The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-29
b VICTORIES.
Tho Patriots Are Doing as They Please Even
whiting sight or Havana.

HAVANA. Nov. 81, via Key West, Nov. 2e.-
Reports from Santiago de Cuba province have
been received here to tho effect that the i'm
portant Spanish fort at Poloalto, between Tunas
de casa and Jucaro, surrendered to the patriots
a fow days ago after q short engagement in
which only one Spanish soldier was killed and
two wounded. After the first volley of tho
Cubans the Spanish gave up the fort with their
rifles. ammunition, and artillery. Tho whole
garrison. composed Of $50 men, surrendered,
but the prisoners were released by the insur-
gents two hours later. The Cubans belonged to
n detachment Of Gen. Calixto Garcia's army.
Fear of the use of dynamite by the patriots is
said to have been the cause of the speedy sur
render of the Spanish.
Near the town of Auras. Santiago do Cuba
province. a train WAS blown up with dynamite
by the patriots on Nov. %. Tho same day the
insurgents destroyed the track Of the Spanish
military railroad ut Piedra Picada.
The war is very lively in Matanzas. Havana,
and Pinar del Rio provinces. an average of
thirty engagements being reported daily.
The insurgent bands are swarming around
Havana city. They approach Marianao. Guiana
bacoa, Rcgla. Jesus del Monte. and FL Cerro,
neighboring towns, the first three being suburbs
OF the capital, and secure ammunition and
v~ictuals.
The general impression here 10 that autonomy
will be IA failure. and that it will never be car.
ried into effect on the liberal terms offered. The
signature of the Queen and the resolutions of
the Cabinet mean nothing to the vast majority
OF skeptics in Havana, who remember that the
reforms OF hbarZuZa were also signed by tho
Queen. and the reforms of Canovas were agreed
To by his Cabinet, but they were never carried
into effect. a clandestine sheet is in circulation
here that says:
Before McKinley's message-great and fair
promises: but after that danger Is over we shall
see ourselves in as bad u condition rs before"
La Luchd prints to-day a sensational editorial
and some cable dispatches from Madrid, which
increase these ,pessimistic Impressions. The
dispatches say that tho Government has decided
TO leave untouched the delicate md important
matter of the debt, now over $500. 900, 900, and
it is to remain on the shoulders of poor Cuba.
The editorial says that Don German GamaZo,
the powerful leader In Spain of an important
autonomist schemes OF the Government. and
with his great influence. 1t Is certain that he
will In Parliament a large number of
vo ers and hinder all the plans OF Senior Sa-
gasta.'
With regard to the people in Cuba La Lucha
control the e~xcitable temper of the loyalist
Spaniards. we shall see things here like those
which the Spanish hero El Cid saw. and which,
according to the legend, were SO wonderful that
they made the stones talk"
1t has been generally understood that the
popular Newspaper refers to the threats of re-
volt among the Union Constitutional party in
case autonomy amounts to anything more than
O paper pronunciamento.
The same journal continues Its campaign
the United States Government Is not sincere in
Its dealings with Spain and Is aiming at the
annexation of Cuba under the protence of inter
fering TO bring about peace on the island.