Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. ls-General Weyler
continues to advance into Santa Clara
province. The rebel forces are retiring into
the province of Puerto Principe. General
Weyler's columns are destroying all OF the
resources Of the enemy found in their
path and heavy clouds OF black
smoke point out the route OF the troops.
All Of the huts along the line OF march
have been burned and their peasant occu-
pants ordered to live in the towns. Misery
and famine prevail throughout the district
OF San Domingo and far to the eastward.
General Hernandez Velasco has had two
engagements with the Cuban leader, Cara
guao in the the Empress Hills, and also at
Brujo, in the Pinar del Rio province, in both
OF which the rebels were defeated. The
troops seized the Cuban armory on Caobka
Hill, in the prefecture Of Pillar Diaz, killing
the commandment, Captain Alcosta.
MADRID, Spain, Feb. lS-The duke OF
Tetuan, minister Of foreign affairs, has re-
ceved from Senior Depuy de LONE. the
Spanish minister to the United States,
telegram stating that President Cleve-
land, Secretary Olney and all of
the other principal public men OF the
United States regard the reforms for Cuba
ment as ample. Minister de LONE adds
that the Cuban question may be considered
as dead so far as the United States congress
and public opinion are concerned. Presi-
dent-eect Mckinley Is also believed to re-
gard the reforms favorably.
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 1S-The Diaro de
Ia Marina eulogizes Ex-Governor John ID.
Long OF Massachusetts,, who has been named
as secretary OF the navy in the cabinet of
President-elect Mckinley, for the stand
which he has taken in favor OF Spain In her
war against the Cuban insurgents and against
Intervention by the United States in the
Cuban trouble.
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 19-An engagement
occurred between the Spanish troops on
route from Arroyo Blanco to Ciego Avila, and
General Gomez was wounded in the leg, and
the horse upon which he was mounted was
killed. The directors of the Spanish bank
have resolved to order the importation from
New York Immediately of a sum of specie,
80 that 20 and 10-cent bills will circulate.
Senior Gonzals Leserde was shot on Tues
day.
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 19-Forces under
Gomez are besieging the town OF Arroyo
Blanco, situated between Sancti Spiritus and
Selyo do vola. The active work is confded
to Gen. Francisco Carrillo, who, with the in
IanCfy regiment OF hemeQlOS ana tne uyna-
mite gun, directed by Mr.. Fredericks. have
taken their position around the town.
The garrison and inhabitants are cut of
from all cOmmup ;o~tion, vAUOpG w Cno nellO-
,,rn nh t."or, Situated on the summit of a
Righ hill to the south of the town. The
town Is defended by IA forts, garrisoned by
about $50 Spanish regulars under Captain
Escobar The majority of the inhabitants,
numbering In all about 1000, are families OF
Cubans, who are at present with the insur-
gents.
General GARLIC has sent note to the
mayor advising him that he is about to open
fire with the dynamite gun. According to
the rules OF civilized warfare, he has also
sent permit for all the non-combatants,
men. women and children, to be allowed q
safe passage from the besieged town. The
Spanish ambassador has answered that
not soul will be allowed to leave
the place, and that the Cubans
may commence the bombardment when they
please. and II he is to die, everybody must
share the same fate. This attitude might
be considered heroic If all the inhabitants
shared the same opinion, but the majority
OF them are pleading to be allowed to
be placed outside the lines. General
Gomez is greatly incensed at the con-
duct OF the Spanish commander and II
they take the latter prisoner his body will
probably hang from some tree. Although
Spanish officer, Escobar is a Cuban by birth,
and this fact will go hard against him II he
should fall into the hands Of the insurgents.