The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-31
The News from Cuba.

At length the Cuban cable has spoken,
fully confirming the account of the defeat of
Gen. Pueblo furnished by our intelligent
correspondent nj Matanzas, and published
exclusively by TIE SUS just ten days ago.
The slaughter of the Spaniards must have
been fearful, for they confess TO n loss of
thirty.sx officers mud four hundred men
killed and wounded, and the despatch is
silent Ms to tho whereabouts of the rest of the
5000 men with whom PUEBLO left Nucvtas
On the Goth nit.
As the battle in which PUEBLO and the
Spanish cause in Cuba roceived this severe
defeat took place on the LIST inst near
Guaimaro, and rs he returned TO Bopa, a
small port on the bay of Nucvi,as, opposite
the city Of that name, only on tho 2jth, it
IL pretty safe to conjecture that no was
hemmcl in by the patriot forces, and unable
TO advance further or to retreat to tho coast,
until the arrival of Gen. GoYENEcmE at
Puerto Principe from Santo E~piritu on the
18th, with 1900 men, created u diversion in
his favor, Indeed, the telegram informs us
that JORDAN, now Gcneral-iu-Chicf of the
IAlllo luh itll i ll-l.lD 10 ~ ~ ulttl LIE
new aud more formidable opponent.
GoYENECnE is now said TO have left Puerto
Principe on the 18th inst. with his COM
mand consisting probably Of at most some
1000 men, for cholera il reported to have
made fearful havoc among his troops on Their
journey from Santo Espritu and it seems
strange that with the railroad and telegraph
open from Puerto Principe TO Nucvitas, no
news should be transmitted from Nuevitas
up TO the 2jth, upon which date the steamer
Montezumn, which brought the news of
PUELLo's defeat to Havana, left Sucy.tas
Gen. GoYENEcnE IL stated TO have gone
south from Puerto Principe for the purpose
Of capturing the new Cuban capital Najasa
which lies in an almost imprcgnable position
about half way TO the south coast, and Little
10 the left of the road from Puerto Principe
20 Santa Cruz. The country about Najasu
Ia very mountainous, full Of deep ravincs
and perfectly inaccessible TO nrtllcry--a
country in fact, admirably adapted 10
guerilla warfare, where few good marks
men can anuihilate large body of troops at
their pleasure.
If the Spaniards, rs would appear TO be
the case from the campaign OF PUELLo and
from this new expedition of GoYENECHE, re
ally set such value on the capture of the
Cuban capital, they will have to draw on
Spain, not Ivy regiments or bottalions, but by
divisions and army corps. Guaimaro was
an open and comparatively an indcfeusiblc
place; Najasu is almost Improbable.
The Spanish authorities, however now
confess their inability to wipe out this insur-
rection, which, according TO Mr.. FISH, has
for some tmo been ION its last legs" du.
ring the last winter campaign; and they
themselves tell MS that they nre utterly i'm.
potent against the Cubans in the summer
time. Accordingly, they ask for prolonga
ton Of the limit which they originally set
for the suppression Of the rebellion. Mr.
SEWARD, who is now in Cuba, may teach
thcrn true definition of the possible dura
ton of sixty days
With all due spcct we would again sur
gcst 70 the two gentlemen who now rule ms,
Sidney WEBSTER and Mr.. HAMILTON FISH,
that it IS about time hold Spain TO hcrpr
lao of crushngout this revolution Mt once, or 10
acknowledge before the world that there is n
war in Cuba. We know that the fact that II
Is a war Cor the expulsion Of European dcs,
potsm from american soil and for the Gboli-
ton Of slavery must render such an ,knJwl.
cdgmcnt very painful to their souls, but we
fear they will h1v' 10 como to il. Are there
no sincere Americans in COnUress to epur