Consul Brice, Matanzas, December 17, 1897:

"SIR: I have the honor to report the following Cuban news in this Province, taken from personal observation and reliable sources of information. Concentrados: Relief offered these and other poor people by Spanish authorities is only in name. 2,000 rations were given out for a few days only to 8,000 persons. There are more than 12,000 starving in this city to-day. Death rate has diminished somewhat; now about 63 daily. There are less people to die. The scenes of misery and distress daily are beyond belief. Here is one out of hundreds. In a family of seventeen living in an old limekiln all were found dead except three, and they barely alive. * General Blanco's order allowing reconcentrados, owners of plantations and farms, to return and cultivate crops, etc., is inoperative and of no avail. Several of our American citizens, owners of land, have repeatedly asked the civil governor of this Province for permission to return to their homes, and in every case refused or restrictions imposed impossible to comply with."

Consul Brice (from a circular letter dated January 8, 1898):

66 * * There are in Matanzas Province over 90,000 people who are in actual starvation condition. In addition to above, there are thousands of families of the better classes, formerly well to do, who to-day are living on one meal a day, and that very scant. They have sold or pawned their furniture, clothing, jewels, etc., to eke out an existence until all is gone, or nearly so. Too proud to beg, they suffer in silence, and many die of starvation. The daughter of a former governor of this Province was seen begging on the streets of the city. Many of these people call on me privately at my residence, praying for God's sake to be remembered when relief comes from the United States. It is to be hoped that this relief will come quickly, for hundreds are dying daily in this Province of starvation. Conditions are dreadful, and no relief afforded by Spanish authorities."

Santiago de Cuba, Consul Hyatt, December 21, 1897:

"I respectfully report that the sickness and the death rate on this island is appalling. Statistics make a grievous showing, but come far short of the truth. Dr. Caminero, United States sanitary inspector, has just informed me that there are in this city over 12,000 people sick in bed, not counting those in military hospitals. This is at least 35 per cent of the present population. Quinine, the only remedy of avail, is sold ten times higher than in the States. Steamers coming to this port mostly give out soup once a day to the waiting throng. Fresh meat in our market sells from 50 cents to $1 a pound."

Consul Hyatt, of Santiago de Cuba, under date of January 8, 1898: "Numerous dead bodies at the cemetery are carried over from day to day, because the sexton is unable to bury them, with his present corps of assistants, as fast as they come."

Consul Hyatt, Santiago de Cuba, January 12, 1898:

66

It is beyond the power of my pen to describe the situa tion in eastern Cuba. Squalidity, starvation, sickness, and death meet one in all places. Beggars swarm our doors and stop us on the street. The dead in large numbers remain over from day to day in the cemeteries unburied."

Consul Hyatt, Santiago de Cuba, January 22, 1898:

66

*

The military situation is completely overshadowed in importance by the starving, struggling mass whose cry is, 'Bread, or I perish.' This consulate is besieged to an extent that blocks the entrance and greatly retards business. They have heard that the people of the

United States are giving funds for their relief and have not the patience to wait. I could name three Americans here who contribute monthly over $300 toward feeding the poor, but it is nothing compared to the people's necessities. Men, women, and children, homeless and almost naked, roam the streets by day, begging of almost everyone they meet or door they pass, and sleeping at night almost anywhere they can find a place to lie down. If the present death rate is continued there would not be a soul left in the city at the end of five years. For the masses it is speedy help or sure death."

Same, under date of February 26, 1898:

"Rations are issued in a court attached to the consulate, the people being admitted by the police through a carriage driveway.

66

"As I write the street is blocked by the hungry throng for nearly a square above and below the entrance.

"Since writing this dispatch I have been informed that the ladies' relief committee have estimated that in this city alone the number who need help is 18,000."

(The rations referred to in the foregoing are the relief sent from the United States.)

