The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-15

graphic and interesting account of his travels
and adventures from the time of his arrival
in Santiago de Cuba to the eve of his depart
ure from that city to seek the rebel lines "at
his own risk" From this communication we
learn that Mr.. OKelly was received by the
Spaniards with much show of courtesy, and
that there appeared at first to be every dis
position to extend to him such infor-
nation and facilities as might aid
him in the accomplishment of his mission.
Upon his introduction to General Morales, who
commands in the Eastern Department, Mr..
O'Kelly was readily promised an opportunity
to advance toward the insurgent lines with
column that was about to take up its march.
The General had already been advised of the
character in which our correspondent visited
his command, hence we conclude that his ready
compliance with Mr.. O'Kelly's wishes was
in harmony with the views of the
Captain General. AS the column was to
leave on the following morning our CORE
spondent was introduced without delay to its
commanding officer, Colonel Sostrada, and
| the promptness with which the necessary ar
Engagements were made tempt the belief that
the expedition, If not SO designed, was will
ingy used as happy method of inspiring
Mr.. O'Kelly with a favorable idea of the dis
army in Cuba The battalion, it appears, was
the oldest in the war, having been in the field
for over four years, and the soldiers, who
were in fighting trim, were found by
our correspondent to be fair speci-
mems of regular troops, although many
appeared worn with service, and there was
some sickness among them The expedition
proved less important than was at first antici-
pated, for although preparations had been
4 made for ten days march, the column was
halted on the evening of the first day, and on
tho following day our correspondent was told
that it would then proceed no further. There
upon he parted with the officers and returned
to Santiago de Cuba, and his letter takes us to
the point ut which he had resolved to
proceed alone on his search for the
insurgent camp. We have since heard
by telegraphic dispatches how he started
on his journey; how he was detained at
Ramon; how he reached Palma Soriano; how
! when there he received the first intimation
from General Morales that if he entered the
or be captured by the Spaniards he would be
shot as spy; how he returned to Santiago de
Cuba TO learn the full meaning of the threat
and it's cause; how it was confirmed by the
General himself, and how he had notified the
authorities Of his intention to persevere in his
mission, in spite Of the threatened danger.
| The fair and impartial tone of our CORE
spondents letter will convince the Spanish
authorities that they have been in error if they
have supposed that he would misrepresent
or even distort facts on one side or the other
They will now discover that he is as ready to do
full justice to the Spaniards as to the Cubans
that he is prepared to set the truth before the
world, whether it shall help or harm the
Cuban cause that, even if compelled to con-
denim the war waged by the Spanish authori-
ties against the people of the island,
he will give the Spaniards credit for their
acts wherever credit is their due, as willingly
as he will blame where censure is merited
These were, indeed the instructions
upon which his mission was commenced, and
they will be carried out in good faith until it
shall have ended From this Captain
General Ceballos and General Morales will
probably see the inexpedency of the policy
which denied Mr.. O'Kelly free access to
the insurgent lines and o free and safe return
when he had fulfilled the object of his jour
ney If the instruction is, indeed, nothing
more than the Spanish accounts represent it
| 10 ho. tho tn oV,,ks =.
truth, only few scattered bands Of negro
depredators, hiding in tho woods, then Mr.
O'Kellys visit would have made the fact
known to the world through the columns of
the HERALD, and oil civilized communities
would have applauded the most vigorous
efforts that could be made by the Spanish
arms to put stop to the miserable warfare.
The sudden and unexpected stoppage of our
correspondent by Spanish distractions and
the change observable in the tone of the
authorities, whose former courtesy toward
him has given place to threats, will be gene
rally interpreted as indicating IN unwilling
ness on their part that he should ascertain the
true state of the rebellion by personal obser-
walton, and hence will arise the suspicion that
the Spanish stories are unreliable. Should
this impression do injustice to the Spanish
cause the authorities have only themselves to
blame for the evil.
There are some points in our correspond
ent's letter which are extremely significant
The Spanish soldiers complain that the
Cubans refuse to meet them in the field and
confine their fighting to ambuscades and to
the woods. This is admittedly true, and its
cause is known to the Spanish officers. The
Cubans have but scant ammunition Could
they have been completely penned in, without
any outside help whatsoever, they would have
| Ii ~. III Ian, G1.hA for