Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-01
CUBA.


| In the great Franco-Prussian war, the
| Cuban struggle is almost entirely over
looked, although the interest we should
experience in the success of the patriots
ought not to subside, General Ryan,
one Of the patriot leaders, who is at
present on an important mission to the
United States, furnishes the following
particulars, showing the condition OF
the island after the devastation of two
years struggle for independence, and
the relative position of the contending
parties--the one for the sweets Of lib
erty, the other in the cause Of despot-
ism. There can be no hesitation where
our sympathies should rest; and we
most earnestly hope that the little band
who have proved so determined and
tenacious of their rights against the
tyranny of Spain may reap the reward
they so richly deserve. In his state
ment, General Ryan says
The campaign now about closed, be-
cause Of the approach Of the rainy sea-
son, has been the most severe that has
been waged by the Spaniards since the
beginning Of the war De Kodas has
had at his command during this cam
paign an army Of 10000 regular troops,
and 10000 volunteers, all fully armed
and equipped, and having unlimited sup
plies at their disposal. Against this
large force the insurgents have been
able to oppose scarcely 10000 armed
men. With all the energy of the Cuban
agents in this country and in Europe,
there have been landed on the coast of
Cuba, and reached the custody of
the Cuban authorities, according
to the records of the Cuban
War Department, but 1910 stands Of
arms. Beyond these the insurgents have
been compelled to trust to their own re-
sources and their captures from the
enemy for weapons to put into the hands
of their soldiers. And the little army of
10000 men they have been able to arm
carry heterogeneous collection of
rifles and shotguns, breech and muzzle-
leaders, carbines, revolvers, and any
thing else that will shoot This is the
great want of the Republic to-day. If
arms could be procured, 100000 men
stand ready to shoulder them, and take
the field against foreign oppression.
Nevertheless, with this little army,
scarcely 10000 strong. the insurgents
have held their ground against the ut
most efforts Of the 100000 men under
the Spanish Generals, throughout o
protracted campaign, in which Spain
has put forth her most supreme exer-
tons to crush out the rebellion. In
the Camaguey district alone-where,
however, the severest fighting has been
done-General Ryan has fought no less
than thirty-three engagements OF a
general character, some Of them ex-
tending over two and three days, and
has been victorious in all but one. And
in that single instance of defeat he at
tackled with less than one hundred men
a force Of 1900 and three times repulsed
them, and gave way finally only when
his ammunition was all expended. And
in that heroic action his little command
killed more than their own number of
Spaniards The campaign leaves the
position of affairs substantially as it was
early in the spring The Spaniards hold,
nominally, all the seacoast, and the in
terror of the country as far east as Pu-
erto Principe. The Cubans have undis-
puted possession of the island as far
west as Puerto Principe, while their
guerrilla parties operate through the
Central and Western Departments even
up to within forty miles Of Havana.