The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-12
w EST INDIES.

CUBA.
HAVANA, Dec. 11.-The Diaro, to-day, pub
fishes the following news from the interior:
The Spanish troops at Manzanilio. reinforced
by the sailors from the men-ot. var in the har-
cor, had sharp skirmiSh with the insurgents
near the town. Ten of the latter were killed and
many wounded. The troops captured q large
plumber OF horses, and some important CORE
spondence fell into their hands. The Govern
ment loss is not reported.
The Diaro also states that since the battle of
Vlie del Cobra and Guantanamo four hun
dred rebels have vo unfairly given themselves
up TO the military authorities, and have receIv-
ed the pardon OF the Government The revo-
lutlonisfs fatty contradict these statements,
and report that they are constantly receiving
reinforcements OF men, arms and ammunition,
and within week about fifty young men, some
of them of the first families in the Isalnd have
lett Havana to join the rebellion. Spauiards
here continue to subscribe money and furnish
| recruits for the government.
New York, Dec. 11.-An Havana letter of
ID INST says: Information of y highly inter-
estlng character comes to us from Neuvtas.
On the 9th ult. the rebels held q council of
war at half-league distance from this place.
The Governor called meeting of citizens at
his palace, to which he invited the Consuls'
Mr.. Gibbs, American Consular Agent, accom-
panied by the Prussian, English and French
Consuls, attended. His Excellency presided
over the meeting, and said re was afraid the
town would be attacked, and he had noe a force
sufficiently strong to defend it; that it was due
to humanity and civilization to say that he had
received advices from his superior, the Captain
General, TO the effect that in case of an attack
by the insurgents on Neuvitas the command
ers OF the two war vessels of Neuvitas were to
lombard the town and reduce 1t to ashes. Mr.
6. requested the Governor to suspend tine
meeting till he could retire with the other
CoDsulS for consultation. This was agreed to
and these gentlemen left the room FOR few
moments. The result of their deliberations
was that, being neutrals and the representa-
tlves OF their separate nationalities, they were
entitled to the protection of the Spanish Gov
eminent, at least in their own houses, over
which fioated their flags, and also they had
right to have protected and to protect, as far
was within their power the lives and property
of their own citizens; and they further stated
to His Excellency their willingness to shelter
and protect all the non-combatants the gov
eminent might assign them.
His EXcellency said he had no control over
the matter, and that after making as good q
defence as he could in case of attack, if unsuc-
cessful he should retire his men and put them
on board the ships of war, but would place the
jennie Clark, sailing ssel, at the DISPOSE
ton OF the Consuls and their fellow citizens
and such other non-combatants, &c., as he
might deem proper. If they preferred he said,
they could send for vessels of war of their own
Governments. Beyond this he could neither
say nor 90 anything.
1uc MeetinS tHeu appointed COMMISSION
to go out of town and wait on the rebels. They
returned with one of the leaders, Col Lopez,
under q nag OF truce. Independence. said L0-
PEI, is " hat we will agree to, nothing less, and
an unconditional surrender. Further, he would
not be responsible for anything that might
happen, &c. He advised all the COnsuls and
non combatants to -immed iately leave, as The
town might be attacked at any moment. The
interview then terminated.
Mr.. Gibbs has written here, asking that an
American man-ofwar be sent TO Neuvitas, and
Admiral Hoff has already dispatched the Pc
nobSCot to the coast. He suggested that the
Admiral take possession of his (Gi5b's) prem
ises, which embraces dwelling house and
warehouse, to the end that the respective bel.
igereptS may respect his rights and property
Mr. G. further considers himself a ruined man
has. Le saws, advanced about 1914 900 on account
of sugar and has about $4,000 worth of that
article in his warehouse. He has determine d
to send away his family, aud thinks Of remains
inc himself as long as possible. Mr.. Gibbs had
at1ast accounts gone on board the Ocean Bird,
| an American vessel, with his family and some
| twenty others.
Dec. - Several gentlemen lately visited the
| Moro and their cabins which are the fortifica-
tons OF the left at the entrance of Havana Bay.
| They saw gun-carria. es being taken down and
! others put up. Parts of the old wall were torn
| down and new breastwOrks being built in lieu
| thereof. A considerable number of new guns
were inside awaiting their being placed in po-
sltIon. Inere were Parrots and l)ahlSrens, Or
binary mOrtars and 21-pound howitZers, wit b
carriages attached There are as near as could
be judged, now 10 the fort some three HIM !red
| pieces of artillery. The work was being done
| by negroes OF the chain gang under surveil-
| lance Of a body of soldiers.
| On DEC. or 0, 1000 other men were expected,
and 1000 soldiers besides had just sailed from
| Cadiz. Meanwhile the government reports
| that The insurrection was not extending be-
| yond the limits of the district in which it orig
| mated. According to the same authority in
surrectionists We're flockng into the camp of
the regular troops. AT Puerto Principe, Napo-
| leon Arrange, prominent chief, with 120 of his
adherents, had laid down their arms.