The New York herald., 1872-12-19
THE SPANISH WAYS AND MEANS

The Trocha Across the Island-SantiagO
de Cuba-The "Paci6ed District''-
Clubs and Balls-The Diario Dem nd
Sailing of the French Steamer-General
Impressions.
Leaving the insurgents, the next morning ]
reached the camp Of Vista Hermosa, so utterly
exhausted by the hard riding had done and the
excitement had undergone that at once fell
sick and had to remain In my bed all the afternoon
This made the Spanards somewhat suspicious, and
1 had to manufacture some passable excuse l
therefore told them that the cause OF my illness
was the deprivation of coffee, which had been
unable to procure in the Cuban camp, and to the
free use of which had been FOR many Yeas ac-
customed. Even my indisposition was,- however,
no bar to their curiosity and they
EAGERLY QUESTIONED NE
as to what had seen and what were the impress
sions had formed OF course, in my replies, 1care-
fully concealed the TRUTH and contented myself
with telling them that l had simply seen General
Agramonte and about one hundred Cuban soldiers.
As this agreed with their own expectations and
belief they easily credited what said, and ! sue
ccssfuy left them in state Of delightful ignorance
as to my actual experiences and adventures.
BACK TO PUERTO PRINCIPE.
The following day went back to Puerto Principe
under the same escort of g,taidta cca, whose pro-
lection had enjoyed two days before. reached
my destination at noon and was conducted by my
escort to the quarters OF General Don Ramon Fa-
jardo. Upon my entering his room he at once made
pressing and eager inquiries as TO how his offers
to the insurgents had been received.
NO SURRENDER.
I had TO reply, OF course, that the Cubans were
altogether unwilling to listen to any suggestion OF
surrender, and that they expressed an unaterable
determination 10 fight on to the bitter end. And
so far as his other questions went in regard TO The
condition, strength aud supplies of the insurgents
/
previous day-that is that had simply seen Gen.
eral Agramontc and one hundred men.
/ only remained In Puerto Principe until the fol-
lowing Monday, and then left Tor Nuevtas, in order
to examine the trocha, or
MILITARY LINE,
then in course of construction across the island
from Baga almost directly south. Permission TO do
so had been cheerfuly granted me, the spaniards,
indeed. seeming only too glad to show wnat vigor-
Gus efforts they were making, thought they
were making, TO insure success. When | arrived
at Nuevitas was met at the railroad depot by the
chief OF Police, who put himself at nv service and
told me that he had received instructions TO show
seeing everything wished.
MORE CIvILITIEs.
He added that gunboat was then in readiness
was simply matter TO be decided by my conven-
fence. We accordingly left that same day al one
Baga, where special train took us nine miles to
the extremity OF the works on the military line,
far as they were then completed.
WHAT THE NEW WORKS ARE LIKE.
had better now describe what this new line OF
works Is like As planned 10 is to stretch entirely
across the island, distance OF about twenty
leagues or sixty miles at this point IL consists,
first, OF line OF railroad and telegraph wire.
Then there IS also ontnuOus wooden fence,
about iteen feet Ia height and very strongly built
OF rough saplings. Az intervals of abont kilo-
metre (Which is nearly equivalent TO an English
mile) there are to be planted
BLOCK HOUSES
to accommodate gapisons OF about twenty men
each. ] saw some OF them completed and they
are, Tor their size, very strong. They are built of
wood, are two stories in height though they are
not paritioncd or into rooms ana are surrounded
by wall OF clteCdur de Il'fsp At every third
mile, however, In place OF one OF these small forts,
there ~ W W. can'p oi Hop Qle 10 nyc hundred