The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-06
GOOD NEWS FROM CUBA,
PATRIOTS EXULTiNT, AND SPAN
IdRDS DISCOUR1GED.
Col. Pnchcco's Expedition successfui-Rcccnt
Engagemcnts-sugar Estates in Flames
Campos Manifestation Regiments.

Engagements Estates in Flames
Campos Woundcd-skcIcton Regiments.
HAVANA, Dec. 30.-It is known here that
valuable cargo of ammunition and medicines
for the patriots. under tho charge Of Col Pa
checo has been successfully landed on the
coast and delivered at Cuban camp.
There has been another engagement at Jobosi;
one at Guanajabito, near Puerto Principe one
at La Reforma, between sancu Espirtus and
Moron one at the Rosario In the zapata Swamp,
and, lastly, one ut the cattle farm Monitor, near
Puerto Principe. Besides the Spanish losses In
Killed and wounded In these engagements,
which are confessed to have been heavy, 1t Is
currently reported here that 400 OF the newly-
arrived troops went over to the Cuban5.
The most impOrt1nt news, however, IL that
the patriots have opened the campaign by the
burning OF sugar estates, which the very exces.
hitherto prevented. within the last few days
two luge estates have been completely de.
stroyed by the torch: Ihey are both IN the in
mediate vicinity OF Calimete. town about NJ
teen miles due south Of Colon, which latter is
the shire town Of the importlnt jurisdiction OF
the same lame. the richest IN sugdr est ties OF
the whole Island. The burned estates are the
" Pnz OF senpr Diago. and the Central" Of
1he destruction Of these estates has spread
much dismay among the spanish element OF
this city. and Gen. Martinez Campos Is pretty
openly denounced as another grand incapa-
BILE" 1t is known that when he left Madrid, the
Prime Minister Canovas del Castillo, most
wealth OF the Villas and Western Departments
at any cost. even II to do so he had to abandon
the entire Eastern and Central Departments to
the rebels. The destruction Of these estates, as
soon AS the caue Is NJ to burn. proves conclusive
lv that the relatively enormous army which
Ctmpos commands to-day Ia absolutely unequal
even to tho task Of protecting property.
IL IL positively asserted here that Martinez
Cainpos. who has already returned from the
Eastern Department and is tod ~ In villa Clara,
was badly wounded In one hand IT the battle Of
LA Reforma.
Some more said remnants OF once celebrated
spanish infantry regiments left for Spain In the
mall steamer OF the 2oth inst. They summed up
rs men-Or rather living skeletons Of men-all
that are left OF the regiments OF Antequera, Or
Santan der, Nilcaya, tardenas. NapOles. Leon
and the three Catalan volunteer regimenis.
These fourteen regiments landed here. 100
strong. some Of them have been 50 frequently
recruited mere during the past six seven
years, that they may he more properly SAID TO
have been com mpletcly reorgautzed. And Yet OF
over 1900 men landed here only 12S inclined
and emaciated survivors return TO their mother
country. What Impressions these men will cre-
ate. their arrival at tneirna places IL
difficult to Imagine. II Will certainly not facili-
tate the recruiting OF the additional lj, " fresh
retnfUrcemeIlts which Martinez CampOs so
gently demands.
A decree Of Clptain-Gcneral Jovelllr, dated
tha 81 inst, and published ia the tdcctf Ofrfll.
ordsins the collection, offer the Isl prox.. OF
tax Of thirty per cent. ON ali Incomes frn every
source. The decree l. short. II not sweet. con
si-tiDe simply OF two ar,icies-,he uTst OF which
orders that tax of twenty i've yer cent? or i've
>txths o. the thirty per cent, -hall bc paid either
In gold or IN spanish bank biils, at the tate Of
l2O per cent. premium ON the gold the second
article orders that tue remaining Ave per cent.
shall be paid IN bills, at the same quotation OF