous trocha. and at precisely
the same points. The insurgents already
have taken Cabanas and Bahia Honda, on
the north coast of Pinar del Rio province,
and according to conservative statements
they have easily rs per cent of the people
Of this district with them
Waiting an Opportunity.
try districts. say they have only been
waiting for an opportunity to resent the
officiousness and oppression of the govern
ment authorities in last years elections
Freyre Andrade, who was then secretary
Of the interior, and who they declare was
responsible for the turning out of scores of
liberal Office holders and the breaking up
of local liberal organizations. is particu-
larry mathematical and Gov. Nunez is
likewise spoken of bitterly for his alleged
quitting the liberals after he did not re-
ceive the nomination for the presidency
and becoming their bitterest enemy after
ward
Favors a Compromise.
Vice President Mendez Capote, who is re-
ported to be at odds with President Palma
concerning the conduct of the war, and who
also is alleged to favor a compromise with
the rebels by giving them share in the
patronage and participation in the cabinet,
made forceful statement to the Associated
Press tonight.
II have been maliciously charged with
various crimes during the last fortnight, in
Guiding conspiracy" said Senior Mendez Ca
pOte. You may emphatically deny all such
falsehoods. 1 am first and foremost with
the president in everything he undertakes,
and intend to cooperate with him in
crushing this misguided disturbance. My
relations with him always have been cor
dial, and the reported quarrel is absolutely
untrue.
81 was at the seashore twenty four
hours outside the reach of news, when the
rebellion broke. Immediately on receiving
word of it I notified President Palma that
l would return, and I arrived in Havana
one day later. The vice president has no
active executive functions when the senate
is in recess and my activity necessarily
was limited to placing myself under the
presidents orders
Concerning his attitude as to the future
policy of the government the vice president
said: II believe in crushing the revolt at
any cost. We cannot temporize. We must
assert the authority of the law at all
ilized a manner as Is possible under the
circumstances. To show weakness now
means future trouble and will encourage
any disgruntled politicians to revolt again.
Strength Exaggerated.
1.-THE strength Of the rebels is much ex-
aggerated. They have no leaders and will
degenerate into scattering bands hiding in
the Mountains
AS to the possible Intervention of the
United States. the Vice President refused
to express an opinion. He said. however,
that the Plat amendment exists, but that
Cuba appreciates the United States con-
duct SO far and Is confident OF its future
policy. IT believe the United States win be
only too pleased to see us solve our diff
culllcS, dQueu ScuOT NdcIucZ SdpUte.
do not believe that country is anxious for
a pretext for occupation. have perfect
confidence in a. fair Interpretation OF the
Plat amendment by President Roose-
velt''
The latest kilograms from Puerto Prin-
cipe and Santiago show that the situation
In eastern Cuba Is not SO bad as was re-
ported Friday night. The insurgents In
Puerto Principe appear to have come from
the Province Of Santa Clara and are being
sought by Camaguey rural guards and vol
unteers
The incident at Songe was not an actual
uprising, but was due to attempts to cap
ture a small party Of conspirators who sue
cessfully held the town authorities at bay
until the arrival Of rural guards from San
tiago City. Santiago Is reported to be some.
what FESTIVE, but no revolt has occurred
there. Santa Clara continues increasingly
disturbed.
There ia far more marauding there than
In all the rest Of the island combined
Matanzas is comparatively quiet. Large
bands of insurgents continue to roam In
Havana province. The majority of the
government forces sent against them ap-