The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-29
THE WAR IN SPAIN.
Telegraphic Eecentrieities in Reporting the
News or Lies by Electricity.
How Baron Reuter- Victuale or
DemOli6he5 Armies.
THE LIGHTNING AIDS OF THE ALFONSISTS
Pertinent Contradictions Of Amusing State
ments from the Field.

IIlCHto IIOll lHC ICIO
EsTELLA, March 10, 1875.
This Spanish war Is amusing and peculiar in
more ways than one, and the most amusing and
curious part OF 1t, perhaps, is what may be
termed the news department., as managed by
Reuters agent in Madrid. / have before me
despatch sent by him, that has appeared IN
all the papers, and which modesty announces that
General Iona, in command OF The LIBERAL forces
at st. sebastian had succeeded in getting con-
voy OF provisions into Andoaln. This town, 1t
should be observed, is situated on the road leading
from st. Sebastian TO Tolosa. and 1t Is and has
been Tor months III the possession OF the Carl
lists. Iona, therefore, led to infer, had,
with great deal OF difficulty and danger. at last
succeeded IN relieving a Uarlist town.
TIE ELECTRICITY OF IMAGINATION.
have never heard that Andoain. TOlosa any
other OF the Carllst towns OF Guipuzcoa wore
short OF provisions. but have no doubt they will,
nevertheless, be very thankful for all the conveys
their enemies may Kindly choose to send them.
1t must not be supposed that in this case there Il
mistake in . name, caused by the laundering OF
some telegraph CLERK. Iona has been before
Andoain for months, and all his efforts nave been
concentrated on It's capture because It's possess
sion would open the road to Tolosl ana put the
whole province OF Guipuzcoa at his mercy. Two
or three battles have already been fought before
IT, and 1t Is evidently the place meant In the de-
spatch; but why Iona should send o convoy OF
provisions into the place, unless, indeed, he is
secretly working for the Carllsts, only Reuters
agent in Madrid can tell.
ASTONISHING AND AMUSING DRAFTS ON THE CREpUL-
ITY OF THE PUBLIC.
The truth Is, the latitude margin this gentle
man allows himself in telling the truth is some
times astonishing, as well as amusing. From con-
leSDatCheS during
months, and comparing them with what know to
be the facts, have concluded that he either has o
lamentable Indifference Tor truth or that he con-
ceais, beneath the cloak or simple news agent,
journalist, whaGever 1t Is, turn for humor
which ought to be encouraged aud cultivated. or
the two supposittons am rather inclined to the
latter, because it seems to me the most probable.
For instance, IN the despatch to which have just
referred he really cannot be In earnest when he
informs us that Iona would lar forget his duty
as to send convoy or provisions into o
Carllst town. He evidently meant II .or q
joke. SO when he gravelY informed u.s.
In the most positive terms, that co'arentO
would be made with the Carlist chiefs and Don
Carlos pensioned OF, he humorously left out OF
consideration the old axiom that 1t "takes two to
make a bargain" 1t was though he had in
formed US that he was going to give Mr. A. 7.
Stewart ive-dolar greenback for his house ON
his giving it until we should learn that Mr.. Stew.
art had accepted the offer. But he gets out OF a
difficulty into which this exuberanco OF fancy
metimes leads him with an ingenuity worthy OF
Falstan himself
CARLIsT CLAIMS OF DYNAsTIC RIGHT.
Although to my certain knowledge the Carlist
chiefs refused to treat upon any other basis than
the recognition OF Don Carlos as King OF SPAN,
which was equivalent to refusal to
t~T4u
world that the negotiations had been broken
OF, because Don Alfonso could not accord the
Carist officers their rank in the libe.al army. He
besides possesses faculty for curious and ab.
surd eXaggcrati0n which Is very amusing. For
instance, whenever Carlist battalion changes
quarters or moves rom one town to another ne
instantly elecri1es Europe with the announce.
Inent that the change has been made because OF
INSTRUMENTATION. When a Car1st partida or scout
goes out all alone ana nres shot into the enemy's
camp. a habit to which the pdrtidas are very
much addicted, our jocular friend rushes to the
telegraph edice and announces that the Carlists
have made desperate attack and been repulsed
all along the line with enormous losses. Should
the outposts, to while away the wearylng hours
amuse themselves by firing few innocent rounds
upon each other without hurting anybol. ne in
stanty announces q great battle, in Wnch the
Carlists have been, OF course, completely routed,
leaving the ground covered with their blood.
have passed days and weeks at Estea reading
these sanguinary kilograms IN the French papers
without being able to ever hear 80 much a. .
single shot fired.
FICTION PURE AND SMILE
But It Is only when we come to works OF pure
fiction that We begin TO perceive the real bent OF
this genJlenlan's mind and the peculiarly OF his
genius. 1t Ii in effects OF the imagination pure
that he chiefly exceis and it would seem that it
prosalc TACT that he Is really great 1t was he VINO
reported the shooting OF twenty Carlist officers
through Bayonne OF forty more on their way to
Madrid 10 make lneir SUBMISSION to Don Alfonso.
battalons in Durango. whose names ana num-
bel he gave, and which ne said were negO ting
have Ve peasG the pae so well that n
III nstalments through period OF several days.
There was certain local coloring about this story
t. have made 1t uncommoniy popular.
It is won known fact that when soldiers propose
deserving they negotiate with the enemy several
days beforehand and announce their intention 10
the word long time in advance, so that their
was received with tae greatest favor by oojh
press and public and was thus continued with
emendatioi-J and additions for several days. Then
there were
THE sron:Ks OF THE upRrsINGs
ana revoits IN Gaipuzcoa and Dlscay OF discomfort
ana EXHAUSTION throughout toe provinces, the
treason OF Dorregaray, the detection OF Mendirl,
the desertion OF Eio-all Of winch stories origin
ated IN tue lerule brain OF our hero. lie seems to
be dong good deal now IN the way OF Carlist
descrtions and to-day's papers contain a despatch
IN which We are Qravely informed that 800 Navar-
reese Oi ali others nave just deserted and joined
tns army OF Don Alfonso. anu he humorously adds
t0at I've OF them were instantly shot, PROBABLY Oy
way o. encouraging more deserttons Alter the
AIonsist defeat at Lacar we were very much
pleased to learn that on account OF the number or
Carllsts mo were coming IN aud rendering their
submission Don Alfonso had decided, before re-
commencing hosttlites 10 give the Carlists an.
other month. Everybody was greatly relieved oy
tals announcements, because certain evil minded
persons had limited that the real reasons why
bostlut,os were no; continued and why they have
not been since removed, was that the whole liberal
army nad been thrown INTO panic by the Dayonet
charge OF tho terrible Navarrese at Lacar. But our
nero Is not o man to be disconnected by mere
sco1ers. The creation, however In which ne really
g q HIT