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, November 20, 1897:

"While General Blanco has made known his purpose to relieve the concentrated people by allowing them to go out of the towns, I give the Department reasons why this permission will not give the relief claimed. While article 1 grants permission to this starving class to return to the country, article 3 abrogates it in exacting that to avail themselves of the privilege the places to which they go must be garrisoned. This will preclude over one-half of these poor unfortunates, for their homes are in ruins, and the sugar estates able to maintain a guard can care for but a small percentage of the whole. I will not question the good intention of those now in power. It is a self-evident fact that the authorities are utterly helpless to extend any relief to those who have thus far survived the pangs of hunger.

* ** *

"So far as relates to this section of the island, the claim made by the Captain-General, in a letter to the Spanish minister in Washington, that extensive zones of cultivation had been organized, daily rations are provided by the State, work is furnished,' etc., is not borne out by my observation."

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, November 25, 1897:

"SIR: With reference to the distress and deaths in this consular district, embracing a large part of the territory of the province, appended is the official mortality list of each of the judicial districts comprising the province known as Cinco Villas (five towns), from January 1 to November 15, 1897, inclusive, as follows, viz:

Santa Clara..

Sagua

Cienfuegos.

Remedios

Sancti Espiritus
Trinidad..

Total

*

27,900

16, 583

14, 263

11, 415

5, 482

4,946

80, 589

"Add to this 25 per cent for the number of which no record has been kept, * I deem a conservative estimate will make the grand total 100,736 deaths. In truth, after talking with both military and judicial officers, I regard this rather under than above the actual deaths for the period stated. Undoubtedly one-half of the concentrated peo

ple have died, and to-day Spanish soldiers are companion victims to the surviving noncombatants. The inclosed slip (inclosure No. 1), showing the number of deaths-official-in the small municipal district of San Juan de la Yeras, will give some idea of the rapid increase from month to month, as will also the clippings (inclosure No. 2) cut from the local papers show that the authorities no longer conceal these facts, as was done under the retired Captain-General.

"This appalling death rate is mute, yet convincing proof of the terri ble destruction of life under the main policy pursued in attempting to subjugate the island. The heavens, it would appear, weep for des poiled, distressed Cuba, for during the present mouth the fall of rain has been almost phenomenal. I have to reiterate, the authorities, however great the desire to do so, are utterly helpless to ameliorate the dire distress that must continue to increase.

66 *

Relative to furnishing protection to the mills to grind, how is it possible in view of the fact that the safeguard extended planters in making the previous crop enabled them to grind less than one-third of the usual yield, while the military force available to-day is not half in numbers as at that time. With me the conviction is firmly rooted that within sixty days 90 per cent of the populace will reach a state of craving hunger, without outside aid; nor do I feel that I am speaking chimerically when I include the rank and file of the Spanish army. The true status, as viewed at present, will bear out this opinion. The suffering among the troops, as well as the reconcentrados, simply beggars portrayal, while discontent ripens daily."

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, December 13, 1897:

*

*

I have within the past few days visited five of the principal railroad towns in this district. The destitution is simply too harrowing to recite, and must become intensified each day. The death rate for the last month shows an increase of about 25 per cent. In these towns I got my information from the mayors. I learned that while an issue of food running from three to five days had been made, beginning on the 28th ultimo, consisting of 3 ounces of bacon and jerked beef and 6 ounces rice for adults, with half this allowance for children under 14 years, the pittance was sufficient only for one-fourth to one-tenth of the starving.

"The mayors of Santa Clara, Cruces, and Santo Domingo are authority for stating the Captain-General had ordered that after the 8th instant any issue of food to the concentrados be discontinued. The mayor of Santa Clara stated to me that the Captain-General directed him to call on the commissary of the army for 5,000 rations for relief purposes, which, he said, was sufficient to feed the suffering people but one day. The officer's answer was he could not do so, as all Government supplies on hand would be required to feed the army. The mayor stated also that, in presenting this order to the military commander, he was ordered by him under no circumstances to give food to anyone having relatives in the insurrection, which, he said, would exclude 75 per cent of the destitute. All efforts so far to obtain relief by popular subscription have met with signal failure. The Cubans are too poverty stricken, while the Spaniards who own the wealth will contribute nothing.

