Diario de La Habana

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>TAC - Spain - CWOL V</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |     </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF80" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TAC Spain CWOL V"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Government"><U><B>Government</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Military"><U><B>Military</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Campaigns"><U><B>Campaigns</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cuba"><U><B>Cuba</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Diario de La Habana</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Diario de La Habana is the official newspaper about the facts that happens in Cuba in the TAC Module of CWOL.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >You can read the old issues of the Diario de La Habana</FONT> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Old issues"><U><B>here</B></U></A>.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Diario de La Habana</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NAVAL COMBATS IN TAMPICO.</B></div> <bR> <div> News are arrived to this newspaper about a naval combat in front of the shore of Tampico.</div> <bR> <div> While escorting and protecting a French Naval Squadron of transports, the Frigate "Sagunto" and the Sloop  "Hernan Cortes" encountered two hostile Juarist ships, a cutter and a gunboat of unknown name.</div> <bR> <div> The commander of the patrol sent the following message to the Mexican Captain, trying to avoid an uneven battle.</div> <bR> <div> "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >Capitán Gonzalez, </FONT></div> <bR> <div> As you can see, your forces at Tampico are outgunned and in inferiority. There is no reason for a bloodbath and even the honor is beyond an unnecessary fight. Your bravery being here is enough to show us the gallantry of the Mexican sailors. </div> <bR> <div> To avoid a battle that we don't want, we propose you to leave this area inmediately. You can continue flying your flag and leave with honor as nobody can request from you a higher sacrifice. Your honor remains clean and it's better to leave the area with your flag flying than to see it sinking in the waters. </div> <bR> <div> Please, contact us as fast as possible with your answer. We don't want a combat and for sure nor you. And there is no need to mix our blood in these beautiful waters. </div> <bR> <div> With all my respect, </div> <bR> <div> Capitán Alvaro de Plasencia </div> <div> Fragata Sagunto </div> <div> Armada Española </div> <div> "</div> <bR> <div> But the Mexican Admiral in person refused to accept the conditions and ordered General Quarters.</div> <bR> <div> The Sloop "Hernan Cortes" opened fire against the Mexican Cutter and her first broadside destroyed the Mexican deck, killing all the gunners of the ship. The second broadside left the ship without wheel, masts and with terrible holes.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, the Frigate maneuvered to stop the gunboat and avoid that ship closing to the French transports.</div> <bR> <div> In looking the destruction in the Cutter, the commander of our patrol sent another message to the Mexican Admiral:</div> <bR> <div> "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >Almirante Trujillos,</FONT></div> <bR> <div> As you can see, your ships at Tampico have no option. Your sailors are gallant and brave but they can do nothing. We must stop the bloodbath.</div> <bR> <div> You still have another possibility, sir. Surrender your honorable Flag now, and give your word of honor that these two ships never more will attack Spanish ships, troops or facilities. After your oath, your men and ships will be free to raise their flag again and leave the area in peace. </div> <bR> <div> Please, avoid more damage, Almirante. You acted as a valliant beyond your duty and you deserve our admiration. You are a brave sailor but now it's time to think like a wise sailor. Save your men because your honor and the honor of Mexico is saved. </div> <bR> <div> Respectfully, </div> <bR> <div> Capitán Alvaro de Plasencia </div> <div> Fragata Sagunto </div> <div> Armada Española </div> <div> "</div> <bR> <div> Seems that the Juarists are still in silence and we expect that our ships will sink the hostile vessels in brief.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NAVY EXECUTIVE ORDER</B></div> <bR> <div> We received the following message, from the Office of the Naval Station in La Habana:</div> <bR> <bR> <div> NAVY EXECUTIVE ORDER</div> <bR> <div> For security reasons related to the increasing threat that represents the Union Navy following the agressive and despective policies of the Union Government towards Spain, from today's date and until new communication, the territorial waters of Spain and his Colonies (1 square adjacent to the coast) are forbidden to American armed ships unless specific permission. These  territorial waters will be patrolled by Navy ships and all the unauthorized armed vessels would be escorted to the nearest harbor for identification.