The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-04
CUBANS JOYFUL.
Enthusiastic Over a Reported Split
Among the Spaniards at Cuba.
GREAT Distribution At HABANA.
Report Of Marin's Victories
Believed to Be Carbled.

New YORK, Feb. 4.-The nows brought
TO this city yesterday by the Habana
steamer was cheering for the friends OF
Cuban liberty. The letters Of the secret
agents OF the revolutionary party In Ha.
4 bana spoke OF n split among the Spanish
parties on the island; OF jealousies among
the military; OF starvation In the city, and
of n crisis In the commercial situation.
IL. G.. Pierra translated ono OF the most
important letters. Parts of IL were as fol.
lows:
There is a very decided division between
the Conservative and Roformist parties OF tho
Spanlards, and they are pouring hot shot into
each others ranks through the columns OF tho
press. As a proof of this, I send you tho
papers OF the Conservative party, in which the
editorials are written In a particularly bitter
strain against their former allies. The Re
formist party were In favor Of the mild policy
of Campos. while tho Conservatives believe In
fire and bloodshed. The situation Is n most
critical one, and no one recognizes this fact
better THAI the Spaniards.
Tho excitement in Habana Is increased by
the fact that the governments does not allow
any news 20 he printed except that given out
from the official bureau. Spaniards as well as
Cubans know that the better part of the news
given out is fabrication.
The correspondent then goes on to detail
several engagements, In one OF which q
whole troop OF 300 Spaniards were ami
Inflated. The news given out, however,
was OF a tremendous spanish victory. Ho
then goes on TO say:
The price OF provisions Is rising very
rapidly, and distribution in Habana IL increas
ing rapidly. A great many families are now
dependant for subsistence ON what the gov.
eminent gives them-a small amount weekly.
There have been times within the past few
days when there has not been provisions OF
any kind to be bought at tho public market.
Even those having money to spend. have been
forced TO go hungry. Nothing has been rv
csived from the surrounding country for o
long time.
Another circumstance which aggravates
matters Is tAe fact well known 10 everybody
on the island that there Is very great discon.
tent known to exist among the military
friends of General Pando, whom, they think,
was sighted by tho government at Madrid In
appointing General Weyler TO the position
formerly filled by General Campos.
1t is well known that this part OF tho Spanish
element are far from being willing TO cooper
ate with those who are favorable 20 Weyler.
ard that they VIII do anything they may safely
do 70 make him fail. On the whole everything
looks very bad for the Spaniards.> Pay no at
tention TO the cable dispatches in regard TO the
movements OF Generals Gomez and Maceo. l
know for a certainty that they have been
operating with entire freedom, and that they
have remained In Habana and Pinar del Rio
because they ara not in tae least afraid Of
being worsted by the spaniards.
In another letter IL is stated that the
commercial situation I'm Habana is criti-
cal. Business is paralyzed, and large
commercial houses are dismissing their
employees. Business men are anxious
tina the trouble should be ended one way
or the other without loss of time.
FROM the Seat of War.
HABANA, Feb. 4-Gencral Marin has
had an engagement with a body Of the in
surgents, which he reports TO be the main
force under Gomez, and which wero put to
flight, with a loss of 20 killed. The en-
tire absence OF any details Of tho number
OF insurgents in the body attacked. leaves
some ground for doubt as TO whether they
were, In truth, Gomez's Immediate follow
ing.
Pretty much the whole OF the combined
columns under General Marin, including
100 cavalry, seums 80 have been engaged.
This force were equipped with q special
visw TO running down and cornering the In
surgcnts Wien once they should come face
to face with them, and great expectations
were founded on its supposed ability to
do this. But The report OF yesterdays en-
gagement, although IL indicates that the
Spanish attack was made with great dash
and vigor. seems to indicate that the in
surgents were ms successful in evading the
Spanish forces as they have been ct any
time heretofore.
General Marin had information that
Gomez had encamped at the plantation of
Luz, and prepared for n combined attack
by all the columns under his Immediate
command. Two columns were ordered to
tala tho odNanro tnnofhpr with sayan
squadrons under Colonel Ruiz. Upon
coming up with the insurgent vanguard,
the Spanish made an impetuous charge,
passing over the enemy's second line and
falling upon the main force, which were
stationed near the plantation OF Luz.
The insurgents were put TO immediate
flight, leaving behind them 20<killed, IL
with machetcs i'm their hands. There was
apparently no successful pursuit OF the
insurgents, as they succeeded in carrying
off their wounded, the number of which
is stated to bo unknown. Several prison
ers were taken, and the loss OF the troops
is said to be Insignificant.
1t is also reported that the columns of
General Cornell, operating In combination
with those under Generals Linires and
Aldecoa, are In pursuit of u numerous
and of insurgents, near Artemisa, which
are supposed 70 DC Alaceo main force.
This band are said 20 be striving To effect n
junction with Gomez, aud they seem In n
fair way 10 do so, rs there is no apparent
check In their advance along the southern
coast of Plnar del Rio. The reported dis
position Of tine troops was such as To pre-
vent the advance of Maceo, and was not
such as TO make any pursuit of him neces-
sary, the plan being 10 await his coming.
1t is also reported that the troops have
killed 10 ferocIous m~ulattoa who has led a
BAND of assassins n woman violators, te
the terror OF a whole district.