New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-26
TIE CUBAN STRUGGLE.


ARRIVAL or A FORMER SECRETARY OF THE REPuB-
r,c,y coSGRrss-THE REBELS NOT DIsCoUR-
AGED.
MIR. Antonio Zambrana, at present mem
Der and formerly Secretary of the Congress OF the he
pubic of Cuba reached this city yesterday evening,
fresh from the nsurgent districts Mr. Zambrana Il the
son of a prominent physician OF Havana He is young
man. only % years OF age
He left the island open boat or canoe the 9TH
inst reached Kingston 30 hours and left there the
Clara Bell. arriving In NewYork City yesterday even
ing On his way to the coast no passed within mile
and half OF Spanish camp but not molested. He
was accompanied by - other persons mostly sailors OF
the Edgar Stewart. and one or two sick soldiers
Mr. Zambrana is a Commissioner sent by the Insur
gent Government on very particular and important
business connected with the hopes Of the Cubans His
mission appears to be rather TO the Cubans at present
in the United statesl than to Government. IL is
probable it relates TO the appointing of other rep
resentatves the confirmation OF those already
in power. Some time ago there was an attempt TO re-
move the present representatives but 1t a very
unpopular measure. Mr. Zambrana would cay nothing
in regard to the purpose Of his mission.
The instruction, rather revolution. as 1t now exists
occupies all Of the Eastern Department Camaguey and
the greater part OF Las Villas This territory appears 10
be fully the hands Of the insurgents There here
and there long intervals scattered over this wide
country q few Spanish camps, strongly fortified and
commanding nothing more than the ground they cover
The spaniard are continually meeting the Cuban bands
which move about in all directions. The revolution IS
particularly strong in the Eastern Department, where
the spanards have actually given up the to all III
tents aud PURPOSES and appear TO conne themselves to
OF cruelty and depreciation ii Is evident that they
will soon be forced leave this part OF the island alto
gether The insurgents have q sufheieney iof arms al
though they could be improved In quality; but
what they mostly need is abundance OF ammunition.
IN ia tba
sy Of patterns Of arms. Frequently they receive
large number Of cartridges and find that they only
suited for one peculiar style Of gun; this when dseov
cred in presence OF the enemy is demoraizDg. Al
though generally well disciplined, the rebels in Cana
guey are superior in the science OF war. Here Gen
Agramonte has devoted himself TO drilling the troops,
and has so far met with extraordinary When
It is considered that the major part OF these troops
composed of private gentlemen. who are serving with
Out pay or compensation Of any kind merely and purely
from patriotic motives this fact IL remarkable and
shows that these really and terribly in earnest
At the beginning Of the insurreeton much was hoped
from outside aid; indeed, many Cubans, even those
highest In authority Of the belief that unless they
received foreign aid. freedom was unattanabe. This
feeling has died out completely; the disposition is
TO rely wholly on themselves. As Mr. Zambrana says,
with or without outside aid will be free" IL the
general sentiment Of the country.
The several parts of the civil service, crude and i'm
perfect as they necessarily be- regarded and
administered with the strict mpartality. There
never has been any internal disturbance in the RepuD
lie during the long time that the has lasted; i'm
plicit reliance in and in all the acts Of
the magistrates OF the Republic appear TO be the rule.
Politics is not yet business there and there 10
be of it here among the exied Cubans than among
their fighting countrymen at home.
The Cubans, having been long accustomed to look upon
the Spaniards with suspicion have not yet made up
their minds believe in the Spanish Republic. That's
spanard will voluntarily give up any possession
appears to them simply physical impossbility The
existence OF republic necessarily implies, at least IN
theory the abolition Of Slavery aud with ii the giving
up many Of those lazy ways Of making money Incl
dental to that institution. For these and many other
pn6f fsss6hs the Cubans do not believe in Spanish
Republic. Freedom 10 the Spanish mind means free
dom every old country Spaniard and slavery every
native Of the island
Mr. Zambrana described TO THE TRIBUNE reporter the
safe arrival OF Mr. OKey correspondent OF The Herald
the territory Of the Cuban Republic. on the 18th OF
February last Mr. OKelly reached the coffee plantation
"Tempu," somewhere in the interior. excessively
fatgued. On reaching the first nsurgent camp he was
so worn that just before arriving there he declared
himself to be dying. Mr. Zambrana thinks that OKelly
must have reached the headquarters OF President Ces
pedes on or about the 9TH inst Mr. OKely strongly
recommended the insurgents by means OF letter for
warded per steamer Edgar Stewart long before his
rival II is considered probable by the Cubans that
O'Kely Will leave the island in clandestine manner.
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