Sunday, September 15, 2013

WAR WITH SPAIN DEMANDED IN 1896


Associated Press, Thursday, December 3, 1896.

WAR WITH SPAIN DEMANDED ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.

DIPLOMATIC EUPHEMISM.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1896.—Reports are in quite general circulation here to the effect that Secretary Olney, sometime in November, had given the Spanish government courteously, but firmly, to understand that the Cuban rebellion must lie crushed within three months or the United States would be compelled to intervene to stop hostilities. It was said that prominent Republican senators have been informed of this ultimatum.

   The reports, in their general features, were similar to rumors prevalent about a month ago and emphatically denied at the time by officials of this government and also at Madrid. No confirmation of the latest reports could be obtained in official circles here, and it was denied that Spain had been informed of any such ultimatum. Senators who have been active in foreign affairs and have consulted state department officials on the Cuban situation, expressed the opinion that the administration had not made any radical changes in its attitude, but a number of them gave it as their own personal opinion that congress should adopt vigorous methods to prevent the present state of affairs.

   It is expected that the president will take early occasion to send to the congress the report Consul General Lee has submitted to the secretary of state on the result of his observations in Cuba.

   A prominent member of the senate committee on foreign relations said that it would not be possible for the president to send a pro-Spanish message to congress in view of the report which Consul General Lee had made to Secretary Olney. Speaking generally of the views of General Lee, the senator said that they were well enough known to make it clear that his report would not be favorable to the Spanish contentions. It is known that the report which General Lee made presents a very grave, not to say horrifying, condition of affairs in Cuba. One of the conditions he describes is that of the situation of the noncombatants, peaceable citizens, who have no interest in the war except to see it ended.

  These people, whether within the Spanish lines or the Cuban lines, are sufferers. if within the Cuban lines, they plant their crops in order to obtain a living, only to have their territory raided and occupied by the Spanish forces who immediately destroy the crops, burn the houses and other property of the planters and upon the slightest pretext, it is alleged, put the men to death or imprison them, on the ground that they have been aiding the rebellion. In fact, it is regarded as aiding the Cubans if crops are raised, which they might obtain. Noncombatants within Spanish territory, when occupied by the Cubans are given like treatment, on the ground that they sympathize with Spain. The report of General Lee, besides showing what difficulties the noncombatants have to contend with in the matter of securing enough food to sustain life, also points out how they are often hurried to prisons and condemned without the trials Americans are accustomed to see given to persons charged with offenses.

   It is known that General Lee's report shows that cruelty is practiced on both sides, but it is said that more cases have come to his knowledge of wrongs on the part of the Spanish.

   A very conservative member of the senate committee on foreign relations said that the conditions in Cuba were such that intervention by the United States in the cause of humanity [italics added by CC editor to emphasize euphemism] was demanded and he had no doubt that congress would early take a stand in the matter.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1896. — Representative McCreary of Kentucky, the leading Democratic member of the foreign affairs committee, who has returned to the city, said he was in favor of the independence of Cuba. First, he thought there should be friendly intervention with a view to bringing about peace, but if that should not cause hostilities to cease then civilization and humanity would justify steps being taken looking to according belligerent rights to the insurgents.




   CINCINNATI, Dec 2, 1896.—A special from Key West says: Weyler's threats that he would starve the Cubans out seems likely to be carried out, as from all reports from Mariel, near where Captain General Weyler is now, the work of destruction is being carried out fully.


   The Spanish army sweeps everything before it, killing beeves that it cannot use, burning cornfields and small stores with their provisions, and leaving a wide waste of ruin and desolation in its wake.


   People vainly implore Weyler to leave them provisions to keep them alive, but his brutal officers refuse with oaths and insulting words, if not worse.

   Over 300 refugees have come into Mariel since Weyler went out this last time, all giving the same story of rapine, plunder and murder.

   A Spanish guerrilla captain, named Coleazo, is accused of murdering over 100 persons in the valleys, 100 miles south of Mariol, during the latter part of November. In one instance he is accused of confining a number of women and girls in a church, and after they had been repeatedly abused and maltreated by his men, burning the building with them in it.

   Many other outrages, all as horrible, are charged to him and his company.
 
   HAVANA, Oct. 22, 1896.—The insurgents have blown up two bridges between Los Palacious and Pazo Real, province of Pinar del Rio, causing great damage.
 
   A passenger on board a train, detained on account of the wreck, found another bomb which, however, had not exploded. A terrific explosion was also heard at Los Palos, Pinar del Rio.
 
   At Jovellanos, province of Matanzas, the insurgents made a futile attempt to blow up a passenger train. The weather has been clearing during the past week and active field operations against the insurgents will shortly be commenced.
 
   The Diario de la Marina, during the course of a very lively editorial against the United States government, says:
 
   "On the termination of the revolutions in Cuba and the Philippine islands, Spain will present claims for damages to the United States government for allowing filibustering expeditions to be fitted out within its jurisdiction."



Associated Press, Wednesday, October 21, 1896.

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 1896.—It can be stated on good authority that there has been no change in the declared policy of the government with respect to Cuba, nor is any contemplated. As is well known, the sympathies of the administration as individuals in a large measure are with the insurgents, but if they gain their independence it will be without any intervention other than amicable on the part of Mr. Cleveland.

   From the inception of the present difficulties in Cuba the administration has used all reasonable diligence in preventing the fitting out in this country of hostile expeditions against the Spanish authorities in Cuba, and this vigilance will be continued to the end.

   The government has taken this course for the purpose of showing to the world that international law is held sacred in the United States, and also for the purpose of making it impossible for Spain successfully to prosecute any claim against the United States for damages growing out of filibustering expeditions, as might be the case were the officials less alert in preventing such expeditions and in prosecuting offenders.

   It can be stated also that the sending of the revenue cutter Windom to sea with sealed orders has no special significance whatever beyond the purpose of the treasury officials to keep secret from Cuban agents the movements of the revenue fleet.

   Hitherto insurgent agents in this country, through Cuban sympathizers, have managed to secure all necessary information regarding any contemplated movement even in advance of American officers, and as a result the purposes of the government have been defeated. This has occurred so often that the officials have determined to put a stop to it as far as possible by issuing sealed orders to the captains of revenue cutters, which orders are not to be opened until well at sea.

 

   HAVANA, Oct. 21, 1896.—The supreme court of war and marine has ordered the preparation of new cases against the crew of the American schooner Competitor, who will now be tried before an ordinary marine court martial. The preliminary steps have already been taken. Laborde, the commander of the schooner, and Melton, the American newspaper correspondent, will be tried in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of 1881.

   During a skirmish at the plantation of Galdfie, province of Pinar del Rio, nine insurgents have been killed. Among the dead is Captain Enrique Jerez.

   A dispatch from Matanzas announces that the insurgent leader, Aguilla, has been killed.

   Consul General Lee is in good health, and the report circulated by La Lucha in a dispatch from Washington, to the effect that the general had been asked to be recalled, is classed as untrue.

 
 



 


   LENOX, Mass., Oct. 22, 1896.—Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, is in receipt of an official cablegram from General Weyler, announcing the capture of the arms, etc., disembarked by the tug Dauntless on her last expedition. The matter was communicated to General Weyler by the naval commander on the Cienfuegos station. The capture was made in the San Juan river. In two boats belonging to the Dauntless were rifles, a cannon, a large quantity of ammunition, medicinal and other stores, as well as correspondence of great value to the Spanish authorities.

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