The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-29
FIRST EDITIO N
CUBA.

tion.
Don Jose Morales Lemus, the Envoy of Ces-
pedes has just received q number of official des-
patches, which begin at the fight at Las Tunas.
resume will be here found Of the more impor-
tant matters mentioned in the Dispatches
LAS TUNAs.
The attack of theinsurgents upon Las Tunas
has heretofore been published, and the account
given of it in the dispatches varies but little
from former reports. The attack was to have
been made at o'clock A. NJ, from four points,
but the plan was deranged by portion OF the
Spanish force having started out in search OF
provisions at an earlier hour. Thus the attack
was brought on n little too early for the insur-
gents. The fighting on the part of the Cubans
is described as having been very fierce. The
enemy was driven back and the town taken be-
fore 10 o'clock. Here the report mentions the
fact hitherto more or less in doubt, OF
the shooting of all the political prisoners held
by the Spaniards in the fortress. Having COM
mitted this awful Decd they ran as quickly as
possible to the plaza, but not before having left
seventeen dead bodies at and about the fortress
now abandoned, and good number OF firearms
as well as many other effects of war, including
their flag. The fire was incessant. The soldiers
of Quesada were full of enthusiasm, notwith-
standing they had just ended forced march of
between 100 and 120 miles, nor had they eaten
anything for the preceding "a hours 1t is
further stated that at the moment when the
trenches were about to be taken after long and
desperate fght-to wit, at 2 o'clock in the even,
ing-the Genera-in-C Chief, Quesada, received
positive notice of the approach of some 800 men
e,, route for Maniabon, who were intended to
aid the Spanards within the plaza. THE fear
that certain disaster might fall upon the Cuban
forces, fatgued as they were by long Marches
and the danger of having fire
playing upon us from two sides, on one of which
fresh troops would be engaged, induced the
General-in-Chief to give the order for retiring
his men," When the order was received, the
insurgent army at first showed signs of refusing
to obey and it became necessary that the officers
of the line and staff should employ all their
IN before
trenches of the enemy where they were at the
time. Such was the confidence and enthusi-
asm that all of them had in victory. The with
drawal was effected in the best order. ITO the
end of inducing the enemy to leave his trenches,
the General-in-Chie ordered that our forces
should form in line of battle, with banners dis
played, and they were thus ordered to march
all around the town, making a complete
circle. But the enemy did not dare to
move. After that we retired"
TwRNTY-sEvEN PRISONERS SHOT IN RETAIL
ALTON.
"In the military hospital we took more than
200 arms, five cornets-a-piston, and another flag,
which was flying over the building. Ten other
flags (Spanish) were captured in the houses of
the officers. We captured 81 prisoners, whom
we shot This was horrible duty, which had
been imposed upon us by Spanish barbarity and
to which we were particularly forced on that
day, because of the iniquitous assassination
committed upon the prisoners in the fortress.
The enemy acknowledge loss of 102 men, but,
without doubt, greater number fell. There
were 80 whom we had killed outside of the
trenches, among whom were three officers.
Some of our srenades had burst among them,
and they had, it must be said, been subjected to
hot fire during twelve hours. We lost 20 In
killed and 81 in wounded, all struck by rlhe-shots
The artillery had been so badly directed that
during the whole day 1t had inflicted not the
slightest damage upon us.
ATTEMPTS TO AssAssINATE GENERALS FIGU-
REDO, DIAZ, AND MARCANo
''The plan adopted by General Caballero dc
Rodas seems to be the assassination of all the
chiefs of the revolution. Brigadier-General
Luis Figuredo had the honor of being the first
man against whom such vile attempt was made.
A soldier of the enemy having passed to his
lines, whom he was unwilling to trust, an order
was given TO arrest him, when he was compelled
to confess that the object Of his coming to
Figuredo's camp was to assassinate that gene
raj. 1t is unnecessary to say that the soldier
as Immediately shot. About the 18th of last
July, four men OF General Modesto Dlaz
forces left but returned in about two months,
presenting themselves this time at the camp of
General Luis Marcano Successor of the Marcano
who had been in command OF the Division of
Bayamo). These men assured the General
that they had been out in the vicinity OF Maza-
Milo, where they had been engaged in
firing upon the Spanish soldiers, who were
found going out into the country in small bodies
A few days after this occurrence the General
having sent out escort TO make reconnois-
sance, asked for few soldiers to guard the camp
in place of the escort. The four individuals
before referred 10 responded 10 Tie clil; Win
others they were admitted to this service and
during the night, while one of them was on duty
as a sentinel there was heard report of fire.
arms in the camp. Soon 1t was learned that
the discharges had been fired into the bodies of
the General and another officer, who was his
brother. For the moment the troops supposed
that they had been surprised by the enemy.
Captain Nicholas Chala discharged his weapon
at one of the aggressors and killed him, and put
to precipitate flight the other three by that act.
according to information received from Man
zanillo the spanish Government has sent an
other assassin to murder General Modesto Diaz,
who is fully forewarned. Such acts will hardly
excite the sympathies of civilized people in
behalf of Spain-the defender, she is, OF
slavery. The war of the enemy seems to rejoice
in prosecuting families and in assassinating al
persons whom it reaches, even the most peace
ably disposed. The Spaniards spare not those
who endeavor to keep out of our way, and who
wish in no respect to have anything to do will
the war"
THE DEATH OF GENERAL CASTILLO.
General Angel Castillo, in fight which tool
place in August between his men and stronl
column of the enemy proceeding from Ciego d.
Avila. captured q cannon, various horses ant
mules laden with provisions and ammunition
took as prisoner the commander, Lieutenant
Colonel Ramon del Portal, and put the force il
complete rout. Fifty men or more were killed
among whom were various officers. Unfortu
nately that brave General was himself victim
to his excessive zeal, for in throwing his forces
himself at the head, against the enemy trenche
on the 9th of September last, at the village O
LaZaro Lopez, he was killed. Ever the first i
attack, this brave soldier died heroically an
gloriously."
GENERAL MARCANo ASKED TO COMMIT TREASON
In Of tlo nnfb fxUn aOl mncf 4