New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
SPANISH SIDE OF THE CASE.
SENIOR DE LONE SENDS ANOTHER CON-
MUNrCATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

SENIOR DE LONE SENDS ANOTHER CON-
MUNrCArION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Washington March I6-The statement OF Minister
De LONE read In the Senate by Senator Morgan
to-day Is dated Legacor de Espaha. Washington,
January II. 1896. and marked CONFIDENTIAL his
communication substantially reasseris the grounds
taken by the Spanish authorities in other official
communications as to the lack Of fixed residence by
the Insurgents their non-exercise OF act OF civil
government and other points heretofore alluded TO
In discussing their position. TO show that the In
surgents occupy part OF the island permanently.
together with references to their alleged guerilla
plans OF warfare. etc
Mr. Morgan also read a letter from Secretary
Oney dated to-day. sending another letter from the
Spanish Minister saying that the situation In the
island OF Cuba. considered In a military point OF
View IL unchanged. and. probably. taking only In
consideration the final result Of the war. has been
betterei by the raid of the two Cuban leaders.
Maxine Gomez and Maceo.
The advance OF the command Of those two men. II
saws 10 the provinces OF Matanzas and Havana and
TO the limits Of Pinar de- Rio. has been managed
with the intention OF producing theatrical effect
and TO impress public opinion In the United States.
II is probable also that Il has been panned-and
IN this they have utterly falledwith the desire OF
producing uprising in some Of the larger towns
of the most thicky populated part OF Havana.
The reports OF the press and Of Interested per-
sons II continues. have presented the insurgents
a victorious army marching toward the capital OF
the island and even considering the possibility OF the
Investment OF Havana.
Nothing the letter asserts Is further from the
truth To understand the war In Cuba 1t is neces-
sary to bear mind the nature OF the soil and the
kind OF warfare that Is possible there. The CON-
in chief Of the Spanish forces had to COM
ply with the moral duty Of every Government TO
protect as much as possible. private property. The
army has been scattered TO garrison the sugar
tates and has been successful to a great extent
in preventing the burning Of the buildings and the
destruction Of the machinery. The rest OF the
forces have been In constant chase Of the insur-
gents preventing them from remaining in one
place Engagements have never been decisive be-
cause the policy Of the enemy has been disband at
the approach OF tho forces OF the Spanish Army.
Following at much length with explanation Of
the present advance Of the insurgent army and
the depredations committed by It. the document
afiirms that the destruction Of property has been
confined with q few sad exceptions to the cane
fields. which It has been impossible to protect as
have not dared to approach the buildings
The army or volunteers. nor have they in ali the
time that the revolution has lasted tried TO attack
S Se "'''s' ""' '',e'' - ' ' '"''"S the rebel
letter says: They have not been able to attack or
even to surround the city, and i seems absurd to
moment they have not even tried to hold place
In order TO establish what they call their govern
ment They have destroyed the railroads in Matan-
zas but these have been Immediately repaired. and
are running and have brought part Of the troops by
which they have been Immediately surrounded"
Snould II be necessary, however, 10 Increase the
snanish forces overthrow the insurrection the as
sertion IL made that this could be done. Summing
Insurgents are, and represent. small minority Of
the people Of the Island. They do not occupy per-
principal feature q he revolution !, racial war:
cvi and judicial Jurisdiction Is exercised the revolu-
lion has been started from abroad Is maintained by
foreign AID and Its last and only hope IL to be sup