The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-18
wEYLERYIELDIN GROUND
TO -EATE THE INBAED OF TWO
PRoHINCES TO THE PATRIOTS.
NE Tells Civilian Committeeman That Ho VII

ne Tells Civilian Committeemen That nc Will
DO His Hest with Their Help. but Cannot
Guarantee Defence and ProtectIon-Gen.
Garcia Hunting In Vain for spanIards-
HAVANA, Sept. 15.-The beginning of the end
OF the Cuban war is undoubtedly the decision
forced upon Con. Weyler by the extraordinary
activity Of the insurgcnt army in the six prov.
incos Of the island TO abandon the inland OF
Puerto Principe and Santiago do Cuba TO the
rovolutionists and concentrate the Spanish
forces at the seaports, where they can be sup
ported by the Spanish navy.
The important military station OF Purnio, in
Santiago dc Cuba province, has been abandoned
by the Spanish troops. The Spanish residents of
Jiguani, Bayamo, and HolQuin, in the SAINT prov
ince, are greatly alarmed by tho prospect Of
being left to the mercy OF the insurgents. In
spite OF tho orders he has received from Mad
rid, not to abandon Bayamo, the Captain.Gen.
cral has replied TO the Spanish merchants of
that town that the most he can promise them
is to do his best without guaranteeing any.
thing.
The convoy that provides Bayamo with food
from Manzanillo twice n month passes between
tho towns OF Peralcjos and BarranCos. which
arc held by the Cuban forces of Gen. Rabi,
who has strongly fortified the route. The
10000 soldiers that Col. Nara dol Rey deemed
necessary n fow weeks ago 10 escort safely with
a Spanish convoy 10 Bayamo would not now DO
enough, $4,000 or 90, 900 being needed at pres,
ent. Even this force requires twelve days for
tho trip and is often exhausted by fighting.
One OF the last escorts lost 800 men. \ Cuban
writes from Bayamo describing the arrival OF
one Of these conveys:
1T Is u wonder how those poor Spanish sol
dicrs can endure so many hardships. Those who
are born In spain and arc not Injured to the
climate get here in a miserable state of sick
ness. Seldom is one OF them able to make this
trip twice. The burning heat Of eastern Cuba
and the hardship OF a march without halt from
Manzanillo. with firing every half hour &c
answer tho vollcys OF the insurgents, are
enough to ruin the health OF the strongest mar
from Europe. The soldiers have several time:
protested against the duty imposed on them, con
tending that their own lives were AS worthy o
consideration as those Of the inhabitants o
Bayamo. But after all, when the order to star
IS given them, they take their places in tn,
herd with that admirable endurance which
makes SO remarkable the unpaid, ill.fed. anc
yet blindly loyal Spanish soldier.
~ few days ago q poor private from Galicia
only Is years old. arrived with the Spanish
column, and on entering the streets Of Bay m
fell senseless TO the ground. He was carrie,
to the little dirty military hospital OF the tow
and the next day he died, after n sudden at
tack Of madness. in which. holding a bayonet
he ran amuck, killing two guards. / askct
the surgeon. a sensible Spaniard. what the sol
der really died OF. and he answered: From tn,
crime which Spain commits in sacrificing tn,
best Of her youth in this devastating war"
But the crime cannot be III mucl
longer. because tho to. 900 soldiers required t
maintain the Spanish POSITIONS in the east ar