The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-24
CUBANS FAR FROM CRUSHED.
NUNEz STILL CLAIMS VICTORY is A
CERTAINTY.

The General Asserts That the Span
iRrds On the Island Now Favor Au-
tOnOmy ON the Ground That II Is
the Only Way In which Cuba Can
BE Saved to Spnln-!The Let Up in
the Sending Out of FiIibusterinG
Expeditions Explained.
Jacksonville, FLA, July 24.-Gen. Emilio
Nunez arrived from Key West to-day.
A prominent western paper lately print
ed the following in a dispatch from Wash
ington: THE movement for Cuban indie
pendence seems to be on the verge of
collapse. This Is the information that
reaches the state department. 1t is fully
confirmed by reports received through
private channels. The movement of fill
clustering expeditions has come almost to
stop. The junta seems to accept the
intention of the administration to open ne
gotations with Spain for autonomy"
Asked with regard to the truth of these
assertions Gen. Nunez said: THE revolu-
ton in Cuba is stronger now than ever
before, and Spain will be compelled to
leave the Island soon If the Canovas gov
eminent does not strike a decisive blow
II have seen recent letters from all of
the Cuban commanders in the field and
each of them speak Of the early success
Of the revolution. From Pinar del Rio,
where our forces suffered more severely
than in any other place on the island,
Gen. Ducasse write as follows; The Span
ish government is endeavoring to create
the impression that this province is paci-
fed, but recently we have had several en-
gagements with the Spaniards. We have
held our positions, while they have been
compelled to retreat with heavy losses.
We have a total of 5000 well drilled and
disciplined men in this province, and all
are in high spirits and loyal to the cause
From Havana Gen. Rodriguez writes
to me, giving assurance that the Span
iards in that province are weaker than
ever before, and that this summers cam
paign will be the last before we shall
achieve our Independence.
II have a statement of the condition of
| the forces in Matanzas province, which
was given to me by Gen. Avelina Rosas.
commander of the Cuban forces of that
province, showing that the forces there
are in better condition to-day than ever
| before.
In regard to the statement that in San
| tiago and Camaguey the Cubans do not
! pay any attention to the war, | can say
with truth that they are paciied, for the
| reason that in the whole territory no
| Spanish soldiers have ever made their APP
| pearance.
80 far as the reports sent out from
! Washington are concerned, to the effect
! that the Cuban cause Is weakening we
| have never expected much from the
| American government, and therefore we
have no reason to be disappointed. We
have never really expected that they
would recognize the bellgerency Of Cuba,
Notwithstanding that we had the right to
| do so, because during the ten years war
we learned the lesson that in a struggle
between a weak people and a strong peo-
pie, the weaker has no right to expect
anything.
whoever says that the Cuban junta
is prepared to accept autonomy from
Spain makes a big mistake. The only
ones who speak about autonomy to-day
as they used to about reforms are the
same Spaniards, who a year ago spoke
about war without mercy for the Gu
bans.
La Lucha, the paper In which Gen.
Weyler used TO make his declarations, has
come to be an autonomist journal. IL
has come to the conclusion that the only
way to save Cuba for Spain Is to give au-
tonomy to the Cubans. The statement
that the Cubans are crying for autonomy
is a mistake. The newspapers have sim
ply put into the mouths of the Cubans
what the Spaniards themselves are cry.
ing for.
THAT we have not sent any expeditions
to Cuba recently Is true, and what In
more, we don't intend to send any until
January, when We will OF course send
more, II not free by that time. There
Is no need of sending any now, for the
army has plenty Of arms and ammunition
with which to carry on the summer cam.
paign."
London, July 24.-The correspondent of
the Daily Chronicle in sagua. La Grande.
province OF Santa Clara, Cuba, writes to
his paper a terrible account Of the condi-
ton OF affairs on the island Both the
government troops and the insurgents, he
says, are suffering horribly from famine
and the ravages OF smallpox and yellow
fever, while butcheries Of prisoners after
inqulsitoral tortures are OF daily occur
renee II the victims be suspected Of with
holding information.
Captain General Weyler, the correspond.
ent says, has shown neither mercy nor
quarter and has turned the campaign In
Cuba into a near approach 10 that OF Duke
Of Alva in Holland in the sixteenth CEN
tury.