The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-26
GOLD In PLACE OF STEEL
GENERAL BLASIC'S EFFORTS TO
BRIDE CUBA> LEADERS.
He Sends . Liberated Suspect to General
kabps Army, Furnished With u Large
Sum Of Gold TO Induce the Onac~rs so
Surrender-The Venture Uusuccssstul.
Three ex>Le .ders Refuse Similar Mis-
Preparing for - Bold
Stroke.

Three ~x>L. .ders Refuse Similar Mis.
sions-Cubans Preparing for y Bold
Stroke.
Havana. via Key West. Fla, November
22.-GeneraI Pando started by train from
this city Saturday last. in order, accord
ing to the official announcement, to take
charge Of the campaign against the in
surgents. He was accompanied by his
full staff and was escorted by a compan
OF artillery. But it is stated on very
good authority that General Pando has
been commanded by Marshal Blanco. the
| captain general, to enter into
cation with the insurgent leaders with
the view of arranging for peace. This
| statement is based on an accurate knowl-
! edge of all the facts in the case. Gen
eral Pando did not leave this city until
he had taken steps calculated to further
the object which Marshal Blanco has in
view.
General Pando, after a consultation
with the captain general. first brought
about the release from confinement Of
Damian Cabaliero, who has been i'm
prisoned on the Isle of Pines for some
time past, for, it is alleged, acting as a spy
for the insurgents and bringing about a
disaster for the Spanish troops at Cacao.
province of Santiago de Cuba. General
Pando furnished Caballero, who is the
godfather of Rabi, and looked upon him
as being the backbone of the insurgent
movement in the province of Santiago de
Cuba, with a considerable sum Of money
an3 caused him to be landed at Manza-
Milo, province of Santiago de Cuba,
where a good horse was placed at his
disposal. General Pando's peace ennis
sary was also furnished with Official
documents N nnUarinr him RI oat ~,
behalf of the Spanish commander and
from Manzanillo Caballero made his way
secretly to the Jiguani hills, where Cap
tain Rabi has his ~haadquarters. Jiguani
is not far from Bianamo, which is con-
nected by rail with M~anzanillo, and
Bayamo is about half way between
Manzanillo and Honquin. The latter
place is connected by rail with the port
OF Gibara, on the northern coast of the
province of Santiago de Cuba. Manza-
Milo is situated on the great bay of
Buena ESperanza, OF the eastern coast
of Santiago de Cuba. General Pando in
structed CaballerO, to offer General Rabi
a high rank in the Spanish army and a
large sum Of money, to be distributed
that part of Cuba, and, in addition, a
large amount of money for himself, in
the event of his succeeding in arranging
terms for peace. Beside this, Caballero
was instructed to inform the insurgent
leaders that the Spanish authorities
undertook to honestly establish the new
autonomist regime if the leaders of the
insurgents would accept the proposition
made them. .
Although Caballero has not returned
from Santiago de Cuba, confidential adj
vices which reach the Spanish officials
here seem to Indicate that CabaIlero has
so far been unsuccessful. 1t is added that
previous to leaving Manzanillo for the in
terror Of Santiago de Cuba, the agent of
General Pando obtained a letter of in
PRODUCTION from a well known merchant,
SeNOr Soils of M1nZani1IO To General DIN
Valon, the French leader OF the insur-
gents, with the view of inducing the
latter, as well as Rabi, to enter into
negotiations with the Spanish authorities
looking to a peace settlement and the
acceptance of the autonomist form of
government proposed by Spain for Cuba.
Caballero, in due course of time, arrived
safely at the camp of General Rabi,
where the i%nsurgent leader had been sup
porting Caballero's family while he was
in prison. But the arguments of General
Pandos agent have not apparently had
the effect hoped for by the Spanish au-
thorities, for it is understood General
Rabi has replied hat he believes a
successful ending of the war in favor
Of the insurgents is approaching: that
the Cubans, with the aid of the United
States, will gain their independence, and
that. therefore,, he prefers to continue
fighting the Spaniards until the final
victory is won.
There seems to be no information as
to the result of Caballero's negotiations
with General duValon, although it may
be judged, from the attitude assumed by
General Rabi that the peace negotiations
are likely to fall fiat in. Santiago de
Cuba.
General Pando in the meantime, acting
after consultation with Marshal Blanco,
has put other irons in the fire in the nope
of prevailing upon the insurgents to come
to terms. He has been and is still in ne
gotiation with three leaders of the Cuban
revolution, and has been e~ndeavoring to
induce them to go to different insurgent
camps, there to use their influence to
BRING about peace, on the promise of
Cuba being accorded a really autonomous
form Of government. These three men
were also offered money for themselves
and were to have been furnished with
large sums to distribute among their
friends. But it is understood they nave
hitherto declined to become agents of
General Pando, alleging as their excuses
that they have no influence with the
insurgent leaders of the present day and
that they would be risking their lives if
they ventured into the insurgent camps.
In some quarters it is believed that
this reluctance to accept the Overtures of
General Pando is due to the fact that
strong step in their favor when the
United States congress meets. 1t is gen.
orally admitted that General Pando is
somewhat mortified at the n~on-success
informed the three ex-insurgent leaders
referred to, that he doubts their sin
certify 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 the
efforts the latter were making to bring
about a peaceful settlement of the
troubles. The Cubans referred to pro-
tested that they were sincere and re-
peated the excuses they had already
made for their noncompliance with the
requests Of the Spanish general. The lat
ter, although somewhat disappointed,
will, it is understood continue his efforts
to come to an understanding with the
insurgents and the military authorities
believe the best way to do so is to in
fiict upon the enemy a signal defeat.
which General Pando hopes to accom-
plish.
On the other hand it is believed the in
surgents have similar plans. though
from an opposite direction and with a
totally different object in view. If cur
rent reports among the friends of the
insurgents are to be believed. the revolu-
tionary leaders hope to strike a decisive
blow at Spain before congress meets, as
an encouragement to their friends in the