Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-26
DREAD PRESENCE OF PANDO Santiago Citizens Join the h. surgents at His Approach HATED FOR HIS BRUTALITY Yellow Death Stalks Forth ard Soldiers Are
 Dying Rapidly NEWS OF All ENGAGEMENT AT s0NGo The Government Army Men Are Not AL lowed to Travel by Rail on Account
 of fDynamite-New Expedi-
 tions Reported.
HATED FOR HIS BRUTALITY
NEWS OF All ENGAGEMENT AT s0NGo

Santiago de Cuba, Dec. IT, via Key West, Fla, Dec. 25.-The Trrival of Cen eral Pando in this city has produced a shock almost as great as if bombshell had been cast among the people, for he is we'll known and hated here for his bloody and brutal instincts. Men leave the city to join the insurgents daily by the hundreds and soon Santiago will be left entirely to women and children.
 The concentration of large Cuban forces in this district is expected by the end of the present month, when it is probable that many bloody battles will be fought.
 Several sugar estates in this jurisdic- tion are preparing to grind their sugar cane, but it is very much doubted here that they will be allowed to do so by the rebels. The iron mining companies are working steadily and have many la borers working for them who refuse to work in the sugar estates because of want of security both of their persons and their wages.
 Fearing the use of dynamite by the insurgents the government does not now send the soldiers by railroad to the inte- rior, but compels them to make long and
 
 are sent. For the same reason passen- gers do not use the trains.
 Yellow fever is raging here fearfully in spite of the winter season. The death rate among the officers is something dreadful In four days a commander, four captains and two lieutenants have died of the disease. In the military hos pitai of this city there are more than 1000 sick soldiers, of whom from ten to fifteen die every day. The government has forbidden the publication of news about the death rate of yellow fever
 News has come of an engagement near Songo between a Spanish column, 400 strong, and rebel leader Pancho Sanchez, with 250 men It is said that the Spanish loss was heavy as the rebels used machetes, which always strike terror among the Spanish soldiers. No de- tdi ils yet. ------
 Santiago de Cuba, Dec. IA, via Key West, Fla, Dec. 25.--On the morning of the 10th instant the whole garrison of Dos Caminos a town, joined the rebels. The Spanish Colonel Tojeda's battalion of g9lerrilas was in a state of excite ment, as the time of their enga cement was up and the government wanted them to re-enlist. They refused to do so, be- cause. they were not paid regularly and because they were very badly treated. In consequence forty guerrillas joined the rebels, with their arms and ammuni-
 
 disolve the battalion.
 The village of Venta de Casanova, near Romanganaguas, defended by a Spanish garrison. has been taken by the leader, Rabi The garrison surrendered, with arms and ammunition.
 This morning December 1D two battal ions left this city for the town of Cobro, which is threatened with an attack by the insurgents, who are encamped near that place in great numbers. At this moment Q0 a. m.) the sound of heavy firing is heard, and it is said that the Spaniards and rebels are fighting in La Loma de Le Cruz, between this city and Cobro.
 It is reported here that two expeditions have entered the island lately, one in Boca de dos Rios, between this port and Asseradero. and the other near Bara- coa. The Spanish gunboat Nneva Espa- na came into this port yesterday 0he 18th instanD with her propeller broken On the 18th instant the gunboat was sailing near the land off Bararoa when she re- ceived several cannon shots. one of which broke her propeller. It is said that this was done by the expedtionaries, who had a cannon with them.
 On the 9th instant the Spanish com mander Prats. with large column. had ian engagement with the rebel Colonel Cartagena and his party near Sagua de Tanamo. The Spaniards had five killed ana nineteen WOundeu. ana the 1nSur- gents seven wounded.
 News Received Today. 2 Key West, Fla, Dec. 25.-Passengers by the steamship Olivette today report that Martinez Campos left Havana last night for Matanzas with 10000 troops to meet the insurgents under Gomez and Maceo, reported marching on the prov ince of Havana. It Is reported that a big battle will take place within the next fifteen hours, which will decide the fate of the Cubans. All communication with Cardenas has been cut off, and no rail road tickets are sold beyond the city of Cardenas as all the track beyond that point has been blown up.
 Brigadier-General Lacret is reported in Los Palos. province of Havana, with a strong band of insurgents, and there is another band in Colondron, about thirty miles from Havana.
 On the 23d Gomez captured the town of Rogue, between Colon and Matanzas, and hoisted the Cuban flag on the public buildings. The officials of the town came in and offered their congratulations. Go- meg. took all the city funds. During the past two days the insurgents have de- stroyed twelve sugar plantations.
 The Diario de La Marina. published in Havana, publishes an article this week calling on all loyal subjects to come to the rescue of Spain.
 A supplement to La Lucha, dated the 24th, reports a battle on the 23d in the province of Matanzas. in which the i'm surgents were defeated, and that Gen. Suarez Valdez has taken a position in front of Gomez command.
 Cablegram to Dupuy de Lome.
 Washington, Dec. 25.-Senor Depuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, believes that the insurgent forces reported in the vicinity of Havana are in great danger of being completely routed. He has not as yet received any untoward news from official sources that Havana is in danger, and laughs at the idea that the city will probably be beseiged. His cofidence in the success of the Spanish army is in creased by a cablegram he received to- night from Madrid. which Is a confrma.