The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-25

since the decree ordering the abandon
ing OF rural towns and hamlets has
peen put in force thousands of women
nave Joined the rebels, many of them
taxing their families with them. One
mother left her Spanish husband and
took nine sons into the Cuban army.
march, '' '''e'
The Cubans do not now hold any
toWn' village or port; but when ad-
vised OF expeditions, the rebels concen-
trate near the coast and cover the land
ing OF men and arms, having reduced
tnis to a science. The steamers lay to
at night outside of the marine league.
Tne boats. painted light drab, are
swung over the side, when they are
laden with men and arms If man Of
war appears she seizes the steamer.
while the boats. without lights, make
Tor the shore. All the expeditions sent
to Cuba have made successful trips.
thousands of rifles and machetes and
tens of thousands Of cartridges have
reached the rebels. including some can
non. dynamite and hospital stores.
moisture. is valuable ally to the
Cubans. 1t opens up the enemy, while
they can recruit and get ready for the
dry seasons campaign.
Regarding American investments in
Cuba many millions of American money
are invested in mines and sugar estates
in Cuba
The question Of belligenency was dis
cussed. amy delay in that the Cuban
residents say. will simply prolOng the
war. The rebels say they will not ac-
cept any Cuba under Spanish rule.
1T must be free Cuba. If fperchance
the United States intervened and asked
for the sale of Cuba to Cubans under the
American guarantee, such an arrange
ment would lead to a cessation of hos
tilities. Short of that they will accept
nothing from Spain. Failing in recog-
milton as belligerents. they will fight for
ten years.
Havana and western Cuba are loyal
to Spain. Many loyal spaniards, how
ever. want fuller rights for Cuba.
Annexation Is not understood, nor
with the masses acceptable. They would
deem 1t but change of masters without
any benefit to ehem.
THE damage done to the coffee and
sugar estates in Cuba" he said, lis al
most irreparable."
He said. Hundreds Of spaniards are
sent to Cuba to take official positions.
Many are appointed with the clear and
tacit understanding that one-halc of
their gains were to be remitted to the
of1icials who had secured their appoint
ments. Any deficit in the Cuban budget
Is made good by an additional tax on
Cuban property"
This informant made a single excep-
tion to official irregularity in Cuba, that
of General Martinez Campos. who, he
said, was an honest captain general.
A SKIRMISH.
HAVANA, May 24.-Colonel Motions
near Santa Clara province, came in
sight Of the insurgent band Of Zayas
The insurgents abandoned one prisoner.
who declared that the insurgent brig
adler General Tayo, was dead.
Colonel Marito met the insurgent lead
er, Eduardo Garcia, who, in conjunc-
ton with other leaders, had a force of
1000 men at the farm of Vinola in Ma
tanzas near the great southern swamp.
The battalion of Alfonso Doce opened
fire and the insurgents retreated, leav-
Ing sixteen killed, two prisoners, and
their arms and ammunition.
THE TOBACCO QUESTION
MADRID. May 24.-Senor Canovas del
Castillo. the premier, declares he will
only sanction the export orders for to-
bacco from Cuba which were given prior
to Captain General Weyler's decree pro-
hibiting the export Of tobacco. This is
presumably in reply to the representa-
tions made by the United States govern
ment to Spain with regard to the pro-
hibition of the export Of tobacco.