</div> <bR> <div> All ships of the Triple Alliance and all the unarmed merchants are allowed to use the territorial waters of Spain without limitations.</div> <bR> <div> Signed by my hand,</div> <bR> <div> Juan de Zabala</div> <div> Minister of the Navy</div> <bR> <div> So, you know readers: no more Union ships around us for a time.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CONSUL Gasset arrives at mobile</div> <bR> <div> The Consul of Spain in New Orleans, Santiago de Gasset, Count of Incosa has arrive at Mobile on board the Frigate "Numancia", that is currently there in a good will travel. The Consulate in New Orleans, after the retirement of the former Consul because a health problem, remained vacant until today, when the new Consul arrived at Mobile and will travel to New Orleans.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>ORDERS RECEIVED FROM MADRID.</B></div> <bR> <div> Seems that the last courier ship from Spain was full of official messages, orders and important dispatchs. We can be sure that all this increasing activity means something. And something great.</div> <bR> <div> This is an executive order sent from the Prime Minister O'Donnell to the Governor General of Cuba:</div> <bR> <div> To the Governor of Cuba:</div> <bR> <div> General Serrano,</div> <bR> <div> Is of the greatest importance, for the Queen and for her Cabinet, that the International resolutions about the slave trade be observed with absolute perfection and without exclusion. The slavery is accepted in Cuba until a new resolution be decided in the Parliament, but the slave trade from Africa to the province under your supervision is strongly prohibited and any mesure against this traffic will be enforced. The Navy in the waters of Cuba must pursue any ship transporting illegal slaves from Africa to the Island. The slave traders captured in such operations must receive the highest punishment according with the Law. And any negroe found in a slave ship must be freed in the Island as a Liberto or returned to Africa at the expense of the ship's Captain.</div> <bR> <div> General, this is an executive order of the highest importance.</div> <bR> <div> Give my respectful regards to your wife and your sons,</div> <bR> <div> Leopoldo O'Donnell</div> <div> Prime Minister.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> EDITORIAL</div> <bR> <div> This Executive order from Madrid, is going to be a very polemic one. And as we supose that, sooner or later, this matter will arrive at the Chamber of Commerce, we requested from some prominent individuals his point of view about this. Some of them asked our request and write for us these fine pearls of wisdom.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Ermengol Arnau, founder of 'La Cubana de Transportes'. Head of the Conservative Party in Cuba.</B></div> <bR> <div> "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >After reading the executive order from the Prime Minister to our Governor, I have mixed feelings and, basically, contained rage.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What is trying O'Donnell with that order? He knows that the trade of negroes is forbidden in the waters of Cuba and that, maybe with some exceptions, the law works. So, what he seeks? What he wants with these severe punishments and these payment of return trips? And what he wants</div> <div> with all these negroes being freed in the Island? There is something behind this executive order that we must know?</div> <bR> <div> Our main concern is based in that sentence in the executive order, talking about the possibility of the Parliament issuing new laws about slavery. What this means? Is going O'Donnell and their pseudo-liberals, pushed by that tribe of fanatic abolitionists that never saw a negroe except in</div> <div> beautiful pictures in their expensive books, to advance the date of the end of the slavery in the island? Is O'Donnell going to follow the ridiculous theories that say that negroes will be happier and world much better if the slavery dissappear? Is O'Donnell really convinced that the life of a slave is worst than the one of a textile worker or a miner, suffering a terrible</div> <div> life in the streets of Barcelona, Liverpool or New York?</div> <bR> <div> Mr. O'Donnell, I have more than 2,000 slaves in my plantation. They live in clean houses in a healthy area. They receive new clothes two times every year and the childs three times. They receive a good meal three times daily. They work ten hours and the Sunday morning they are free to go to the mass and rest until noon. They receive a bottle of rhum every two weeks, to enjoy the Saturday night. And while they are childs and when they reach their old age, they still continue living in peace in my plantation even beign unproductive.</div> <bR> <div> Do you think this life is worst than the one of the "free" workers? They receive a miserable salary insuficient to give them a honorable house and enough quality food to live as human beigns. Living in terrible conditions, hungry, sick, they work 12/14 hours every day seven days a week, in jobs beyond the human dignity. Their childs grow in suffering because nobody pays for unproductive subjects. And if they fall sick enough or are too old, they receive nothing. Nothing except misery.