Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-06
DRY SEASON CLOSED.
II Has Been Raining PeariulIy in Cuba
the Past Fortnight.
YELLOw-FEvEn PLAYING HAVOC.
sma1l-Pox Also Claiming Many Vie
Tins in Certain TOwns-Weyler's
Failure an 81 Cnmpnigner Generally
Admitted-ficImOnt Case.

HABANA. June g. via TAMPA, FLA,
June 5.-The dry season can be consid-
cred practically closed. Ever since tho
last fifteen days 1t has been raining fear
fully. In Habana the rains have been
periodical for the last weeks, beginning at
about o'clock Il. NJ, and lasting until
or +. NJ In the country, from re-
ports received all around, the rainfall has
been considerable. 1T is said that the
Majana swamp, forming the southern sec
ton Of the trocha or military line from
Mariel, has overfowed, and that the
trenches and bitches which had been
made have all disappeared. In conse-
quence Of this. state Of things, military
operations-at least on the Spanish side
have come to a standstill. All the troops
are cooped up in the towns In
the interior untouched by the rebels,
and the fortified cities on the
coast. Not so with the insurgents, how
ever for this is the appropriate season
for them, as it permits them TO rove un-
molested throughout the country, thus
iustifying their boast that they are the
masters of the field.
As a result Of the climatic change, that
terrible scOurge, yellow-iever. has made
its appearance, and, IL is said, Is playing
havoc to an alarming extent, particu-
Iarlv with the troops. The government
tries to hide the truth, but somehow 1t
manages to leak out. and. although no
accurate data can be obtained, for no
statistics are allowed TO be published,
still IL Is known that the malady has eX-
tended all over the island, and the death
rate is very great. In some places, as
for instance, on the military line, 1t is
known that hundreds have been attacked
By this terrible disease, and that II Is
increasing daily in alarming proportions.
Smallpox has made its appearance also
in many towns and cities, especially IN
Sancu Spiritus and Cienfuegos, in which
latter place ninety-siX deaths occurred
last month, there being 136 cases now on
record.
WEYLER HAS FAILED.
That Weyler has failed in his Cuban
campaign is admitted by everybody, even
by rabld Spaniards His unitness to cope
with the insurgents is manifested daily
No outward demonstrations have been
made yet, but in private conversation de-
nunciations are made of his inability TO
auen the revolution. Spaniards are get
ting Respondent and the emigration Of
their prominent leaders. including their
boss, Santos GuZman, is significant in
showing loss of faith in their cause
which they now consider doomed.
The Madrid papers have already initi-
ated campaign against Weyler. Some
are very bitter i'm their attacks. as for in
stance La Paz. recently started TO defend
the autonomist solution for Cuba. An
other. known as the Ejercito Espanol, has
attracted a great deal OF attention on ac-
count Of its high authority. being the or
gan of General Lopez Dominique. ex-
Minister of War. the ablest general Of the
Spanish army. 1t has published two lead
ing editorials criticising Weyler's tactics
and strongly defending General Barnal
from the charges made against him in
the Cacara-Jicara affair, which is judged
very severely.
The Belmont extradition case is claim
ing some attention here 1t is known on
good authority that the government will
deny the extTadition OF Mendoza, on the
ground that he first committed n crime
here. for which he has 10 be tried first
by the Spanish courts. and II found guilty
suffer the penalty here before handing
him over to the American authorities. 1t
is believed here that no complications will
arise from Spain's refusal to deliver Men
doza. as she is perfectly justified. accord
ing to international law. Prominent law
yers consulted agree on this point