The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-23
be risking their lives if they ventured

| United States Congress meets. 1t is
generally admitted that General Pando
| is somewhat mortified at the non sue
cess of his plans up to the present, and
| has Informed the three eX-insurgent
| leaders referred to that he doubts their
sincerity and he indirectly gave them to
understand that he was of the opinion
that they were opposed to the sovereign
ty of Spain over Cuba and had no desire
! to assist the Spanish authorities in their
| efforts, the latter was making to bring
| about a peaceful settlement of the trou-
| bles. The Cubans referred to pro-
| tested that they were sincere and re-
| peated the excuses they had already
made for their non compliance with the
| requests Of the Spanish general. The
| latter, although somewhat disappointed,
| will, it is understood, continue his ef-
| forts to come to an understanding with
| the insurgents and the military authori-
| ties believe the best way to do this is
! to inflict upon the enemy a signal de-
feat, which Gen. Pando hopes to accom-
| plish.
On the other hand, it is believed the
insurgents have similar plans. though
from an opposite direction and with
totally different object in view. If cur
rent reports among the friends of the
Insurgents are to be believed, the revol-
utionary leaders hope to strike a deci-
sive blow at Spain before Congress
meets, as an encoura cement to their
friends in the United States who are
urging recognition upon the part of the
United States government of the bellig-
erancy of the insurgents of Cuba.
DR. Jose Congosto, formerly Spanish
consul at Philadelphia, and now Secreta-
/ ry General ofCuba, is continuing to lose
ground in public favor as a result of
some extraordinary statements which he
has made to Spaniards here. Senior
Santos Guzman considers himself and
his family much insulted by certain re-
marks Of DR.. Congosto, and it is said
that the new Secretary General has not
heard the last of the affair.
Regarding political utterances, a state
ment made by Marshal Blanco shortly
after his arrival here is being much com
! mented upon. 1t seems that when the
superior Of a ro':@ior's order. residing
at fTus sss~4-, t.s city. called up
on tisucw captain generalin orderto
welcome him to Cuba, Marshal Blanco,
during the course of the conversation
which followed said:
"Onif divine providence is able to
save Cuba"
Whereupon the distinguished priest re-
torted:
IF we must confde only in divine
providence and have no other means 10
CONQUER the insurgents, then we are
lost"
The sympa thizers with the insurgents
have been making considerable capital |
out Of This incident claiming that the
remark Of the Captain General indicates
that he has no faith in the success of
: his mission.
Further proof of this state of mind
upon the part Of Marshal Blanco ap-
pears to be furnished in a statement
which Is attributed to him when he re-
plled to the welcome of the merchants
association. Upon that occasion the
Captain General is said to have asserted !
that Spain could keep up the fighting
untli after April next. and if by that
time the Spaniards were unable to re-
store peace at any price, he (Marshal
Blanco) would return to Spain.
incidentally this sentiment is credited
TO several other generals who have ar
rived here recently from Spain.
The answer of the insurgents to Mar |
shal Blanco's decree favoring the re-
sumption of grinding sugar cane has
been the cause of burning of immense
cane fields in the sugar district of this !
province in the neighborhood of San
Feline.
Very shortly after the previous dis
patch regarding the peace negotiations
or Gen. Pando was closed, it became
known that two of the prominent insur-
gent leaders referred to as having been
in communication with the Spanish
commander, had been induced to start
for Manzanillo, in another effort to in
duce the insurgent leaders of Santiago
de Cuba to arrange for peace on the |
basis OF autonomy being granted Cuba.
Official dispatches from Matanzas an
nounce the release of Sonora De Roca. |
mother of the insurgent Josee De Roca, |
and several other prominent people who
have been imprisoned there for some
time past.
A fire at O'Clock yesterday morning
DESTROYED eight houses, two drug stores |
and the post and telegraph offices at
Corallilo, province of Santa Clara.
zen. Pando has arrived at Matanzas,
mas visited the hospitals there and has |
ordered the distribution of one thousand |
rations Of food daily to the "reconcen-
trated" people.
Later in the day particulars were re-
the surrender to the authorities in the |
province OF Pinar del Rio, of the insur-
gents belonging to what is know as the
"Cuervo band"
La Lucha, in an editorial to-day. |
says that in spite of all the proofs of
friendship Spain has given the United |
States in manner without precedence
IN history, she has not received in ex-
change from the government of the
republic anything signifying the purpose
of that government to put a stop to the |
departure of flibustering expeditions
from the United States.
Continuing, La Lucha says, the more
Spain yields the greater enthusiasm
will be manifested by the American poo-
pie in favor Of the ''separatists." ex-
plaining, however, that this is not out |
of love for the Cubans, but in the in |
terests Of American agitators.
Much has been written against the |