The herald., 1896-12-06
Concerning the Coming Pres.
identiaI Message
CONCILIATORY LANGUAGE
Might Induce Spain to Abandon Her Re.
pressive Policy
The Reports From Cuba Bring the Usual
Accounts of Insurgent Defeats
and of Maceo's Flight

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YOR, Dec. 5.-A dispatch from
Madrid to the World says: Intense anx-
iety is felt by all classes concerning what
President Cleveland may say in his
message about Cuba and subsequent ac-
ton by the American congress. In official
circles this anxiety, though suppressed,
is even keenr than it is in unofficial
quarters. Most of the Spanish conserva-
tives perceive that many people in Spain
are inclined to believe that If President
Cleveland's language is sufficiently con-
ciliatory to pave the way for an under
standing between Spain and the United
ttates for an honorable settlementdim-
plying no infringement of Spanish SOW
ereignty in Cuba, such an impression
probably will be made on the public
mind and on the court itself as may in
duce Queen Christiana to change the
present war and repressive policy IN
Cuba for a more liberal one.
The government will allow no dem
onstration when the news of the atti-
tude assumed by the United States ar
rives, and the authorities are instructed
to act energetically.
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
HAVANA, Dec. 5.-Major Curahuada
of the San Quentin battalion disloged
several bands of insurgents near Punta
Bravo this morning after two hours
fighting. The insurgents left behind them
SO men killed and quantity of arms and
ammunition. Many Others were wound
ed. The troops lost one man killed and
ten private wounded.
Lieut.-Col. Aldea on Thursday last met
the enemy on the heights of Purgatory,
and after fierce engagement from 10
o'clock until Z in the evening occupied
the insurgent positions, afterward re-
PEELED an attack of their cavalry and
passed the night in the insurgent camp.
The loss of the two columns of Spanish
troops in this engagement was twenty
four soldiers killed and Lieuts. Rodri-
guez and Pedemonte and forty-e eight
soldiers wounded.
The insurgents are said to have lost
about 800 men killed and wounded.
A REAL BATTLE
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 5.-A most i'm
portant and terrible battle is reported
in a private letter to have occurred at
Palacios, in the province of Pinar del
Rio. 1t is said that great forces of in
surgents strongly fortified at Torro
Heights were attacked by a Spanish
column. Fierce fighting, cannonading
and musketry continued all day, the
insurgents bravely defending their
stronghold. The troops were unable
to capture the fortification that day and
both sides sustained great loss.
The next day the Spanish columns were
reinforced by Gen. Ynclan, who renewed
the attack. The Spanish troops were
determined to take the stronghold and
simultaneously advanced upon the for
tifications. The insurgents were finally
dislodged from their position, their loss
being fully 200. 1t is said that the Span
ish troops lost 600.
The setamer Triton, which was eX-
pected to leave today was hurriedly
dispatched yesterday to Bahia Honda.
On this account many believe the re-
ports widely circulated to the effect that
on the night of December sounds of
musketry and artillery We're heard in
that vicinity. In official circles, it is
claimed that no news of an engagement
has been received.
Reports received from all parts of
Pinar del Rio indicate that great NOR
, tality follows the recent epidemics,
which are spreading throughout that
section. OF all the diseases epidemic
in nature. cholera seems to be the only
! one which has not visited that section.
| Col. Aldea recently sustained a fight
| with the rebel leaders at Perico. Tha