ed in
war, and in the last capacity he could never allow it to be said of him
that he had offered to resign while in the face of an enemy.

He added that he knew that he had the approval of the people of Spain
and of some of the parties in power, but that he would also like to feel
that he had the confidence of the ministers. This confidence, he
declared, would enable him to finish the war, which he stated to be
almost at an end.

This very artful letter had no effect on either Sagasta or the
Government. The sentence about the approval of the people of Spain and
of some of the parties in power was undoubtedly meant as a hint to the
Prime Minister that the General had powerful friends, and that it would
not be a wise thing to interfere with him.

Sagasta, however, replied to him, that while the ministry recognized and
valued the work he had done for Spain, a change was considered
desirable, and so he had decided to recall him.

When the news of Sagasta's action reached the people, there was much
excitement both in Spain and Cuba.

In Spain it was reported that General Weyler meant to defy the
Government, and keep his post in spite of Sagasta's orders, and that he
had threatened that he would use his influence with the soldiers, and
carry them with him over to the Carlists, if Sagasta did not instantly
withdraw the recall.

The Cubans, on their part, were panic-stricken. They have such a dread
of Weyler that they expected he would revenge himself on them for his
disgrace.

In Havana some of the Cubans hired armed men to protect them from
attack, and others crowded the steamship offices in an endeavor to
escape from the country before the catastrophe came.

The fears of the people were, however, set at rest by a statement from
the Captain-General that he would never be guilty of any act which could
cause his Government trouble. He therefore hastened to assure Senor
Sagasta of his willingness to obey the wishes of the Government, and
gave up his command in Cuba.

He asked permission to leave the island at once, but Sagasta cabled to
him that he must remain where he was until Oct. 20th.

General Ramon Blanco will sail for Cuba on Oct. 15th.

The newly appointed commander of the forces in Cuba was Governor-General
of the Philippine Islands at the outbreak of the war there, but was
recalled for political reasons.

Unfortunately, his record for cruelty is not far behind Weyler's, and so
the savage character of t