* *

Consul Barker, Sagua, December 8, 1897, states that food, medicine, and clothing are required by more than 50,000 persons in his consular district, and that a reliable estimate of the starving in the Sagua Province is 100,000.

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, January 31, 1898:

"Relative to citizens of the United States residing in this consular

district, the new administration's progress and repudiation concerning the abuses in vogue under the former régime reveal the following facts: Of those herded in the garrison towns none have been allowed to return to their landed estates. Some few did venture to go to their farms, under a pledge of protection from the military commander of the province, to whom I will not impute bad faith, and were driven off by guerrillas.

"At my suggestion several Americans returned to the Americanowned 'Central Santiana,' the owner having been forced to abandon property. Although a Government guard is stationed at the place, they (former tenants) were ordered to leave. Application was made to the military commander for authority to return unmolested, and it was refused. Over two months since two of our citizens notified me they had discovered in possession of the local guerrillas ten or twelve head of their horses. I addressed the military commander, asking, on proof of ownership, their stock be restored. Nothing has been done, while these American citizens, both in affluence at the breaking out of the rebellion, are to-day dependent upon charity. *

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, March 12, 1898:

66

*

*

*

About a week since I received the first shipment of supplies, about 20 tons, being sent from Havana under direction of the Red Cross branch in that city. All this I distributed among 10 of the 22 towns I had managed to investigate, using none for Sagua. About sixty days ago the mayors of these towns furnished, by request, this office with the number they claimed as actually destitute in their several municipal districts, which footed up over 50,000 persons. mating a decrease from death of 10.000 would leave, say, 40,000. * Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, March 14, 1898:

"The inclosed letter from Mr. Valle, whom I have every reason to believe will not misrepresent the case, * shows that I have

I beg

underestimated the number in my jurisdiction in need of relief. to increase the amount required, as stated in my No. 294, from 80 to 100 tons a month."

(Letter referred to implored medicines and provisions.) Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, March 24, 1898:

"Closer investigation discloses larger number destitute than estimate sent. Fifty tons needful now. Distress far greater than my reports show."

Consul Barker, Sagua la Grande, March 24, 1898:

"SIR: I visited seat of government of this province, Santa Clara, where I learned * that the number of persons in actual want exceeds any estimate I have sent to the Department. The distress is simply heartrending; whole families without clothing to hide nakedness, 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 noble people; and the most distressing feature is that fully 50 per cent are ill, without medical attention or medicine. I have found

**

the civil governor willing to lend every aid in his power, but he admits he can do nothing but assist with his civil officers in expediting the relief sent from the United States. The military obstruct in every way possible."

Translation of the articles of General Blanco's proclamation of the 30th March, 1898, suspending the reconcentration.

ARTICLE 1. From the publication of the present proclamation (bando) in the Gazette of Havana the reconcentration of country people throughS. Doc. 231, pt 7-57

out the island is hereby terminated, and they are authorized to return with their families to their homes, and to dedicate themselves to all kinds of agricultural labors.

ARTICLE 2. The boards of relief and all civil and military authorities shall furnish them the means within their power to enable the rural population to return to their former places of residence, or those which they may now select, facilitating them the aid which they may respectively dispose.

ARTICLE 3. At the instance of the council of secretaries, and through the department of public works, the preparation and immediate realization of all public works necessary and useful to furnish work and food to the country people and their families who, through lack of means, truck farms, or want of agricultural implements, may not be able to return immediately to the fields, shall be proceeded with, as well as the establishment of soup kitchens, which may settle and cheapen such services.

ARTICLE 4. The expenses which the compliance with this proclamation (bando) may originate, as far as they may exceed the means disposed of by the boards of relief, shall be charged to the extraordinary war credit.

ARTICLE 5. All previous instructions issued regarding the reconcentration of the country people, and all others which may be in opposi tion to the compliance of this proclamation, are hereby derogated. Havana, March 3, 1898.

RAMON BLANCO.