Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04

cathedral End hoped aloud that only a few
soldiers would be kiIled-cn which side they
did not say, but their prayers were evident
" offered for the CtSbans, as the Spanlards
were completely defeated, losing two hun
dfed men and their rich ammunition train.
Las TairoEas Is acknowledged by all to
have been the most important engagement
since Colon. It was exceedingly important
so far as Gen. Maceo was concerned, for
his force was sorely In need of ammuni-
ton and other military stores, and would
have been in very severe straits but for the
capture OF the convoy. Besides about 49,
600 rounds of Mauser cartridges, there
were 500 Mauser rifles and large quantity
OF dynamite captured in the train. The
latter will probably be used to good advan-
tage on the railroad between here and Ha-
vana, which, up to this writing Is practi-
cally intact.
Careful Of the Tobacco Crop.
But the tobacco crop has not been injured
to any great extent. Maceo was careful
that his men marched in single file as much
as possible in their hurried movements
about the province. His command num-
hers, as your correspondent learned today
from NEST reliable authority, between
5000 and 9.000 men. One-quarter are with
out arms Of any description. The cavalry
numbers only about 75o and there is no ar
tillery.
ShelIed the Town.
At Bahia Honda, On the 28th, one of
Maceos adjutants was killed by a shot
from the Spanish gunboat in the harbor.
Afterward the gunboat shelled the town,
destroying the church and custom house.
although the rebels had some time before
departed for the interior.
Perico DelgadO, who was long noted
bandit In this province. has command of
1.20O hardy fellows from the "thicket Sec
tion," who are all armed fully and we'll
mounted. Delgado is the man who was to
meet the Calfxto GaI ella expedition, which
expected to effect landing near Cape San
Antonio.
Had that expedition been successful there
is no doubt but that the city of Pinar del
Rio would now be in the hands Of the re-
bells, and a well-equipped army of between
$4,000 and 10000 men would be marching to
join Gomez before Havana.
Poor Marksmen.
In Pinar del Rio. as, in fact, in the great
err portion Of the Island of Cuba, the people
never had any use for firearms. There is
very little game, and this accounts for the
wretched craftsmanship Of the average in
surgent soldier. The leaders fully under
stand this deficiency. and only a small
number of cartridges at time are allowed
the men. Gomez, on his march through
MatanZas and Havana, gave each soldier
three cartridges daily. A standing rule in
the rebel army that is laid down to rifle
men Is: Don't shoot until the Spaniard is
near enough to use the machete upon him,
and then-use the machete"
The Mauser rifle, when first heard Of by
the insurgents. was much feared by them
because Of the wonderful penetrating DOW
er OF the steel bullet. but since the war has
progressed ard the crack of this piece has
been heard on every hand, and the effect
lett, 1t Is not so much a cause Of anxiety.
The bullet plows its way through it's vic
tim. and perhaps through several additional
victims, but the wound Is not generally diff
ficult to heal The hum of the Remington
or Springfield is far more unpleasant to
rebel ears than the quick hiss of the Mai
will tear the flesh and usually lodge in the
body. At Perico a Mauser bullet cut
through the heavy brass and leather Of
Maceo's saddle, perforated his horse and
killed soldier on the other side. And this
after having wnizzed through the air for a
SdistaEce of about 100 yards
Great Britain's Ovcrtures.
Since President Cleveland and the Amer
lean Congress and nation have taken a
stand regarding the Monroe doctrine that
cannot be misconstrued in any particular,
Great Britain will not, perhaps, make
further overtures to Spain for the purchase
VI Subd DuI tHdG she lntenQS TO obtain. il
possible, some sort Of control in the island
Is plainly demonstrated by recent moves
Spain has found 1t impossible to secure
another Paris loan. and she is in hard
financial straits for the maintenance of her
army and the prosecution of the war Only
ten days ago she appealed to the Roth
schilds for an installment of gold, but that
house. acting upon the advice of it's Havana
correspondents, the Uppmanns, declined to
make the loan.
And again Spain is seeking succor of the
Bank of England. That Institution. al
ready holding s20O,OOOOOO in Spanish bonds,
VIII come to the rescue on certain condi-
lions. Those conditions are that an in
crease of 200 per cent be added to a part Of
the custom duties of Cuba, and that its
Spanish correspondents. the Bank of Spain,
at Madrid. be given sole charge of the col
lection Of the same.
The Spanish minister Of finance has prac-
tically agreed to the proposition, but he is
as yet undecided upon what goods the ad-
ditional tax shall be levied. Prime Minis
ter Canovas says the extra duties must not
be placed upon American. English, French
or German goods, for in that event, he
maintains, the support and neutrality Spain
is now receiving from those countries would
be lost. He advises that Spanish imports
into Cuba be made to pay the additional
sum; but here again the ministry and gov
eminent Is threatened with a loss q sup
port from the home manufactures and
agents: and, furthermore, the loyal popula-
ton of Havana, the majority of whom are
interested directly or otherwise in irlpor-
tations from Spain, might become disloyal
Virtually English Control.
Said prominent American banker in
Havana to The Evening Star correspond
emit: Il am sure the authorities at Wash
ington must appreciate the fact that a con-
troll of the customs of the island by the
Bank of Spain, virtually the Bank of Eng
land, would mean British domination and
nothing else. 1t certainly can never mean
free Cuba, and still further away would
annexation to the United States be. This
latter may not be desired by tine American
government; but during my twenty-seven
years of residence in Cuba 1 have had
abundant opportunity to study the island
and Its people, and come in daily contact
with prominent business men and polti-
Clans and can assure you that the senti-
ment of annexation is preponderating. I
believe the American government and peo-
pie would be very unwise to take half
hearted interest in or oppose the move
ment
England Is fully alive to the wealth ard
possibilities of Cuba, and if she could OBJ
tain control Of the customs through her
financial agents at Madrid, she would not
only wish to have Spain remain in nominal
control, but would furnish her the means
to stamp out rebellion, or sentiment that
was not in accord with their mutual de-
sireS"
The same banker recalled the visit Of