The record-union., 1896-12-06

OulWdrOly the CITY IS Qu1et, Dut unQeT
the surface there is much disappoint
ment at the management Of the Span
iards in both the military and civil de-
partments. A third Of the inhabitants
are friends of the revolution, and many
others sympathize with it. The rest are
with the Spanish. The Government
cannot punish men now as it could for
merly for reasonable utterances, as it
is afraid of precipitating serious trou-
bic.
Gomez is now investing the town of
Santa Clara. He has cut off the garri-
son from all communication with the
outside world, and unless relief comes
soon the town will surely fall into his
hands. His cavalry has been particu-
larly active in destroying property and
cutting off foraging parties.
The hopes Of the patriots in Havana
have been greatly heightened by these
exploits. They think it is only ques-
ton of time when Gomez will be under
the walls of Havana itself. The Amer
leans are not so sanguine, but they be-
lieve that if Gomez and Maceo hold out
until President Mckinley is inaug-
urated, and the new Congress in ses-
sion, when American Intervention is ex-
pected, they will win.
The Americans do not lay much store
by public sentiment in Havana, because
the Cuban is as easily elated by victory
as he is depressed by defeat. The
American contingent is the only part of
the foreign colony in Havana which
leans toward the rebellion. This prob
ably leads to the intense hatred which
the Spaniards have for Americans
An incident occurred the other day
which painfully illustrates the discredit
into which American citizenship has
fallen. An American bookseller of the
name of Wilson, with a place on one
of the principal streets, had sign out
in front of his store which read, THE
American Book Store" In one of the
outbursts of Spanish wrath following
the Newcastle, Del, flag incident,
crowd collected about the store and
threatened to loot it. Wilson became
frightened and changed the sign to
the English Book Store" There were
no more threats made.
The newspaper stories purporting to
have come from General Fitzhugh Lee
caused much surprise among American
patriots in Havana. They are aston
ished that after seeing what he saw
General Lee could have said anything
commendatory of Weyler or his ad
ministration.
BATTLES REPORTED.
HAVANA, Dec. 5.-Major Cirugeda,
with the San Quentine battalion, after
march entailing great hardships, has
captured the rebel position in the Bar
acoa Hills, near Junta Bravo, in the
Havana province. The fight lasted two
hours, at the expiration of which the
rebels were dispersed, leaving in their
flight thirty-three Of their dead on the
field and carrying away a great many
more. The losses of the troops were
one man killed and Captain and ten
privateS wounded.
Colonel Aldea, with 160 men, has had
a battle in the Purgatorio Hills, near
Sabanilla, in the Matanzas province,
which resulted in his capturing the
rebel position. The rebels, strong in
number, made several rallies, but We're
repulsed by cavalry charges. The
rebels were finally driven from the field,
from which they carried many of their
dead. The Spanish losses were twenty
four privates killed and fifty-one
wounded. Colonel Aldea himself was
badly bruised. The losses of the in
surgents are estimated at 300 killed or
wounded.
Captain Cabello, with another frac-
ton Of the Spanish forces, had a fight
at Laguna with a party of rebels under
Juan Armada, killing the rebel leader
and eighteen of his followers. The
troops lost two killed and two wounded