</div> <bR> <div> And now, are you trying to again, for unknown reasons, bring the matter of the slavery to the parliament? Do you want a Cuba full of poor negroes without hope and without job, while the planters prefer other more productive activities using more productive systems, than paying thousands of slaves insufficient salaries for them but still too much expensive for the planters?</div> <bR> <div> Again, Mr. O'Donnell, what are you trying to awake with your executive order?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Manel Fortunat, businessman and President of the Benefical Society of Sant Miquel.</B></div> <bR> <div> "The Slave trade was, is and will be the most terrible business never saw in the world. The trade is even worst than the slavery itself, not only because without trade the slavery would never exists but because trade is the main reason why the slavery is so much terrible.</div> <bR> <div> A planter that have some hundreds of slaves and know that can replace them for a moderated price, has the tendency to think in them as simple numbers in his administrative books. He calculate the cost of an slave well feeded and well dressed and keep in good conditions and also calculate the price of a new slave imported from Africa. In the times were the trade was at the highest point, an slave was cheaper than a good hunting dog. And this only means one thing: slaves aren't well treated.</div> <bR> <div> But now, with the slave trade in the lowest point, the price of an slave is expensive, very expensive. Planters need to, and sorry for the word, economize their slaves. And this simple exercize of basic economy raised the average quality of life of the slaves and their life expectancy to limits that the good will of people never was able to reach.</div> <bR> <div> So the end of the slave trade is even more important than the same abolition of the slavery, because abolition is a beautiful dream but represents a damage for everybody, including the slaves, that few people can imagine. Famine, poverty, terror, crime, injustices would be the harvest of a premature abolition without the care needed when working in extreme problems. But the end of the trade means the end of a nightmare for most of the negroes and the first step for an orderly abolition process, without damage for any of the parts".</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mr</B><B>. David Bustamante, President of the Technologic Society and Speaker of the Liberal Party.</B></div> <bR> <div> "These are great news for everybody. Great news for the slaves, for the Africans, for all the good Christians of the Island. A monstruosity, a terrible business arrived from the hell, is nearly finished. And with the new efforts of the Prime Minister and our Navy, this terrible shame for our Island and our nation will be history. A terrible history, but left in the past.</div> <bR> <div> But the main problem still leaves with us. The monster of the slavery is still breathing in the Island and we can see the horror of this inhuman "institution" in the faces of every slave we find in the streets or in the fields. No matter how their conditions of life be; no matter if they live better than the miners of Wales or the workers of Bilbao. The terrible fact is that they are slaves and are the property of another man, only because they had the bad luck to born in the wrong place. We cannot request higher conditions for our workers or better education for our childs while keeping human beings in bondage. We cannot dream in a humankind advancing towards a better future, while we cannot look as our brothers a great part of this humankind."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   <SCRIPT>  </SCRIPT>  <form method="POST" action="http://mindit.netmind.com/mindit.shtml" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="SOURCE" value="510"> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tr><td align="center"> <font face="arial,helvetica" size="-1"><b>Click to receive email <br>when this page is updated</b></font></td> </tr><tr><td align="center"> <input type="hidden" name="DOC_TITLE" value="TAC Spain"> <input type="image" src="http://mindit.netmind.com/images/mindit510.gif" border="0"></td> </tr><tr><td align="center"> <font face="arial,helvetica" size="-2">•<b> Powered by <a href="http://www.netmind.com" target="_top">NetMind</a> </b>•</font> </td></tr></table></form>   </div> <div> <B> <script language="JavaScript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="http://pub31.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=354318&usernum=2643473954&groupnum=31&cpv=1"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://counter31.bravenet.com/index.php?id=354318&usernum=2643473954&cpv=1" target="_top"><img src="http://counter31.bravenet.com/counter.php?id=354318&usernum=2643473954" alt="Bravenet.com" border="0" /></a> </noscript>  </B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>