Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-06-12
A CUBAN RUSE.
Torpedo Boat Story Designed to
Divert Attention from Other
MOVen1entS.

Washington, D. c.. June THE re-
port from Florida as to the dispatching
of three torpedo boats with a Cuban revo-
lutonary party is thought by Spanish
officials here to be ruse to divert atten-
ton from movements at other points.
1t is stated that the torpedo boats, pro-
posed to be sent, could make but feeble
showing against the large fleet of Spanish
cruisers and gunboats now patrolling Gu
ban waters.
1t is said that Gen Quesada is the NOV
ing spirit of the present operations and
that he is now at Abita Springs. Florida
dispatches mention a Gonzalo de Quesada
as one of the revolutionary board meeting
at Ocean Beach, Fla This Gen. Que
sada is q former secretary of Jose Marti.
The latter's death is now conceded by
revolutionary leaders, according to adj
vices received here.
Department officials do not attach any
Importance to the statement Of the Lon
don Standard that Spain would make 81
claim against the United States, based
upon the precedent Of the Alabama
claims, for permitting arms and sh1ps ;, 10
leave the United States in aid OF the Gu
ban cause. It is said that no definite in
formation of this aid has been given and
that whenever it is given the United
States will use every available means to
suppress the traffic.
In this connection official attention has
been directed to the open carrying OF the
flag of the Cuban revolution by armed
bands in the streets of Tampa, Fla.
The news from Florida was to the eff
feet that the master stroke of the Cuban
revolutionary movement in this country
will occur within thirty days. The prin-
ciIhl leaders of the party in the United
States gathered at Jacksonville two days
ago. but quietly slipped over to Fernan-
no
Beach, where they stopped at the Strath-
more hotel. From an adjoining room q
newspaper man overheard the whole of
the deliberations The board decided
that the next big effort must be from
the United States coast south OF Charles
ton. A fleet of light draught could go
unnoticed through Bahama channels, and
then at night make short runs for the
northern coast of Cuba, where there are
many bays easy of access for an eXPedi-
ton and poorly guarded.
Havana, June IA small detachment
of Spanish troops, 1t is announced III a
dispatch from ManZanillO, has been sur
prised by a band Of insurgents five times
stronger than tho soldiers and commanded
by AmadOr Guerra. The soldiers were
guarding a plantation at Talerino, near
Manzanillo. Fierce fighting followed and
the troops lost one sergeant and three
soldiers killed and seven wounded. On
the other hand the insurgents were COM
PEELED to retire, and left upon the field
four dead and nine wounded The troops,
assisted by a number of volunteers, pur
sued the fleeing insurgents and captured
FIVE prisoners.
Another dispatch announces that a
number of insurgents recently made an
attack on the village of Guaya, which
was defended by small detachment of
troops commanded by Col. Castellani.
The Spanish soldiers vigorously replied
to the fire of the enemy and the insur-
gents were eventually routed, leaving
three dead upon the field and carrying
away their wounded.