As the revolutionists lived largely on the pillage of plantations in their neighborhood, this policy involved the destruction of the crops of the loyal as well as of the disloyal, of Americans as well as of Cubans.

The population of the devastated plantations was gathered into reconcentrado camps where, penned promiscuously into small reservations, they were entirely dependent upon a Government which was poor in supplies and as careless of sanitation as it was of humanity.

The camps became pest-holes, spreading contagion to all regions having intercourse with Cuba, and in vain the interned victims were crying aloud for succor.
This new policy of disregard for property and life deeply involved American interests and sensibilities.

The State Department maintained that Spain was responsible for the destruction of American property by insurgents.

This Spain denied, for, while she never officially recognized the insurgents as belligerents, the insurrection had passed beyond her control.