The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-20
CUBA.
The Pc,,1s .s TO she

Tho sitpation---New. Plan Of Campnsgn-The
Crops-A Petition TO the C0ries.
HAVANA, Jan. b. About month ago nearly
everybody was of opinion that the troops would
clear the Cinco Villas Immediately, and drive
the insurgents towards Puerto Principe, but
such a contamination has not been effected, and
although the insurgents in that region are not so
bold as they were formerly, they nevertheless
remain in the field, and manage to avoid encoun-
ters with their valiant and well-disciplined adj
versailles. Fifteen thousand Spanish soldiers,
Es'9S az o S.urents q. TSs'r in willing ins gcnso Go ys s
have not been able to have more
than few insignificant skermishes since the
first of January; and not over twenty-five lives
have been lost on both sides. At that rate the
war will never end, and the Spaniards will be
compelled to make superhuman efforts In order
to secure fully the line from Cieya de Arila to
Moron, and drive the Cinco Villas insurgents
beyond IL towards the Camaguey. The Govern
ment claims to hold the line, but of what avail
is 1t while enemy, numbering over 1000 men,
remains in the rear, and while the enemy, in
front, crosses with impunity, to effect some sud
den coup de main, and retires again to their
mountain Businesses
NEW PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
The plan of campaign as inaugurated by the
Spaniards is . good one, but doubt, after all,
whether 1t will be effective. The idea of Gene
raj Rodas is to construct O road through the
centre of the island, so as to be enabled to trans
port troops and provisions with despatch, and to
construct telegraphic towers every few miles
with which to signal the nearest detachment, SO
that succor may be had and combinations be
made in the shortest possible time; said towers
to be constructed in such O manner as to answer
the purposes OF fort, and to be occupied by
about thirty men and piece of artillery. II the
idea of building the road had been taken hold
of and had 1t been attempted to carry it out
months ago, the Spaniards would now be IN
possession of the island, and the revolution
probably squelched. Whether at this late day
1t Will prove practicable remains to be seen.
muYB nrnD
The wholesale destruction of plantations In
the Cinco Villas appears to have been stopped,
and we hear but little of the burning of cane
fields and sugar houses. This is probably due to
the continuous marches of the numerous detach-
ments of troops in every direction, and the
vigilance exercised by the stationary guards on
every plantation. Nearly every plantation In the
vicinity of Trinidad is grinding and all from
Cienfugos westward, the crop proving splendid.
This will enable the Spanish Government to
carry on the war for another year, as the taxes
and duties raised in the tranquil portions of the
island are almost sufficient TO pay the expenses
of the strife and maintain the credit of the
Spanish. Bank, which, in case of necessity, will
issue q few millions more of paper money.
PETITION TO THE CoRTEs.
TC-day's Spanish mail steamer takes n very
important document to Madrid in the shape of a
petition signed by all the Spaniards (over 7000)
belonging to the Carlist Jesuit, and Isabel par
ties in Havana, and requesting the Cortes not to
grant any liberties, privileges, self-governing
| laws to the island of Porto Rico. The reasons
| for such o strange course stated by the
signers to be principally that the introduction of
| reforms into Porto Rico would weaken the cause
| of Spain in Cuba; that the Spaniards in Cuba
are divided regarding their politics and the
manner of enforcing them; that the inaugura-
tion of those reforms will produce q revo-
luton in Porto Rico, which, even if suppressed
Immediately, will not efface the causes which
produced it, or the ideas under which it was
organized, the spark producing the fame
always remaining Also, that the enjoyment of
these liberties and free speech will lessen the
ygor and prestige of the pure Spanish element
and debiltate the power of the authorities.
Nothing ought to be done until Cuba is repre-
sented, and Porto Rico ought to be considered
province of Cuba. The intention OF the Cortes
to grant liberties and reforms to Porto Rico it
adds has painfully astonished the petitioners.
1t is question of decorum, of interest and ele-
waited patriotism to await the Cuban represen-
tatiyes in the Cortes.