The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-18
WAR UTENSILS.
About All That Cuban insurgents
Stand In Need OF
HAVE PLENTY OF SyMPATHIZERS
And Appear to Be Literally
Supplied With Cash.

Boston, Sept Is.-Tbe British steamer
Taif, just In at this port from Cuba, Sept.
io' brings news OF IA serious state OF affairs
AT Banes, the most important fruit port
on the northern coast. The Taft reports
that Banes has been evacuated by the
spaniards after feeble resistance: that
the entire northern section of the island Is
now In the hands OF the insurgents, aud
oioara itself, which is one of the strongest
and best fortified cities on the coast, is i'm
perilous position although the Spaniards
nave between 1000 and 5000 soldiers at this
point and two men-of.war in the harbor.
When 1t became known that the rebels
threatened Banes, M. Dumois, who prac-
ideally owns the town and who Is one OF
the wealthiest planters on the island, sent
to the Spanish officials at Gibara, about 40
miles distant, an urgent request for troops.
and the Tatf was placed at the disposal OF
the government for the transportation of
the troops. About 100 soldiers were hastily
pnt on board the Taft and shipped to
Banes, but after they had arrived there
they found that the rebels had already
sacked the town and were camped IN the
outskirts TO the number of about 5000
There were only about 20 Spanish soldiers
In the Tort at Banes, but they made a
show OF resistance until overwhelmed by
numbers they were forced to fall back
When the Taft arrived with reinforce
ments council of war was held and IL
was decided to at once evacuato the port
To the rebels, and the entire force was
taken back to Gibara
Poor Specimens of soldIery.
The officers OF the Taft say the Spanish
soldiers, which they took 20 Banes, were
all mere boys, and yet they claimed to
nave been In is engagements in the vicin-
ity OF Gibara. The officers further state
that the soldiers were very poorly equipped.
Some OF them wore caps, others old
straw hats, and still others had nothing
TO wear on their heads.
AS soon as the rebels found Themselves |
In the possession of Banes they at once cut |
all telegraph and telephone wires and at |
once began To harrass Gbara, and the |
commander Of the fort was expecting an |
open attack at any moment.
The officers of the Taft say that tho |
whole country is up In arms and that
everybody favors the rcbols So true is
this that oalI boys were left in the port of
Bancs to lotd and unload the vessels.
The bulk of the maze population has
joined tho rebel ranks
III is also stated that manv OF the rich |
planters are in sympathy with the rebels.
The rebels seem TO have plenty Of cash.
and the officers OF the Taft say that every
vessel that sails to Cuba is n led by repre-
scntatiyeS of the insurgents to buy rifles
and cartridges In the United States and
them TO Cuba They will paw i'm
advance for these and IL is well known
fact that noarly every vessel that sails to
Cuba smugglcs arms TO the insurgents.
The officers Of the Taft were asked TO bring
arms and ammunition and "a representa-.
tive OF the insurgents tried TO make n
trade with the captain Of the Taft lust
before she sailed.
There was rumor Mt Danes and Gibara.
when the Taft left those places, that the
Brazilian rebel admiral, Mcllo. was ex.
Dcctcd any day with war vessel and 500 |
men TO aid tho insurgents, and one of the
'fiiccrs Of the Taft, who saw Mello bonn.
bard Rio, says that there Is evidently soma
rood ground for the rumor, and he further
ays that Mcllo can lick the Spanish gun.
'oats with even an ordinary man-of. war.