Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-08
THE CUBAN
Aguero's Band Worsts the Regulars in Two
Observation-Disclosures Growcrs Dis
satistied-Financial Distress.

satistied-Financial Distress.
New ORLEANS, La, July 17.-Priyate
advices via Jamaica from the headquarters
Of the Cuban insurgents, under the imme-
date command of Aguero, undertook an
expedition against the plantations Of Ger
tain persons known to favor the Govern
ment. Although opposed by a strong de-
tachment of regular troops, the insurgents,
after a skirmish of two hours, drove back
the forces and burnt all the buildings and
machinery on the Santa Maria and La Mer-
cedes plantations.
At the same time a band of insurgents in
the Sagua district was attacked by a strong
force of Government troops known as
the San Domingo division. The in
s%nrgents being entrenched in an al
most ~impregnable position repulsed the
troops with a loss of three killed and sew
eral wounded. One Of the insurgents was
slightly wounded. The Captain General Of
Cuba has called a meeting of officers to
concert a plan for successfully e%ncountering
the enemy in the field. Large numbers OF
troops have been lost or demoralizeu by the
guerilla warfare OF the insurgents, who are
familiar with every foot OF ground on the
island and divide into small bands, scatter
over large territory, and demOraliZe the reg
ulars by false alarms and forced marches
through unhealthy swalnps to find no en-
envy
Last year the Official Gazette published
an order from the Minister of Colonies
that the remaining surtax of 5 per cent. on
export duties on tobacco should be abol-
ished from July /, this year; but shippers
find the custom-house continues to charge
the old tax. To their complaints the add
ministlator answers that there are no orders
from Madrid to grant the reduction. This
causes shippers loss and annoyance. Besides
this, it appears that among the reforms con-
templated tobacco has been overlooked en-
tirely. The export duty or tobacco is lev
led on the Q%uintal, without regard to quality
or price outside, thereby establishing a Diet
riinental surcharge on cheap tobacco. The
same is the case with cigars, which pay an
export duty on the thousand without regard
to their cost. In view OF. these and other
grievances the provincial deputation of ipinar
Del Rio has sent a dispatch to Cuban repre-
sentatives in the Cortes, telling them that
the Indifference with which the tobacco
question had been treated in the project OF
reforms had caused Il painful impression in
Vueita Abajo, and it is urgent that Cuban
representatives should insist upon the con-
ceSslons asked in favor of tobacco.growers
and merchants. Cuba has at present 1871
GS4 Inhabitants, including Cinnamon.
HAVANA, July IA letter from Sam
tiago de Cuba describes the situation there
as being no better than here. Failures. ex-
ira Judicial arrangements and the liuuida-
ton OF commercial houses follow each
other in rapid succession, and the branch
Office OF the Spanish Bank there refuses to
discount notes or advance money on sugars.
Accounts from Trinidad, Cienflegos and
other places on the southern and northern
coast show an equally desperate condition
of affairs,