The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-04
c U B A..
Successful Operations OF the
Insurgents.
The Cuban Troops West
of the TrOcha."
A Sombre View of the Situation from
Spanish Journal
Startling Rumors in Havana-The Spanish
Press on the Release Of the Virginius
Prisoners-An Important Arrest.

For some time past the district OF Trinidad one OF
the most productive portions Of the Cinco Villas has
remained untouched by the ravages OF the Cuban
war, and the particulars OF recent attack and
burning Of two sugar plantations in that vicinity
which have reached us prove the extent OF the in
surrect0n and the present activity OF Its parsans.
From the account published in the Did,tO dc la
Marina 1T appears that the plantations known as
"Mayaguara" and "Lajasn were attacked on the
night of the 20th by band Of rebels, said to num-
Der some thirty-fve or forty men, composed prin-
cipally OF negroes and Cinnamon, with only three
or four whites among them. This is, however, the
usual description given OF the insurgent forces by
the Spaniards and cannot be relied on. The sur
prise was complete and the
INSURGENTS RANsACKEp THE PLACE,
securing arms, ammunition, clothes and pro-
visions without let or Endrance. Fire was set to
the purging house Of one OF the estates and some
400 hogsheads OF sugar destroyed
On the other plantation they set FIRE to the
engine house and burned up four cane fields, when
they were driven or by the arrival OF small force,
which fired upon them. The insurgents also tied
together and carried of with them several Of the
white Tree aborers and completely dispersed
the negroes that only three afterwards found.
The Dtarto comments upon the fact that Tor num-
Der OF seasons past no incident OF such a nature
had taken place in this jurisdiction, and attributes
the recent act to the
WANT OF THE USUAL GUARD
over the valley OF Trinidad. While discaiming
any in 'ention OF exciting alarm, the Ourn al men,
toned considers that this movement of the insur-
gents should be taken as warning, and points to
1t as proof OF the correctness OF It's opinions
relative to the course to be pursued in putting an
end to the war. 1t says
In OF the estates 40 hogsheads of sugar the
pmfGng house were ere destroyed representing value Of
snas
sary for the conclusion Of the war he would at first
hss oash BY mat s was his
The only way, according to the Diario, for the
Spanlards to save the situation. is to give up all
their income aud profits reservlng only what is
general this would appear an enormous sacrifice
It is really good commercial calculation, presumes
1.-TWO years more OF war would be SUFFICIENT"
admits the Didri0, ito place us in crisis difficult
for all the nations VINO now withdraw rom US
their credit to turn their eyes again to Cuba and
1t then asks
gone totdst en- which thriea from Cape SAN
3d runa Ms nh the sacred cry of sa
+ na
pest Was it Of those Jiai which shine grave
yards esrrupns Sodss HAZE we
born on the an Of Noyember took such valiant and
QUESTION OF THE vIRClxIus!
The Dtario concludes Its appeal as follows:-
We still the faith before in our immedi.
G' thu aT hat % % n M nave
verted holy wrath the vacllaiion ap
to Us "a. crime Of high The Occur
taken as warning and attended TO- The brave com
Chief officers ask us for
MORE MEN AND
ing towns and troops when they think that by mere
sed nco Villas amy
inspired SO much confidence In al spanasds also asks
enemy who moves within contracted limit and should
to the other side OF the troeha
The foregoing s fair picture OF the state OF
affairs IN The interior OF the island painted by the
most conservative journal OF this island, journal
that always makes efforts to hide the truth, but
occasionally pushed by the force of circumstances,
gives us slight idea of the traditional Spanish
characteristics, and indirectly corrObOrates facts
stated by foreign correspondents. The remainder
OF the Diario article Is made up OF good counsel
which is not likely to be followed. 1t says
Fewer offers and dsinterestedness, fewer words
and more deeds are what Cuba needs 70 save her we
what we 40 not give nor take away from 1t what we in
Offering only what we give and regiousy Keep our
promise We have lost and , are losing precious time
remedy ursen@now Of never p W" % grave anu '"'
The highest and innermost circles in this city
are also in a ferment on account OF numbers or
stories freely circulated in this city in regard to
AFFAIRS in the interior OF the island and reported
SUCCESSES OF THE INSURGENTS
in the Central and Eastern departments. Nothing
positive or reliable however can De ascertained,
the Havana journals giving only indirect hints
that matters are not pheasant" Within the past
lew days the report has Deen spread from mouth to
mouth tnat Colonel Armi6an. commanding the
military line OF the Baga, had been assassinated by
his own troops and that an entire battalion guard
ing this line had gone over to the insurgents.
troops had suffered severely In the jurisdiction OF
Manzanillo, and even that the last named city had
been attacked and captured by the insurgents.
While am writing ldoOrante steps in and asks
II had heard of the attack, by the insurgents, on
santiago de Cuba. But haven't, nor do 1 believe
that anything OF the kind has taken place, can
any credit be given to numerous other alarming ru-
mors current for the week past and actively circu-
lated. However, likely enough the spaniards
have suffered IN the interior, though to what eX-
tent it is at present, without any reliable intorma
ton at hand, difficult to say.
der the title OF what VIII the Government at
Washington Say2" in regard to the
SURVIVING PRISONERS OF THE vIRGINIUs,
and Indignantly asks If it is true that such socie-
ties as the Cuban League and the Friends of Cuba
meet publicly for the purpose OF conspring against
1t they labor contin ualiy to deprive Spain Of Cuba
and i it be true that they collect men and money to
Washington government consents that natives and for
@ e unsna and SaS that an4 o than
country they can send out, without disguise, men,
gents OF the island anu ''''""s ~ '"' '"''''
This tolerance the Dtorio declares contrary to
the principles Of International law, and directly
against the provisions OF 1895, often and en-
phaticay quoted by the United States. 1t further
complains that the United States government re-
leased the surviving prisoners Of the Vlrginius
whom II should have punished, IN accordance with
the Washington protocol, If 1t was proved they
were really eXpeditonists and that these prison
ers had been engaged In war against Spain, and
adds -
Does the government Of the United States assume the
responsibility OF all the acts OF aggression against Spain
which these prisoners may comuts Whether does
not the Spanish government has the right presenting
claims much more Just than those OF the United States
before the Geneva Tribunal and it is its duty to do
The opinion OF all Europe is i'm favor spain in this
matter and she may rest that in any OF
arbitration her claims would be allowed.
The Chief OF Police of this city, Colonel Sanchez,
who has recently rendered sucn good service IN
the discovery of the
GIGANTIC SCHEME OF CONTEMPLATING
the currency OF this island and arrest OF the
Offenders, has made another important arrest ana
OF no less person than Don Miguel Valero, the
superintendent OF the lottery here. From what
can ascertain O the reasons OF this arrest 1t
that, previous to his departure iOr Spain, the
object OF which was to more firmly secure to him
self the place Of administrators sat" Office
from which there were probabilities he would be