The New York herald., 1871-03-11
&C U B A.
Herald Special Report from
Havana.
Interview With Captain Gen.
eral Valmaseda.
Location and Condition Of the Rebels
End Of the Rebellion Near.

HAVANA, March 8, 1871.
Although not professional reporter OF interviews
l give the condensed result OF one had with the
Captain General yesterday, obtained through the
medium Of our able and efficient Consul General,
Biddle. think the Captain General was desirous
that it should be placed before the American public,
to many OF whom it must be interesting as convey
ing exact reflex OF his convictions. His recent
| return from an extended tour through the island
led at once to discussion OF the present and pros.
pectve condition Of the insurgents and their cause
upon which the Captain General expressed him.
self very fully and freely, with frankness and
apparent freedom from prejudice, as II
talking OF an outside AFFAIR." with which he
was in no way connected. He sums it up
briefly thus:-The armed insurgents do not exceed
1,4Oo men, They are very much scatrered--and.
consequently, IN small bands-over the extreme
southeastern part OF the island especially about
the mountain ranges which run along the coast
south OF Bayamo. and which are crowned by the
lofty Turquino and Ojo del Toro the former 1900
feet high. They sally forth occasionally nom these
mountain Businesses and their other retreats in
small bodies and commit some outrages OF q preda-
tory character, which usually results In the loss Of
several Of their number. They also in squads OF
half dozen, more or less, surrender themselves
all over this district, and are thus melting
slowly, but surely, away. He pointed out to me
upon the map the various places formerly occupied
by the Insurgents and from which they have
hnan Onnara1Iv driven fha an,aI
district already referred to. In the meanwhile the
country about them is being stripped OF everything
edible. except the few vegetables and fruits which
may be picked up, and the insurgents are reduced
as near to the starvation point as well may be In
climate like this Outside help can no longer reach
them, and, the negroes having entirely deserted
their falling fortunes they look Tor none inside.
In fact, the smouldering embers Of the attempted
revolution alone exist and it is only question,
which each one can resolve for himself, how long
they will continue to family glimmer before their
final extinction.
1t is the full belief OF Count yalmaseda that the
end IS very near, and there be question what
ever Of the perfect sincerity OF his belief II So it
certainly seems great pity that any more lives
should be sacrificed in so hopeless contest, II
test it can be called Our conversation was some-
what protracted but have given all the salient
points. The Captain General entertans and ex-
presses very friendly feelings towards our country,
whose good opinion he seems deslrous OF securing
He is gentleman OF middle age, urbane in his ad-
Dress courteous in his manners, plain ana emphatic
In speech.
learn from totally different source, but almost
equally nigh and trustworthy that Spain would
gladly rid itself Of its sovereignty here for valuable
consideration, and think the tone OF this popua-
tion strongly favorable to such consummaton.