The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-08
Paper Victories, but the In
surgents Active.
Plan of the Campaign for the Clearing
T Out" Of the Rebels.
AGR.AMONTE's REVENGE.
Conference Ambuscade, Real Surprise
h, and Exchange Of Prisoners, IA, I

Inc present StdUe OF IHe HiSuTTecUiOn III CuDS
offers some important changes. The Spanish
Havana journals publish reports OF numerous ana
repeated engagements with the insurgents but
the details given arc so obscure, being purposey,
In most cases, withheld from the public, that they
cannot be considered as satisfactory or to be re-
lied upon. Experience has taught the people here
to never rely upon published war bulletins. How
ever the stereotyped account OF such AFFAIRS, with
which we have been favored Tor four years back,
has in some degree by force Of circumstances been
slightly modified, and just at present we occasion
ally but rarely, read such deviations as follows-
The insurgents in strong numbers resisted stub
bOrnlr and manuuvred for several hours, making
efforts to involve lorces; but this time we were
enabled to dispense them. .Me In t.,
This then, would clearly indicate that II "this
time they were dispersed'' there must have been
Others in which the insurgents obtained the advan
tage, also showing more combined and discip-
lined efforts by the insurgents. In recent con-
versaton with an officer OF high rank, ana who has
been in active service since the insurrecton broke
out, this gentleman confessed that the insurgents
at present were very strong and were not ut all
an enemy to be despised. He also frankly
stated that when equal in numbers they
never avoided combat, but, on the
contrary, would attack with spirit and
dash. using the machete freely; that their
man9uvres showed that experience had taught
them perfectly the science OF war; and in equal
numbers they generally got the best Of the
Spaniards, as the greater part OF the fghting men
OF the insurrection were veterans, who had gone
through the four years hardsmps ana had most OF
them been wounded in battle. The troops at
present opposed to them were mostly recruits
just arrived from Spain, unused to the difficulties
OF the country and climate, and easily became dis
pirited at the guerilla warfare practised on them
by the insurgents, and the tells and dangers they
had 10 undergo soon undermined their cOnstitu-
tion and left them an easy prey to yellow fever and
other diseases
In regard to the war correspondence published
in the journals OF this island the official reports
1ear Operations, this officer freely confessed that
FtHey wee not, at all reliable. However frank in
his conversation, he endeavored to Impress upon
your correspondent that the reverses lately ex.
perienccd by the government troops had but light
weight on the ultimate success OF their arms.
GOVERNMENT PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN.
He remarked:-
We who are In the secret of the plan OF campaign
can easily understand this. The only object we
have at present IN view Is TO finish the new mill
surgents, separate the Eastern from the
Central and the Central from the Western
from making incursions from department to
the other; giving ali our strength in troops to
guarding these trochas and cities, and allowing
enemies to roam the wilderness at viii until
they get tired, II IA impossible to clear them
OF ther forests and their mountain Businesses.
am "a CHANCES OF SUCCESS.
Such really in theory appears to be the plan OF
the campaign; but how 1t viii operate can easily
be Goreseen So many plans have been inel
lectually tried, each at the time supposed TO be
excellent by the piainness of tnem; but experience
has ALREADY shown that encompassing, encircling
enclosing investing and efforts starve the nsur-
gents out have mad the results as the
threatening proclamations OF Dulce, Rodas and
Valrnaseda. To locaize the insurgents bv military
cordons, trochas, as the spaniards ca them, Is
scarcely TO be thought o., taxing III consideration
the topography OF the Eastern and Central Depart.
ments with the mountain chains traversing the
whole extent OF these departments, the dense
forests and woods the numerous caves all OF which
protect the movements o. the patriots, and they
appear or disappear at will and generally when
the troops In pursuit OF them least expect it, The
insurgents are not to be starved. Cattle they can
always lind IN the immense savannas OF the Gem
trai Department, and like Marlons men, they can
make meal out of the roots Oh the sweet potato
or the yam, the platano and other wild vegetables
and fruits found lii abundance throughout the
whole extent OF the soil OF cuba.
MYSTERY IN AID OF THE ART OF WAR.
A peculiar incident OF the mysterious manner in
which the war against the insurgents is carried
has recently been related TO your correspondent
by perfectly reliable person. IL must be remem-
bered that, some two months ago, colonel Prucu-
rull, commanding one OF the columns Of the Cen
trail Department, suddenly disappeared, and his
capture by the insurgents was reported; but in
what manner was, however, not dyulged at the
tune. ON the contrary ruInors reached santiago
de Cuba about the middle u January that, by an
act OF treachery the part OF certain
spanish colonel, Agramonte was made pris-
oner during cenierence held ut the re-
quest OF the Spaniafds. The following is the
manner IN which Agramonte turned the tables
Colonel Prucurull, who is The officer referred to:
Some time at the commencement Of the year
Prucuruli offered General Riguelme TO bring IN
Agramonte dead or alive, and with view OF carry
Ing out this design sent message to Agramonte
begging conference, alleging he had news OF the
utmost importance 10 the insurgents TO communi-
cate, when would set at rest all differences exist
Ing between Spaniards and Cubans, avoid further
bloodshed and establish an honorable and lasting
peace to the Island OF CUBA. Prucurull allowed
Agramonte to select the place where 1t
STIMULATING that both parties should meet
unarned aud unaccompanied, save by
conditions but, taught by experience that the
spaniards we're not TO be trusted, as on a former
occasion, on tile same preteXt OF conference, he
had seen treacherousy fired upon, prepared Tor all
emergencies, chose an appropriate spot, and am
buscaaed in the surrounding woods four hundred
OF his best men.
1nE TEAiTER's BRIDES AND FRREsAN's TRIUMPH
The appointed time OF the interview arrived.
aud General Agramonte, accompanied but by one
aide, awaited the arrival OF Colonel Prucurull who
soon appeared with two officers and flle six men.
win the sum Of $4,000, and provide vessel
10 take MIN and his chiefs away from the island
>.gramonte spurned the propositions in the same
naughty manner with which he rejected those
1ade MN by the commissioners OF Count Valma-
ia on former occasions. Prucurull then in
fttmed Anramontc that he was his prisoner; a
~ ong orce was near, and themselves being eight
NO resistance was useless Agramone, not at
! surprised at the turn affairs had taken raised
hat--a preconcerted sign If treachery was at
1pted--the men he had stationed In the woods
lt.Tc down upon them VITA lightning speed, and
ucuruil found himself the captured instead OF
capt0r.
NEGOTIATIONS AND EXCHANGE.
go happened that few days previous the
~ ards had captured Emilio Luaces one OF
..rrinonte's stanchest chiefs and an Intimate
Nisnd Luaces, icing brother-n-law to the Chief
al Police i'm Puerto Principe, was not taken into
the city, but confined one OF the small forts not
lar distant and the news Of mis- capture was not
aiyulyed, In order TO prevent the clamor for his
execution by the unconditionas OF Puerto Principe.
iInne diately after the capture OF Prucurull Agra
monte sent word to General Riquelme proposing
an exchange OF Luaces for Prucurull. Rqueme
denli uded the entire party, TO which ARramonte
agreed, with the message that eight spaniards
were stll very little for patriot. Prucuruli IL
now auain 70 be seen In Puerto Principe and but