“‘Your Excellency,’ I said to him through my interpreter, ’the American women have a very bad opinion of you.  I am very much afraid of you myself, but I have come to ask the honor of an interview with you, in order that I may write something which will reassure the women of America that you are not treating women and children unmercifully.’

“‘I do not give interviews,’ he said.  ’I am willing, however, to answer any question you wish to ask.’

“‘In the United States,’ I said, ’an impression prevails that your edict shutting out newspaper correspondents from the field is only to conceal cruelties perpetrated upon the insurgent prisoners.  Will your Excellency tell me the real cause?’

“‘I have,’ replied the General, ’shut out the Spanish and Cuban papers from the field, as well as the American.  In the last war the correspondents created much jealousy by what they wrote.  They praised one and rebuked the other.  They wrote what the prisoners dictated, instead of facts.  They even created ill-feeling between the Spanish officers.  They are a nuisance.’

“‘Then I can deny the stories as to your being cruel?’

“The General shrugged his heavy shoulders as he said carelessly:  ’I have no time to pay attention to stories.  Some of them are true and some are not.  If you will particularize I will give direct answers, but these things are not important.’

“’Does not your Excellency think that prisoners of war should be treated with consideration and mercy?’

“The General’s eyes glinted dangerously.  ’The Spanish columns attend to their prisoners just as well as any other country in time of war,’ he replied.  ’War is war.  You cannot make it otherwise, try as you will.’

“’Will not your Excellency allow me to go to the scene of battle under an escort of soldiers, if necessary, that I may write of the situation as it really is, and correct the impression that prevails in America that inhuman treatment is being accorded to the insurgent prisoners?’

“‘Impossible,’ answered the General.  ‘It would not be safe.’

“’I am willing to take all the danger, if your Excellency will allow me to go,’ I exclaimed.

“General Weyler laughed.  ’There would be no danger from the rebels,’ he said, ’but from the Spanish soldiers.  They are of a very affectionate disposition and would all fall in love with you.’

“’I will keep a great distance from the fighting, if you will allow me to go.’

“The General’s lips closed tightly, and he said:  ’Impossible!  Impossible!’

“‘What would happen,’ I asked, ’if I should be discovered crossing the lines without permission?’

“‘You would be treated just the same as a man.’

“‘Would I be sent to Castle Morro?’

“‘Yes,’ he replied, nodding his head vigorously.  That settled it.  I decided not to go.

“‘Why,’ I asked him, ’is the rule incommunicado placed upon prisoners?  Is it not cruel to prevent a man from seeing his wife and children?’