The New York herald., 1873-12-21
SPANISH FEELING IN SANTIAGO.


Up Intrenchments-Levy War Con-
tributions-Proclam a nation of the Presi-
dent of Cuba Libre-Ccspedes' Farewell.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Dec. I, 1873.
The Santiago authorities, having the fear of
British cannon before their eyes determined not to
remove the prisoners pointed out by Commodore
dHorsey as subjects of Her Majesty queen Victoria.
Should the object OF the American and British COM
manders be to retake the prisoners 1t is feared
here that the Captain OF the Bazan will threaten TO
Kill them should a shot be fired or any force used,
and hence that the game VIII continue in the
hands OF the Spanards. In any case the lives Of
the men are in jeopardy.
now come to chapter second. In my letter or
yesterday stated that the arrogant hildagos
seemed at length to have either received severe
check by the demonstrations OF the United States
government-that they were hanging down their
heads like cowards-or else they were planning
new schemes OF terrorism and outrage. am now
compelled to believe that the latter was the more
probable In order to mislead the people and
foreign representatives they professed certain
contrtion Let US inquire into the probable cause.
Only yesterday an order was promulgated for the
immediate ortlfying OF the harbor on the opposite
side Of the bay from the village Of Socapa at the
entrance, nearly opposite the MORO, to the Cobra
Railroad (Punta del sop depot. opposite Punta
Blanca. Flor de agua or waterside batteries, are
to be thrown up with the least possible delay,
while chain, a. before stated, is TO be stretched
across the mouth OF the harbor.
The guard at the Moro and White Point forts
has been doubled, Krupp guns, long dIsmounted,
are being remounted and placed in position and,
in general, preparations for state or siege in
progress. They have adopted strange means for
securing the materials for these ramparts. The
hau haa yiciff ipha IA ifan al
ecting empty boxes, casks, timber or whatever
else they can levy upon by "order of the Cover
nor.n Thus the United States Navy may expect a
formidable array OF boxes and tinder TO attack
when they get inside the harbor from the fishing
village (Socapa) to Punta del Sol. Will promise,
however, that Santiago will TALL, il attacked
Systematically, in a few hours In the first place,
the MORO contains nothing in the shape OF arma-
ment that could Withstand few broadsides from
the guns OF such vessels the Juniata, not TO
speak OF the roncads. 1t is that the entrance
to the narbor Is so extremely narrow that
II the MORO were in anything like good condition
1t would be difficult for the best ships to get butt
at the boom. But it is notoriously dilapidated
old fort fit only for the confinement and slow tor
ture OF unfortunate political prisoners. The
Estrela is even in worse condition, not having
been used for years. The saluting fort (Punta
Banca) is perhaps the best of the three, but poor
will be the best and altogether one believes it
would take a small United States force more than
II hours to lombard and reduce the town.
LEvyING FOR MONEY AND PROVISIONS.
In addition to the many outrages and indigni-
ties inflicted by this volunteer despotism that OF
forcbly levying for money and provisions has CON-
menced. 1t is not generally known that the
country is indebted to the army and navy to the
extent OF four months pay. In order TO pay a
part OF this at once, 1t is supposed
and to put the soldiers and sailors
in better mood for defending the island, all the
merchants were notified that as sl5oOOO was the
sum wanted Immediately they must each pay to
the collectors the amount set opposite their Names
large, but too large for the majority to find at
moments notice, and SO, instead OF securing the
full amount by the barbarous system OF blackmail,
they only succeeded in raising $4,000. Wherever
the produce merchants professed inability TO
provide the cash demanded the intelligent officers
OF the 'Spansh Republic' $50 called) considered
it duty to seize provisions; .'for,n said they,
.provsions in times OF strife answer all the pur-
poses of money! Going into the store OF Messrs.
Shelton Co.. they made the formal request for
money. but not getting just what they wanted
in that direction they condemned and seized
1000 barrels of nour. Everything was fish that
all were seized in the name OF the government, in
about the same manner. l regret to say that the
Church appeared to delight over the questionable
report or proseytizing dozen OF unhappy men
who were unjustly assassinated in public. the in
Justice being better known to the clergy than to
most OF the people.
OBTAINING THE MEN AND ExILING WOMAN.
The natural result of all these warlike demon
stratons was the unusual number Of applications
for passports. Some were granted as blind, but
it is now known that there is secret order in the
hands or the Commandante OF Marines that no
male capable OF bearing arms, either Spanish or
Cuban, between the ages or IA and 40 shall be
permitted to leave the island at pre-
sent as it Is believed the compulsory
rule OF service in the army will be enforced in case
the rumor OF a declaration Of war having been de-
clared should prove true. To retain unwilling SOL
diers must operate like the compulsory stay OF q
scorpion on mans breast. No sooner will the de-
tonation OF the first discharge OF artillery have
died away than general rising VIII take place in
nearly all the cities OF the Eastern Department,
and between the insurgents, the enemy and the
unknown operators the would-be destroyers OF Gu
ban liberty must come to terrible settlement.
"within three months OF the day you shed my
blood" said varona TO the mock coancil "the
blood OF the Spanrds shall run like water.u
There would be but little necessity for the United
States to fight in the East. II arms and munitions
of war were landed on points not 80 miles from
Santiago within one week. believe am strictly
within the lines OF truth-400 900 armed insurgents
would be IN santiago, and at the same time
the other large towns must give in. The
only fear Is lest the retributon Of the Cubans, so
long suffering from tyranny, oppression and deeds
OF Violence might be even too terrible even for
these God-forsaken, murderous volunteers. But
five years of hardship, hunger and exile. the loss
OF the best blood, the confscatiOG of the richest
estates, the indignities remorseessly heaped upon
male and female, young and aged, Of the most
spectacle families In the Pearl OF the Antilles have
inspired deep feeling OF revenge in the hearts
Of the Cubans, and 1t is probable that the
utmost precautions OF civilization viii scarcely
prevent the revenge so long sought. Now, the
Journal here has the audacty to hint that, for the
preservation OF the integrity OF the national terri
tory, all home differences should be buried in
general reunion for defence against common
enemy. leaving to more auspicl0us times the sou-
tion OF the problem that has separated the best Of
men from society and caused the interior of this
lovely island to stink with human remains and hu-
man gore. This is q specimen of the deceit, the
cowardce and brutal instincts OF the leading agi-
tators here.
nRut.n my companion remarked a few minutea