The New York herald., 1869-03-29
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Geaeral Review Of tho Observation-Disclosures
Masters Of Havans-Dslce Poweriess-
(aeverumeut Rerces-Caaractcr Of Opera
tiens-scarcisy Or Resulls-The Insurseats-
Their LeaAcrs-Finances Or tho Island.
HAVANA. March 90. 1892
The somewhat monotonous yet exhilaratlng strains
Of the "Riego Hymn sound In my ears as ! SIT
down 70 write. They precede the march Of 500
masters or the city who have just returned from
keeping watch and ward over political prisoners In
the cabanas, having been relieved by 800 other mas
ters. Through with the formalIty OF dismissal,
with smiling. confident AIR. musket In hand. they
move on to their carts, their walters aprons, 10
the gr0gshops aud conee houses, where these de-
scendants and heirs OF the Spanish cObbler and
Manchego mule, who In the days OF Ferdinand VII.
failing other representatives OF the Cid had right
to rule the indies, gain precari0us livelihood,
pending the hour OF vengeance Quiet enough In
their labors and not dlstrustfu, for with every
man OF their battalion and OF every battalion,
succeeding until their term OF duty comes
round again, there is fierce determination that not
one OF the hundreds now langushing In the
cabanas only charged with seeking that liberty the
Spaniard so recently demanded for himself at the
point OF the sword-and many OF them not even
that-shall be released without their knowledge and
consent. Say they to the superior Political Cover
nor OF the ever faithful isle" 'you can imprison; we
only can discharge" Said the second officer OF this
colonial government, but recently, TO PROSTATE,
weeping wife and mother, "Thank God when the
ship which bears the father OF your children away
leaves the harbor ~ and the woman rose and left
with new horror. No one better than this officer,
and all the political and military household OF the
Superior Governor realizes that these prisoners are
0t The mercy or bigoted and malignant mob into
whose hands Lcrsundi placed arms, and that their
forbcaance Is that OF the certain or Its victim.
Nor Is there any remedy. The regular troops which
arrive here are regarded even more danger
GUS than the volunteers. On their arrival the latter
Immediately mingle among them; and with their
discipline already affected by the scenes In which
they have taken part In Spain they become the
more mutinous and turbulent from their previous
submission to restraint. For this reason they are
not permitted to remain here In contact VITA the
volunteers moment longer than Is necessary, but
are hurried or to the field.
Dulce, with whatever desire to do Justice. Is pow
eriess There are those who tried by that mockery
less, yet they are not released The volunteers will
not consent. day or two since the Captain Gen.
soner. Entering his cell he was about to speak,
when the sentinel cautioned him not to utter word
the order, aCan E You reads TO see m the prisoner,
look at him y And the gentleman was COM
PEELED 10 60 Nor these volunteers slow to show
citizen to give them the wall if they require It, and
to be entirely respectful in Ills manner. party OF
them emerged from drinking place as an Amer
can was passing. Their appearance or manner
caused him to smile. II expected every m0mentn
he ne afterwards SAD. that they would @ shoot me-"
Spanish friend that they did not. They arrest cit-
zens on their own motion. and, taking them to the
prison, charge them with insulting q v0lnnteer-an
unfortunate exhibition Of inftfentiQ, for only v0un-
teers can let them out. They peer and pry into the
tives are active In finding out who is invited din
ner, and once their suspicious are excited guilt Is
The long delay in the departure OF large number
OF political prisoners now set down for tomorrow,
has grown out OF the spirit manifested by the volun
sent ostensiDly to Fernando Po who would be un-
conditiOnalfy released were 1t not for them
- T1s feeling thus s. existing IN Havana a., = smuated
throughout the island. Defiant OF authority, save
when exercised IN accordance with their views
and allow no interference In the carrying out OF their
wishes. While In Havana Dulce Is doing all he can
his sssomng stained win
he is endeavoring 20 get the political prisoners
out from the control OF the volunteers, who are
thirsting for their blood. Elsewhere men are being
shot down IN cold blood by hundreds. Throughout
the rural districts the Guardla CIVIL a body COM
about arresting and killing without shadow OF
authority and In defiance OF safe conducts
TINT amid rilis carnival or lawlessness and blood
everywhere the name "Amerlcan citizenn arouses
ing their property fearing to be shot down like dogs.
Such is the situation as Affecting peaceful people.
The military situation throughout presents pic
ture OF hopeless enlargement. There would seem
be neither unity OF purpose nor concert OF action
among those in command 1t Is true that little or
nothing is known, save OF unmportant encounters
between the troops ana the insurgents, udlcr0usly
exaggerated by the Spanish press: but II amid all
the authorities are doing anything likely to lead TO
o successful suppression OF this rebellion, they
possess a faculty OF mystiiyng both friends and
enemies which would put your new President to ut
ter shame For aught that Ia known TO the contrary,
General valmaseda remains In command OF all the
forces in operation, but we seldom hear his name
mentioned as though he were among the forgotten
derment At last accounts, more than month old,
he had divided his forces retaining portion at Bay
amo sending another to Santiago de Cuba, still an
other to Manzanl0, and placing q small garrison at
Jignani, and in accordance with orders, had sus-
pended all military operations 1t is fair TO say that
one OF the city papers recently mentioned the fact
that he had sent column, under Colonel Vargas, to
operate in conjunction with Lopez Camara against
Maya In the jurisdiction OF Santiago. The reports
OF the combat In the latter place are conflicting.
There is reason to believe that Cespedes, with q
considerable force, Is there. He had been for
some time previous In the Jurisdiction OF Holguin
close at hand. AS reported at Charleston and pub
lshed In the HERALD OF the 1lth Csneros had landed
there with u few men and very considerable guam
tty OF arms In face OF the large number OF insur-
gents which must have been concentrated there the
Spanish report Of Lopez Camaras victory Is ex-
tremely improbable; but whether true or not 1t Is
certain that the results are trivial indeed are the
every ~ ~ een py ane Spaniarus
which he lost half his force--I have 1t from good
authority that he entered Principe with but 600
men-has been entirely barren. The insurgents are
admittedly ~ numerous, rs bold and active as be-
fore, and are still besiegng the last named city,
between which and Nuevitas there Is still no commu-
llca!!9p, In EspTltQ S91to Poello With hjs QQmill
tacics, occasiohallJ MakA&es to surprise bafty
Of rebels, captures few and shoots them. In Trtni-
dad Bascomes Is pursuing similar course without
the tactics. In Remedies. Sagua Villa Clara, Cien-
fuegos and Colon numerous encounters are taking
place, ALL rs reported. favorable to the government
cause and not Of the slightest practical Importance,
From every one OF these places constant DEMANDS
are made upon the Captain General for reinforce
ments and the troops arriving here are hurried on
at the earliest fnelnent and volunteers are mobil-
izing for service and as soon as ready marched on,
yet still the cry s for more. While write depu-
tation Is IN the city 10 represent to the Captain
General that the city OF Trinidad IL insecure, and
that reiniorcements are Imperative. Volunteers are
10 be sent there.
OF the number OF the government forces employeda
pretty fair estimate can be made. The Di0rt0 n its
usual focl,sh style OF exaggeration places them at
20, 0J0 which II Tar above the actual number. When