Page:Messages of the President of the United States on the Relations of the United States to Spain (1898).djvu/82

 Rh stood, that the proposed relief to be sent from the United States, as well as Government aid now being given our citizens, must be continued or leave the people to starve, so long as there is an armed Spanish soldier in the country, since these people, for fear of being murdered, dare not go to their country homes.

I have the honor, etc.,

Consul.

Sagua la Grande, January 27, 1898.

I beg to inform the Department that smallpox, referred to in my No. 279 of the 18th instant, has increased to an alarming extent.

The number of cases and mortality among the "reconcentrados" is unprecedented throughout this consular district.

I am, etc..

Consul.

Sagua la Grande, January 31, 1898.

Relative to citizens of the United States residing in this consular district, I have the honor to say to the Department, after three months, 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 garrisoned towns, none have been allowed to return to their landed estates. Some few who 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—were driven off by guerrillas. At my suggestion several families returned to the American-owned "Central Santa Anna," the owner having been forced to abandon the property in order to prevent further spoliation of the mill machinery. Although a Government guard is stationed on the place, they (former tenants) were ordered to leave.

Application was made to the military commander for authority to return unmolested, which 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, seized by said guerrillas. 1 addressed the military commander of Sagua, asking, upon proof of ownership, their stock to be restored. Nothing has been done; while these American citizens—both in affluence at the breaking out of the rebellion—are to-day dependent on charity.

One sugar mill is running, not without interruption, with chances of making one-fourth of a crop. Another—just started up—was attacked yesterday by a band of insurgents, killing 14 and wounding 5 of the guerrillas paid by the estate to protect the operatives. Seven laborers were killed, the insurgents leaving two of their dead.

An adjoining estate, the property of the British consul, was also