The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
General Basoone's Defeat by the
fnsurreotionary Forces.
The Severest Action Since the Outbreak
Of the Revolution"
EIGHT THOUSAND MEN ENGAGED.
The Patriots on the Alert Against the
Spanish Strategy.
BURRIEL GONE ABROAD.

HAVANA. Feb. 10. 1874
The air has recently been thick with the runners
OF a severe reverse to the Spanish forces COM
manded by Brigader Basc0nes The ofrcial re-
ports, as yet very meagre, are OF the usual nom
committal character, but the following Is the Hrss
OF them published In the Havana journals. the
action is qualified by the DiartO to have been ono
OF the "severest since the outbreak OF the rcyolu-
tiOn." In confirmation OF this there are other
sOns in circulation, obtained from Cuban sources,
In regard to this engagement which set down tho
loss TO the Spaniards as very severe and at differ
ent figures ranging from 800 to 600, with the loss
Of their artillery. But as the latter versions have
as yet authenticity tho real truth OF the matter
must be patiently awaited for All such affairs
have exaggerati0n in their reports. The Cubans
and their sympathizers are prone to mako
out the Spanish loss always very high,
while the Spaniards, even in their OGiciaa
accounts, scOrn the idea of a battle action In
any way whatever disastrous to them. and always
have phrase that the loss OF the ''rebs" must DO
calculated" very great-probably only because 1t
is very slight and, as can be noted IN the engage
ment am about to report, they (the SpaniardS
saw neither dead nor wounded took no prlsOners,
nor captured any OF the "p0mp and circumstances"
OF war.
steamer arrived yesterday from Nuevitas, ana
your correspondent mace diligent inquiries among
the result not satisfactory, as the only infor-
nation given consisted in the statement that no
further details OF the affair Eau reached Puerto
Principe up to the time the train lett for Nuevtas.
but that
THE ENGAGEMENT WAS VERY SEVERE
and the loss of the Spaniards about 500. between
Killed and wounded.
SPANISH srRA1 EGY AND THE PATRIOT QUI vIvB-
The report alluded to states that General Por-
49,
the gross OF the Cuban forces, under the command
OF the Marquis OF Santa Lucia, had established
their camp, near the cattle farm Narango. ordered
out the column OF Brigadier Basconcs TO attack
them. Bascones obeyed with his column amount
Ing TO about 5000 strong, and in short tme
found the insurgents, who were about 5000 IN
auDef w nostion n1 One esteF r"M
Puerto Principe. given IN the Dtdr.o, describing
the action says It lasted seven zen. hours and 10 al
ground, but rom the simple soldier to General Bas-
cones, each rlvaled the other In GOODNESS and
Another letter on the same subject published in
the VOz dc Cttba says as follows:-
Our infantry operated as commanded BY the art Of
excellent play using The hall o. their am
Tie them the FIX guns
s an the 80 ss
!oroes Yielded not inch and mat our se.l mus:
an hs
u
c CT
so%Das ssd u. '
ss Ell
m he
Ss sd RtsInsf nor even morse nor no" s0 ''''
THE LESSON AND IT'S MORAL.
The account stops here, saying it has no further
portant since the beginning Of the insurrection.
What must elicit much comment IL the state
ment made in TINS mesgre report given oI BY the
batants On the field, which calls for particular at
tention, inasmuch IS 1t comes in direct cOntradc
ton with the almost dauy statements OF the
Spanish organs and onicial proclamations. assert
Ing that "the insorrection Is kept up BY a number
ON, reports coming In OF very 'severe" engage
ments, with losses OF many killed and many
government forces now and again to mako short
work Of the remainder OF those In arms against
Spanish integrity; ,r,o,v sv.
The last Spanish mail steamer took away rom
this island Brlgadier Juan N. Burrlel, who has
made name for himself In the history OF this IN
happy insurrection, which will be found on the
page Of the brutal and bloody massacre OF the ex-
pedtt0nsts OF the Vtrginius.
The same steamer took sway-under what II
called here pGrtfdd de re0tsrO or ordered TO re-
jose Severe Fernandez Nora, who was at the head
OF the military hospital the nrst signer ana re-
ported dralter OF that celebrated manifesto OF
the highest degree. Like other stanch republicans
he was no DOUBT obnoxious to the Oligarchy OF
Cuba and for this reason only has he been sent to
Spain.
CARNIVAL,
notwithstanding the present ircumstances Of the
island, which do not promise much Improvement
Tor the better was celebrated In the usual man.
ner but with much less animation than was notice
able in former years. The PaseO was again crowded
with double lines OF carriages and the sides OF the
Paseo, the parks and public squares thronged with
orderly crowds OF sight-seers. Balls were given
at the Tacon Theatre and other places; bat 1t could
be noticed that the gayety OF this years carnival
md oil ri 40 NAL la NOR
the crowd nad their minds occupied with the 'com-
ing drait.f