The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-17
JOHN BULL MIGHT LIKE CUBA.
a RUMOR THAT HE Is DICKERING
FOR THE ISLE DENIED.

According 90 the story AdORt Abroad
He Was TO Cede Gibraltar TO Spain
I'm Return for the Gem of the An
tilles-OmciaIs of the Foreign Of
flee Diselaim All Knowledge of the
PIan-CubRn Patriots Reported
WOrsted in "a Number of small
Battles.
London, Dec. 16.-The officials at the
foreign office. when questioned on the
subject to-day. declared that they knew
nothing. save from newspaper reports. of
the story that has been circulated to the
effect that Great Britain is negotiating
with Spair for the cession Of Cuba.
The report above referred TO was that
Great Britain, in return for the cesslon
Of cuba, would turn Gibraltar over to
spain, assume the Cuban debt and &c
qIiescc Ia the Spanish plans in Moroc-
CO. Prime Minister CanOVas del Castillo,
II was SAID was favorable to the idea OF
cedlns Cuba to Great Britain, but only
as last resource.
Madrid, Dec. 6.-Negotiations are pro-
ceeding between the Spanish government
ana Paris syndicate of capitalists to in
crease TO l25,M0,000 pesetas. the loan re-
quired to conduct the operations against
the insurgents in Cuba.
Dispatches received here from Havana
say that the insurgents continue TO burn
the buildings, and crops on the sugar plan
tatlons, and destroy other property. The
CABINET are discussing a plan of sending
further reinforcements 10 Cuba
A dispatch to the lmparcial from Ha-
Nana says that Col. Arizon has defeated
Gomez ana Maceo with heavy loss at
Maltiempo. The rebels retreated hastily,
burning the railroad bridge at Flora be-
nlnd them and cutting of communication
between C1enfugos and Santa Clara.
Havana Dec l6.-Advices have been
received here that on Dec. IL the column
or spanish troops under command of Col.
oliver had an engagement with the rebels
under Gomez at Alberich. The fighting
lasted from o'clock in the afternoon
until dark, when the rebels retreated and
the Spanish troops took possession OF their
camp. The loss to the Spanish was three
killed and twenty wounded.
1t Is reported that from Dec. II TO
Dec. lS the pursuing Spanish column had
frequent encounters with the rebels,
causing them heavy loss Of men, horses
and cattle. IT is not believed that the
rebels will be able 10 march into the
western region of the island.
on Dec. IA the Spanish Seavagoza reg
iment fought a band of rebels under the
Leaders Bacallao and Nunez. The Span
Brull, defeated and dispersed these par
ties. The battle took place at Cruces.
Another Spanish column had defeated
me combined bands of Cepero, Cayo, Alva-
rez ana Zarduy taking possession Of their
camps. The rebels fed and the troops
are in pursuit Of them.
Pensacola Fla. Dec. 16.-The sensation
al hlspdtcneS sent from TINS port regard
ing the carrying of arms by the steamship
Czarina for the Cuban patriots have very
little foundation in fact. The Jacksonville
| Times-Union correspondent interviewed
the customs officers at this port and Is
assured that the report Is not true, and
that the Czarina cleared for San Francisco
with a legitimate cargo. The report that
she carried contraband was evidently bas-
ed upon the fact that IL Is something un-
usual for vessel to sail from this port
around the Horn. and rumor got ahoat
that she might have arms aboard. There
is no excitement here, nor has the story
created more than the faintest ripple
Washington, Dec. 16-The police are con-
ndent that the so-called bomb" left on
the Spanish minister's door step Sunday
morning was a harmless affair but they
are searching for the perpetrator of the
hoax. The package was a common paste
board box partially filled with crushed
coal, some granular substance like sugar
and two worn out zinc stick from a gray
| ity batter. The fuse was merely slip OF
twisted paper, which was not burning
but which apparently had been ignlted
at one time. While Minister Dupuy de
LONE had no idea the affair was explo-
siVe, he Is opposed to such Jokes, and is
anxious for the police to catch the Of
/ Tenders in order that there VIII be no
repetition of the affair. The police place
it on par with the alleged internal ma
chine" sent TO Chief Justice Fuller some
time ago which simply consisted Of full
minaung powder and shoe blacking.