The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-14

,ess Cubans soen resumed the line OF march to-
wards the Cauto, which we made by ten O'Clock,
about an hour and hall, perhaps, after the Span
iards-whose tracks were fresh upon the road
had passed that point, they going eastward in the
direction OF Santiago and the Cubans westward to
resume their old positions, as If nothing had hap
pened. We discovered various signs OF
THE STANDARDS HAVING SUFFERED
In the actions OF yesterday Pedregalon) and of
the 23d dos Bocas), such as stretchers abandoned
along the road, bloody bandages, &C. On the
roadside we found the dead body OF q Cuban
named Francisco Forces. He was lying on his
face, with his head toward u.s. The arch OF the
skull was literally made chips of by sword or
machete, the brains lying exposed in revolving
mass in the cavity.
THE EYES WERE COMPLETELY AND CLEANLY TORN
FROM THEIR SOCKETS
and gone. The right side was bloody, as though
the dead man had received thrust OF sword or
machete There was no visible sign Of pain on the
counterance OF the dead. l have been particular
in describing these circumstances for it is al
leged-and am inclined to believe it-that this
is only one example OF the way In which the
Spaniards mutilate the dead fallen in battle. 1t
might be said that the eyes OF this body were
picked out by the buzzards, as thousands OF these
unsightly birds were lowering everywhere about
the camp; but this is not likely Birds OF prey
fasten upon that part Of the body easiest OF
and soltest to peck. They should, therefore, have
attacked the brain In this TO get at the eyes
that were pretty close to the ground the bird must
mount upon the head, which 1t could not do with
out leaving tracks, as it must have touched the
blood or brains. There were no such tracks, nor
any appearance of the body having been touched
since neless and eyeess it fell to the ground. The
Spaniards must, therefore, have committed this
horrible deed OF mutiation. The dead mans
friends told me that he was cripple through sick
ness and had not carried arms for more than
year; tnat lie must have gone down to the river to
drink, and could not get out OF the way when the
Spanards were passing.
THE SPANISH FORCE.
I, In the course OF the day-stih nothing to eat
the camp where the Spanlards halted at last night
was passed l carefully noted its extent and
appearance, and believe the troops must have been
about COO infantry 100 cavalry and TWO pieces OF
artillery-very close on 500 men, OF this it is be-
1ieved that only 800 men and the two guns were
engaged with the Cubans on the Esd, while these
could not have had more than $50 rincmen; but
yesterday the whole 500 must have attacked Pedro
gallon, where there were less than in Dos Bocas,
because of the escort sent on the night or the 9th
with the foragers-say 10 men.
Thus the Spanards had concentrated all their
available forces rom the districts OF Holguin,
JlguaHt ana santiago, hoping 10 the
Cubans. The result was two Cubans killed aud
four wounded two in yesterdays fight. Add to
this that the Cubans at once marched back to
occupy the positions they had before the actions,
and an idea may he formed OF how much the span
iards gained by their operations.
On the night of the Goth dined with General Gar
cha on a luxurious meal OF sweet
POTATOES AND CALABAsHEs BOILED IN LEMON WATER,
and nothing more Alter this night there was no
more hunger in camp. The foragers now began to
do their duty without danger. We camped IN the
woods near Pedregalon. Colonel Maseo with his
troops, who have seen were operating
the south side OF the Cauto, near Carload, Joined
us next day on our march TO Guayacan. From the
21st to the 10th Maseo had engaged the Spaniards
six times with an aggregate OF twelve men
wounded, and had destroyed much OF the tee-
graph line.
On the 9th the camp was finally moved to La
Yaya, where 1t remained-near the sweet potato
beds-till left on the I'd OF April for the camp Of
Cespedes. The troops now concentrated in camp
numbered, was informed, about eight hundred
men, including the command If Colonel Limbano
Sanchez, who had Just returned from destroying the
great plantation OF Santa Lucia near Gbara. Its
owners were paying contribution OF $500 per
month for Spanish protection. courier from NO.
desto Daz arrived on the goth, bringing news that
he had
DEFEATED LARGE ESCORT,
and captured many valuable spanish papers and
documents; also that the volunteers OF Calisto aud
Congo had passed over To the Cubans, bringing
their arms and ammunition with them. The next
day came party from Las Tuhas W it'll news that
captain OF volunteers and eleven soldiers had
passed over TO the Cubans bringing sixteen rifles.
messenger arrived nom nolgun with news that
the column encounioredhy The Cubans on the sd
4
posed OF troops from there and Jiguani. The same
day there also arrived detachment OF troops that
had been sent to the coast
TO RECEIVE ARMS AND AMMUNITION
from General Jesus Perez ! saw the material my
self when 1t came into camp. The same day q re-
turning detachment that had been in commission
near Bayamo brought in word that the Spaniard5
had abandoned the camps OF Arenas and savanna la
Mar, thus leaving undeended a line OF fifty
leagues. The General was in the midst Of new
combinations on what he termed grand scale,
and was DESTROYS that should stay to see them
carried out. had constantly kept in his view my
ardent desire of not losing day on my march to
the residence OF the government, and again re-
minded him OF his repeated promises to send me
by the first opportunity. liz said that might go
Z in two or three days.
had learned in repeated conversations with
Generals Garcia, Caviar ana many others or the
principal officers what their views are upon the
final decision Of the question they defend and also
uron that OF annexation. stu was DESTROYS TO
get formal declaration OF sentiment on these
points from the chief officers OF the camp. The
evening OF the 3oth OF March presented good
chance TO elicit several valuable opinions and l
awaited myself OF the horr.
In the rancho of Colonel Masco were assembled
General Garcia, Colonel Masee ex-Secretary OF
War; Mr. Ignaco Mora (ex-Secretary OF State),
and goodly number OF officers Of the stan and
line. II was admitted that in questions connected
with the war all concurred in the Generals ideas
but upon that OF annexation each one reserved his
individual opinion. ], therefore, proceeded to in
terview the General as follows-
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL GARCIA