The herald., 1896-12-26
THE THREE FRIENDS
LANDED MUNITIONS
But There Was No Nav |
Engagement
4 STRAIGHT md SIMPLE FAKE
The Vessel Bears no Signs OF
Conflict
GOMEZ NOT GREATLY AIDED
For the Spaniards Captured Much Of
the Cargo
Such Fighting As Has Been Done Favors
Insurgents
GOMEZ NOT GREATLY AIDED
For the Spaniards Captured Much OF
the Cargo
Such Fighting As Has Been Done Favors
Insurgents
Another Sensational Tale of Threats OF
Action by European Governments
Will Be Denied Tomorrow.
Delgado Not Executed.
Press Special Wire


CINCINNATI, Ohio, Dec. 25.-A spe-
cial to the Commercial-Trib from
Key West, Fla, says: Much comment
was made today in Havana over the re"
port cabled from New York that the
filibustering steamer Three Friends mad
been fired on by Spanish cruisers, and
that the steamer had disabled Spanish
gunboat. This report is positively de-
MED in official circles, who affirm that
nothing of the kind occurred. but that
the story is made from whole cloth. It
is Furthermore admitted that only part
of the cargo was secured by Gomez, the
Spanish coast guard having captured a
good portion. The Three Friends is here,
lying under the guns of the Raleigh.
Capt Lewis refuses to say anything
about this trip. save that he had been
after dereicts. AS to the story of fight
he processes ignorance. None of the
crew can be induced to speak of the af-
fair. The vessel does not bear any
marks of conflict, and the report is
doubted here.
Havana advices are that Gomez ad-
vance guard has captured the town Of
Las Passega. in Santa Clara province.
taking the entire garrison and all their
stores. A battalion of fresh troops was
sent to Matanzas this morning from
Havana TO be sent to the front. Great
exertions are being made to get a strong
force to oppose Gen. Gomez and three
lines are beirg formed to get the Gu
bans entangled in between them and
crushed.
WILL NOT REMAIN NEUTRAL.
LONDON. Dec. 25.-The Times Paris
correspondent says: The Washingtor
government has been confidentialy in
formed, although in very friendly terms
that the European powers would not re-
main passive, should the United States
recognize the Cuban insurgents If my
information is correct, intimation has
been further given that Germany is
quite ready, even now. to take Spain's
SIDE. should the United States show
disposition officially to side with the
rebels. These warnings originated in
the course of pour parlers for Europ-
can coalition against the revolutionary
socialism.
A HARD FIGHT.
HAVANA, Dec. 25.-Major Barberere
reports that the battalion of Cuenos had
a hard fight near Tellechea with the in
surgent bands under Felino, Alvarez.
Aldani and Barroti. Lieutenant Frierie
was mortally wounded and afterwards
died. The insurgents left four dead upon
the field and carried away many others.
They also abandoned large number of
arms and ammunition. A prisoner who
was captured says that there We're 81 in
surgents killed. The Spanish also cap
tured nine Mauser rifles and twenty y-one
Remingtons, which had been left on the
field, and nearly a hundred horses. The
insurgent dead We're carried to the town
of Quintana for Identification. Among
them was Captain Ezebia Rojas and
lieutenant Bellejo.
Inquiries In official quarters by the
correspondent of the Associated Press
ELECTED a denial: of the story published in
the United States that the filibustering
steamer Three Friends fired upon
a Spanish guard steamer and Spanish
gunboat.
WASHINGTON, Dec. o5-Enrique
Delgado has not been executed by the
Spanish authorities in Cuba, and will be
treated with all the leniency the condi-
ions under which he was arrested war
rant. This news is ELECTED by inquiry
of the state department made at the
instance Of the New York Mail and Ex-
press, which employed his as cores
pondent. While. it is probable that he
will remain in Jail for some time, while
the case is under investigation, it is not
believed here that he will be sNerely
punished in the end.
RETURNING TO DUTY.
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 25.-United
States Consul-General Fitzhugh Lee
and family passed through here today on
the Olivette on their way to Havana.
WEYLER GROWS WISE.
NEW YORK, Dec. 25.--A Madrid spe-
cial to the World says: 1t is rumored
that General Weyler has delayed fresh
operations against the insurgents in
order to give them time to discover the
disposition of the bands and their chiefs
since the death of Maceo, with view
to feeling his way to preparing the
ground for finishing the present Cuban
war Like the past instructions in
Spain and Cuba where money and un-
official negotiations proved more telling
arguments than force of arms, directly
the Insurgents saw NO more hope of