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Page 2
It is true that General Blanco is to take twenty thousand fresh troops
with him. But sickness and disease are ravaging Cuba, and the
new-comers, unused to the climate, are likely to be the first to fall
victims to the fevers and plagues that are turning the beautiful island
into a pest-house.
It is said that Sagasta has ordered General Blanco to continue the war
as long as there is an insurgent in arms against Spain, but that he does
not intend to conquer the people by force of arms alone.
The soldiers are to punish the Cubans if they will not obey the
Government, but Se�or Sagasta means to try and win the friendship of the
people by giving them a kind and liberal form of government under which
they may prosper and be happy. With this policy he hopes to bring the
war to a speedy end.
General Blanco's first act is to be to repeal some of the cruel laws
made by Weyler, especially those which have driven the unfortunate
peasants into the towns to starve, while their ungathered crops lie
rotting in the fields.
Whether these efforts to secure the friendship of the Cubans will be
successful or not, the future alone can tell.
At present the Cubans are not disposed to listen to any offers. They
persist in their declaration that they are fighting for freedom, and
that the change of ministers or captains-general makes no difference to
them. They are not going to lay down their arms because Weyler is
recalled, nor yet because Sagasta offers them Home Rule.
As a last act before he leaves the island, General Weyler has pardoned a
great number of Cubans whom he had exiled from their country, and these
men are now free to return to their homes.
In the mean while the Cubans have won two brilliant victories in Havana
Province, and have also gained possession of a seaport town called Santa
Maria, in the province of Pijar del Rio.
General Weyler has stated that he has pacified the eastern part of the
island, and has only a little more work to do before he will have the
west completely subdued.
In direct contradiction of this statement comes the news that Bayamo,
Holguin, Jiguani, and other towns held by the Spanish in Santiago
province (which is Eastern Cuba) have all been abandoned by the Spanish
troops since the fall of Victoria de las Tunas.
With these towns abandoned, the insurgents do not need such a large body
of troops in Santiago, and so a strong force under the leadership of
General Garcia is making its way westward to join the army in Havana and
Pinar del Rio.
This army crossed the trocha without any difficulty, attacked the town
of Taguayabon in Santa Clara, captured it and plundered it with very
little opposition from the Spaniards, and marched triumphantly on toward
Matanzas province.
The news has reached Havana that this body of men which is marching
toward the city is the flower of the insurgent army. It is stated that
it consists of infantry, cavalry, and three batteries of artillery, and
is well supplied with arms and ammunition captured from Las Tunas.
* * * * *
A messenger from Cuba has arrived in this country, who states positively
that the elections have been delayed, and that as yet no one has been
chosen to fill the office of President. He adds that Se�or Bartolome
Maso is the favorite, and it is supposed that he will be the successful
candidate. The news of the election of Se�or Capote may not have been
true, after all.
This messenger, who is named Aguirre, says he is the bearer of some
important messages and papers to the Cubans in America, but he will not
say what they are until he has laid them before the proper authorities.
It is thought that they may have something to do with the exchange of
prisoners, and the recognition of the belligerency of the Cubans by the
Spanish army.
There has been great rejoicing during the last few days over the escape
from prison of a young Cuban, Evangelina Cisneros.
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