Our War with Spain for Cuba's FreedomWhite, Trumbull
History
Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom
White, Trumbull
Cuba -- History; Spain -- Foreign relations -- United States; Spanish-American War, 1898; United States -- Foreign relations -- Spain
On January 15 Mr. Barker writes: "In this consular district a
reign of terror and anarchy prevails, which the authorities, if so
disposed, are utterly powerless to control or in any measure to
subdue. Aside from the suffering and desperation caused by the
unparalleled destitution, I regard the situation as rapidly
assuming a critical stage. As stated heretofore, in no way have
the authorities departed from the policy pursued by the late, but
not lamented, General Weyler. Spanish troops, as well as the
guerrillas under the cruel chiefs Carreraz, Clavarrietta, and
Lazo, continue to despoil the country and drench it with the blood
of non-combatants. Although the 'bando' of the captain-general
provides that laborers may return to estates, it restricts their
operations to those having a garrison. Last week a number
belonging to the 'Sta. Ana' estate, located within a league of
Sagua, and owned by George Thorndike of Newport, were driven off
after returning, and refused a permit as a protection by the
military commander, Mayor Lemo, one of the trusted officers under
the Weyler regime."
Mr. Barker says that from February 15 to March 12 he cared for
twelve hundred persons, increasing the number on the relief list
after that date to two thousand.
On March 24 Mr. Barker increased his estimate as to the amount of food
necessary to keep life in the people of that province. He said that one
hundred and fifty tons a month were needful for that time, and that the
distress was far greater than his former reports had shown. In the
letter of this date he recounts the particulars of a visit to Santa
Clara, where, he says, he learned from his own agents and also from the
governor of the province that the number of persons in actual want
exceeded any estimate which he had previously sent to the government He
had said only three days before that he thought twenty tons a month
should be added to the eighty tons previously suggested. In a
communication of March 20 Mr. Barker says: "The distress is simply
heart-rending. Whole families without clothing to hide nakedness are
sleeping on the bare ground, without bedding of any kind, without food,
save such as we have been able to reach with provisions sent by our own
noble people; and the most distressing feature is that fully 50 per cent
are ill, without medical attendance or medicine."
SOLDIERS OPPOSE AID.
Mr. Barker adds that if $5,000 could be sent to Consul General
Lee, blankets, cots, and medicines could be purchased in Santa
Clara, and thus save thousands who must die if compelled to await
the sending of these supplies from the United States.
"I have," he says, "found the civil governor willing to lend every
aid in his power, but he admits that he can do nothing but assist
with his civil officers in expediting relief sent by the United
States. The military obstruct in every way possible."
CONSUL HYATT'S REPORT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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