The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09
Tho Revo,urson in Cuba.

Tho Rovoiurson in Cuba.
Our advices from Cuba indicate that the
insurrectionary movements there have assumed
serious character. and that the Spanish
authorities have become alarmed at the result
tnatm may attend the conflict ON which they have
entered. The exact character of the insurrec-
uon mas not yet been made known to the world,
from the absence of independent communica-
tion with the insurgents but the facts that
nave been exclusively published by the colo
MAJ government, when taken in their aggre-
gate, manlfestiy contradict their continued
assertion OF success attending every movement
of the Spanish troops. The course Of events
has been as follows :-On the l1th ~
October last few persons made an nm.
important resistance to the authorities At
Yara, small village on the south side Of
the island, about six miles from the CONNER
cial port of Manzanillo. The insurgents. we
are Informed by official accounts, were
promptly dispersed. Notwithstanding this
assertion we were told few days later that
they had taken possession of the important
inland town of Bayamo, where they estab-
lished government, with Senior Ces-
pedes, wealthy lawyer and planter, at
It's head. Soon after this the official accounts
represent them as marching both westward
and eastward, and the Spanish columns as
taking the field against them. A victory was
officially announced as having been won by
Colonel Quiros over the insurgents at Contra
maestro, mountain pass between Bayamo
and St. Jago de Cuba; but soon after this
officer turns up back in St. Jago, from whence
he started, and later advices inform us that
he has been removed from his post and his
second in command arrested on charge OF
cowardice. The result thus far of this series
of victories is that the Spanish forces are shut
up in st. Jago by the insurgents, who have
cut of all supplies on the land side.
Similar results, according to the Spanish
official accounts, seem to have attended the
Spanish troops operating against the bands
that marched westward from Bayamo. Colonel
hundred men to meet the advancing insur-
gents, and after defeating them repeatedly
he became invested in Las Tunas, and for
several weeks the government in Havana had
had no communication from him. We now
learn that he has abandoned the town and
marched to Manati, port on the north coast.
Colonel Ampudia, in command at Manzanillo,
is powerless to operate against the neigh
boring city Of Bayamo, the centre Of the
revolution, and according to recent accounts
was on the defensive against insurgents in the
immediate vicinity of the town. Other bands,
penetrating the island westward, had cut Of
the communications OF Puerto Principe with
the coasts, and according to the latest advices
have appeared in the vicinity Of Santi Espritu.
The progress Of these events had forced
General Lersundi, the Captain General, to
send Count Balmaseda, his second in com
mand, with all the disposable troops, to the
centre of the island, and recent advices In
formed us that he had reached Puerto Prin-
cipe with nine hundred men, relieving the gar
rison there. The important intelligence which
we publish in special telegram In another
column shows that he has been obliged to
abandon that important city and seek refuge
under the guns of the ships in the bay Of
Nuevitas. Colonel Lotto, with the garrison
of Las Tunas, has reached Manati, port in
the immediate vicinity of Nuevitas, and tho
two bodies Of troops will no doubt form .
junction.
These events leave the Spanish authorities
in possession of no point in the interior of the
eastern half of Cuba, and give to the insur-
gents, who have now earned the name of patri-
OTIS, ample territory for organization and tho
means for more extensive operations. No
doubt can be entertained that the war of inde-
pcndence has been inauyurated, and in
view Of the proximity Of Cuba to our
coast, the Importance of the commerce we hold
with her, the large number Of American citi-
zens who have interests there and the compli-
cations which may at any moment ensue, it
bchooves our government to keep watchful
eye upon the course of events and not to be-
caught unawares. The frequent presence of
man-of-war in the several important ports Of
the island, to give aid and comfort to our Con-
suls, will be the ounce of prevention that Is
worth more than the pound of cure in case
either OF the parties to the conflict should
forget the rights of neutrals. Let us hear
soon that some United States ships have
touched at st. Jago, Manzanillo, Trinidad and
other ports which are surrounded by the insur-
rcction.