The New York herald., 1869-04-28
Tho Revelation In Cuba-Rovicw Of tho
Positions Of the Combatants.

Positions OF tho Combatauts.
The recent authoritative announcements
from Havana that the insurrection is almost at
an end render an examination of the positions
occupied by the combatants at the last advices
from the respective localities matter of some
interest. We shall therefore give a cursory
review OF the facts as they present them
selves promising only that from the nature of
the territory and the absence of communica-
ton with the insurgent forces, our deductions
are based entirely upon Spanish accounts.
Practically the war now existing in Cuba is
carried on in five separate and distinct dis
tricts, with little communication or co-opera-
tion between them on the part of the insur-
gents, and independent command on the part
of the Spaniards. These are the district of
Villa Clara, generally known in Cuba as the
district of the five towns, the district of Santi
Espiritu that of Puerto Principe, the Bayamo
district and that of Holguin, the first named
comprising the western limit of the insurrec-
tion, and the last that Of the operations of
General Cespedes in the eastern portion of the
island after his retreat from Bayamo, the
original seat Of the movement.
The Villa Clara district was the last to be-
come involved in the revolutionary movement,
and from its proximity to the capital has re-
ceived more prompt and energetic attention from
the government than the more distant sections.
The elements for the insurrectionary movement
were gathered principally from the jurisdc-
tions of Cenfuegoss and Trinidad, and the
prompt arrival Of troops from Havana caused
the retreat of the newly formed bands to the
mountains lying north of Trinidad, and which
place at last accounts they are said to be
threatening. Although the movement in this
district has no doubt lost much of its impulse
from the early encounters with the troops and
the necessary evacuation Of Siguanea, which
had been selected as its central point, it is
plain from the Spanish reports of operations
and successes that it has not been suppressed.
Bands of insurgents also hold the field in the
portion Of this district contiguous to the north
ern shore of the island and the recent order
of the Spanish commander for the withdrawal
of all the country stores to the garrisoned
towns indicates that peace is not restored.
In the district of Sant Espiritu, lying east
of Trinidad, from which it is separated by
very hily section of country, operations are on
q limited scale on both sides. Recent opera
tions are reported in the vicinity of Mayajigua,
and frequent excursions of the troops are
announced.
The district of Puerto Principe has pre-
sented for some time the most formidable
n, fho Cr,o ;orJo huf
ports of serious operations have come recently
from either side. General Lesca some time
since succeeded in conveying relief to General
Mena, who was and still is besieged in the
city of Puerto Principe, and recent accounts
state that an attempt to obtain further sup
plies for the Spanish troops from Santa Cruz
resultedin their capture by the insurgents
General Quesada is in command In this dis
trict, and is variously reported to have in his
army from ten thousand to twenty thousand
men. Though we doubt the truth of many of
these numerical reports, we have reason to
believe that his command embraces many
more men than he can arm and equip. This
state of things, which is found also in the
other revolutionary districts, constitutes the
chief embarrassment of the revolution. The
weakness of the Spaniards here is shown in
the fact that they have not been able to open
permanent communication from the coast to
Puerto Principe
Bayamo was for some months the head
quarters of General Cespedes, the first who
pronounced and who is looked upon as the
principal leader of the revolution. 1t was
subsequently occupied by General Valmaseda,
who is second in command in Cuba on the
Spanish side, and he still remains there. But
the country all around him is reported to be
infested with insurgent bands, and frequent
accounts of Spanish successes there are found
in the Havana papers. His communication
with Santiago is kept up by strong conveys
only. The principal military operations in
this district, and that of Holguin, lying north
of Bayamo, have been those for the occupation
Of Mayari, to which place General Cespedes
withdrew on leaving Bayamo. That the in
surgent chief still carries on the war vigor-
ously there, is evident from the fact that the
Spanish Colonel Benegasi fell back from Hol-
guin to Auras. and reports that at the latter
place a population Of seventeen thousand per-
sons is gathered under his protection. The
recent reports Of Colonel Lopez Camara, who
drove the insurgents from Mayari, indicate
their presence through all the surrounding
country.
From this review Of The insurrccton In
Cuba it will be seen that the Cubans are opc-
rating with little or no unanimity of action or
plan, and 1t is, perhaps, their greatest weak
ness, apart from the immediate want of arms
and ammunition. Both Spanish and Cuban
accounts agree that every Cuban is revolu-
tionist and this Qives them the force of num.