The herald., 1896-05-18
Not the Only Drain on Spanish
Resources
UTTER FAILURE OF CROPS
Threatened by Prevailing Drouth and
Insect Pests
Official Reports Bring News Of Insurssnt
Defeats. but the Rebels Continue
to Ravags and Burn
A.sociated Press Special wire.

moQlately upon the sewers oIdin VI io
sources caused by the Cuban rebellion,
the Spanish people have now to face the
prospect of an almost total loss OF the
wheat CROP caused by drought and in
sects, United States Consul Burke at
Malaga writes to the state department
that a new insect pest as destructive
10 wheat as the phylloxera Ia to the
grape, has damaged the crops in sew
erai provinces. while, owing to severe
drought, not only will the entire wheat
crop be total failure, but there Will be
a shortage Of every other crop OF grain.
The poor are suffering much and unless
rain comes the crops will become total
prevail throughout the whole country.
Efforts will be made to have the govern
ment reduce or remove the import grain
duties and heavy imports must be made
during the current year.
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
HAVANA, May 17.-Today is the tenth
anniversary of the birth of King AL
fonso XIII, and in order to celebrate
that event the fines which have been
laid upon the Cuban press have been
remittsd.
Later details have been received Of the
xas. The local forces Of Limonar made
q reconnaissance after the engagement
and found nineteen more bodies Of in
surgents besides the bodies of fifteen
which were left on the field. Reliable
information has been received by the
authorities that the insurgent loss is
much greater than at first believed and
that their leader IL seriously wounded,
besides one insurgent captain killed.
The insurgent leader. Gavilan. Is also
wounded.
Near Patta Orva. in Havana province.
at the farm Of Carbon. three squadrons
Of cavalry surprised a band of insur-
gents, who left three killed when they
retired. It Is believed the insurgent.
Delgado, was killed or wounded. Cap
tain Rapadan met the insurgents under
6anguilly at Mount Castellanar Aqua
cato. in Havana province. and killed
four insurgents.
The column of Colonel Alonzo, pass
ing by Guines de Nieranda, in Santa
Clara, pursued band Of insurgents and
came UP with them six separate times.
inflicting upon them loss Of twenty-six
killed. The column Of troops had four
wounded.
Major Gandines has been operating
about Verteinles and Jacob and Boca de
Jabusco, in the province Of Santiago de
Cuba. He met Delgado's insurgent band
numbering 800 and. after a fight. put
them to night. They left twenty-eight
killed. The Spanish column had one
Matanzas say the insurgents have burn
ed the Guantana farms Of Cantel. Cas-
ualidad and Desteno, which were valued
At millions Of dollars. They have hang
ed Juan Delgado Comes. the proprietor.
onels Segura and PanQuela with Gomez.
Zayas. Albertos and other insurgent
leaders. in which the insurgents sus-
tained a great loss, II Is learned the in
Surgents marched toward Vueltas. in
Santa Clara. near q place called Guam
anna. The insurgents at Barbaras num-
- aIvxx INF kv.xy ThA
majority OF them we're very poorly cloth
ed. There were distributed there $780,
900 cartridges. which were brought by
GARLIC, and half Of which were intended
for Maceo; also one rapid-fire cannon.
Garlic will lead the vanguard of
and each will be six miles from Gomez
main force. The TANKS will be guarded
by Castillo and Rodriguez. General
Obrieston. with a Spanish force, passed
through Guaracabulla, In Santa Clara.
and It is believed will overtake Gomez.
AID TO BE ASKED.
PARIS, May 1.-THE Gaulois says
that Senior Canovas del Castillo. the
Spanish premier. is about to ask the
Intervention Of the European powers
with regard to the interference of the
United States in Cuban affairs.
The committee Of the Spanish chamber
Of deputies appointed to verify the cleo
tions. has withdrawn because the Lib
erals threatened to cave the chamber
II the eections in Cuba were declared IL
legal.
The impartial vigorously protests
against language used by Senator Nor
gan OF Alabama in his speech in the SEN
ate on Saturday and against his
charges Of cruelty against the queen re-
gent. 1t also says the Spanish govern
ment will make energetic representa-
tions against such caluminous asser-
tlOng.