New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-05
CUBA.

CONsCRPuON-THg FEELING IN TUX COUNTRY
A DUBIOUS VICTORY or TuR SPANIARDs-fiHAN-
CIAL EMBARRASsMENTs. ...
fyRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TnBUsEl
HAVANA Feb. 2G.-Tho feeling against the Amer
leans is increasing in bitterness daily and the Vos
de Cuba is carefully and assiduously fostering IT.
The accrby of its articles il unparalleled. All the
lower classes of the people, tho majority OF them nn-
able TO read form in knots and have the paper read
TO them. believing everything they hear, because IT.
il printed The feeling against the Americans was
bitter enough during the Vrginius affair, but still
il had somewhat subsidized. Now tins journal stirs
I'D the masses "a matter OF business, for without
some exciting topic tho paper would not be read
All Of the Volunteers who have had the good fol-
tune TO be accepted for service SENT not IN tho
field of active operations but in the stockades and
forts in the insurgent districts. The papers here
are very particular TO explain to the Volunteers
this branch of their duty. They are fortunate on
account of their ability TO make more money in the
six months of their term of service than many OF
them would DO able to save or scrape together IN as
many years. Each company has raised fund by
assessing it's members in order to pay each man OF
dcred to the front the sum Of 800 a month. III -
well that the Government has not to pay this for no
Government in tho world would be able to stand
this long. The Spanish man-ofwar Isabel la Ca
t0lIca IL 10 DC plaCeu III W WI
unteers to tho scene of operations. They will en-
bark on Monday Tuesday next for Nuevitas; from
that place they will be sent to Puerto Principe On
Sunday there will DO a grand review of tho Nolun-
teers who are to be sent to the front.
AS regards the militia rumors are current that the
Spanish Government has dsapprOycd of the Captain
Generals measures. This, however, has been denied
by the Journals and it is now reported that orders
for their execution will be issued tomorrow in the
Gaceta Ofcia Great dissatisfaction prevails among
those who arc liable to military duty. partly be-
cause of their nwillingness to serve. and also
because their pay is very small in comparison with
that which tho Volunteers about TO receive. Thus
their patriotism does not como up to tho standard of
that of tho Volunteers but here in the large cities
go they must az there will DO enough Volunteers
left TO enforce the orders of the Captan-General.
But it is not so in the country. Tho farmers and
tobacco planters are opposed 10 the draft and some
trouble may be experienced endeavoring to en-
forco the draft there To endeavor TO do this at the
point of the bayonent is likely TO be a dangerous
experiment and might cause the uprising OF the
whole Of the Vuclta Abajo region. Tho Commander
of the District arrived at Havana last Tuesday in
order TO consult with tho Captain-Ge He
reports that all tho young liable TO draft have
disappeared and are not to DO found
Three English merchants. established in the vii
lage of Las Minas Puerto Principe. named
James Carnage, James Quincy aud Charles Quincy,
the first an elderly gentleman, and tho last two
Young men, have been arrested and thrown into
prison by order of Gen. Portillo. Mr. Dunlap, the
British Consul. upon hearing of this. Immediately
sought an interview with the Captain General, who
received him very courteously. but could give him
no information. He promised TO write letter OF
inquiry the following day by way of Nuevitas; tee
graph he could not. as all teegraphc communca-
tions had been interrupted during the previous four
or Eve days.
Rumors of severe fighting in tho Central Depart
ment are current; also of an expedition having
landed at Guanaha, Nuevitas. with Jordan in
command The accounts of great victory gained
over the Insurgents by tho Spanards at NaranJo
from Spanish sources not trustworthy. The
Spanish troops were in full retreat on the llth of
February bound for Puerto Principe, their starting
point when they attacked second time at a
place called Moja Casabe. They say the object of the
retrogade movement was to place their wounded in
q place of safety. The following Is taken from the
correspondence of the Didrio:
Our rear guard was attacked by the enemy, and the
firing soon became general both sides. soldiers
showing themselves worthy OF all euogy for their seren
ity thor valor and their enthusiasm in defcndng the
national integrity. It noteworthy fact that on
this day. the severest of the fight. at about IL the
bugles OF tho enemy ordered Stop firing and away"
Not ono single shot irod Tho enemy was
seen carrying off his killed and wounded for which pur
pose they have special corps This undertakes the
ardu0us task in order to conceal the number OF the
fallen -Four hundred thousand cartridges burned
by our men rounds fired from the four pieces of
artillery.
The Cubans say their ammunition ran short, and
orders were givon to cease firing: if they had had
an abundant supply they would have driven the
Spaniards right into tho heart OF the town Of Puerto
Principe.
The Vos is now trying to put down tho price Of
gold and exchange, and advises tho authorities to
cause the closing of exchange offices. Gold is
gradually creeping up 10 l0l and l02. How it would
improve the financial question any by the closing of
tho exchange offices is difficult to determine. Still
tho Vos recommends it, and the poor ignorant people
believe it. Some threats have been made lately Of
cutting these establishments. The notes Of the
Spanish Bank are not secured by anything. and they
aredepreciatod in consequence The Bank is private
institution. 1t has loaned money to the Govern
ment, and for that reason it has been allowed to
issue any quantity of paper money; bat the Govern
ment is nearly bankrupt and cannot pay the Bank,
aud the specie in its vaults is not enough to pay five
cents on the dollar of the paper money issued. This
state of affairs is enough TO gold to 60 up
to double tho premium it now commands The only
wonder is that it has kept at such low figure for
long time. 1t is now rising one or two per cent
daily.
The sugar crop is very short. and the grinding on
many of tho estates is already finished 1t is feared
that severe losses will fall many Of the large deal
ers who have purchased at high figures on account
of the scarcity of the CROP not taking into considera
ton the large quantities Of sugar raised in Europe
Egypt. and other sugarraising countries. which will