The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20
SPANS LAST CARD.
Autonomists Making Another Effort
to Secure Peace in Cuba.
PRACTICAL ARMlSTlCE IS DECL AIRED.
Generals Pando aud Calixto Garcia
to Hold a Conference.
GEN. GOMEZ NAY BE PRESENT
Formal Offer Of Autonomy Viii Be
the Basis OF Discussion.
THE VOLUNTEERS TO BE DlSBANDED.
Cubn II to Make Her own Treaties
and No Insurgents Arc to BE Pun
ished or Deported.
Formal Offer Of Autonomy Mil Be
the Basis Of Discussion.
THE VOLUNTEERS TO BE DlsBANDED.

Havana, March 19--Nia Key West, Fla.
news has Just reached this correspondent
from authoritative sources that the autono.
mist government. hacked by the military
authorities here and at Madrid, is now
playing it's last card to secure peace In
cuba and prevent Intervention on the part
oil the United States. Near Palo Proto and
VIA Jacas Gordasa in the province of Santa
| Cara, ON the west side of Jucaro- Moron
| trocha, are gathered eeveral thousand in
surgen's under command of General Caiix-
| 10 Garcia and other prominent generals
accompanied by Senior Masso president of
the Cuban republic. with several members
| OF his cabinet Also on the west side Of
the trocha. in the district of Sancti Spiri-
| tus more than thirty miles distant from
General Garcias forces, are stationed
ZOO insurgents under Generals Pancho,
Parella, Monteaguado, Lancliez, Legion and
Gonzales. The Spanish commander Gen.
eral Pando. with General Ramirez, Chauyez
and other generals is within a few miles
OF General C2lixto Garcia, General Gomez
is west of the Jucaro- Moron trocha within
easy reach.
All the insurgent generals, President
Masso and the insurgent officials with
General Garcia broke through General
Pandos line and the latter gave up the
campaign, which was to b, grand mill
tary coup de grace in the province of San
tiago de Cuba or province Of Puerto PTln-
cipe. But in addition to passing through
the trocha the insurgents turned General
Pando's flank. 1t is just possible that this
Hank movement was winked at by General
Pardo for the purpose OF attempting 10
carry out his Interior political purpose.
Spch was the position Of all concerned
when the last adviccs were received at the
palace in Havana. General Pando has or
dered a practical arrnistice in the eastern
part OF Cuba and 1t is stated succinctly as
follows:
To have a conference with General
Garcia, President Masso, and other insur-
gents and even with General Gomez il
possible and to make them a formal orfeI
OF autonomy according to the programme
drawn up by the left or radical wing CT that
party.
As previously cabled. the officers include
in return for the undoirg of the insurrec-
ton the disarmament and disbantling OF all
volunteers commercial treaties to be con-
Garcia. President Maso and other jnsur-
volunteers; commercial traties to be con.
cluded without Spanish Interference
Spain by Cuba, as the latter's nominal
suzerain; no insurgents to be shot or i'm
prisoned on account OF the Instruction
and no insurgents TO he sent as prisoners
out of Cuba for future political offensss.
The adyices received here are in sub
stance that General Pando felt confident of
securing the conference while General
Blanco, Secretary General Congosto and
the Spanish officers of high rank and many
radical members OF the autoromist gov
eminent felt sure that the proposition,
being the best ever offered and assuring
practical Independence, would be accepted;
that the rebellion would be declared at nm
end and that consequently all excuse tor
the Intervention by the United States
would be ended.
Such views, however. we're not he'd
when this dispatch was sent by those hes.
acquainted with General Garcia nor by
tho Spanish Cuban merchants, bankers,
editors or lawyers. the best class in Ho-
yana. The latter were sure that nothing
but the proposition Of Monte Crsto 1.-The
granting OF an indemnity to Spain but al.
he considered by General Gomez or any Of
his principal followers.
In support OF the latter view 1t is 0ff
cially announced that after the effort near
Manzanilo only two privateg Of Salvador
Ruiz's band surrendered.
II is known besides that Pando, in order
IN advance his plans for proposed cam
paign In Santiago de Cuba. greatly wtak-
Led all the trochas, taking from them sew
eraI thousand men and much artillery
IL is regarded as certain in well inform
ed circles here that Generals Gomez ami
Garcia. after refusing 70 confer with Cen
oral Pando or II theysdo confer after re-
f,ring the terms offered will take sufh-
ejert cattle and provisions from the COM
zfN 10 n "a IL
stely west and then iraugurate raid on
the provinces OF MeAanzpsg Havana and
niobably Pinar del Incorporating nea- here
within fifteen or eighteen days, which Il
considered possible.
Letters received here from prominent
autonomists In the provinces OF Santa
clara and Puerto Principe have been shown
10 this correspondent The writer's are not
favorable 10 the United States: they still
cling to the theory OF autonomy and class
Is false the assertions that the Spanis'i
soIdiers are unpaid ard unfed and living
IN .owre, while their officers are consp.r-
irg against the autonomist government and
refuse to take the field either denying the
presence of the insurgents or saying "Lst
The troops who are In favor Of autonomy
fight its battles"
Other letters from the came source insist
that all the plans laid TO secure the sur
render OF the insurgents have been badly
conceived and poorly executed. These let
tiers add that only in isolated instances
have any 81 the insurgents laid down
their arms and the insurgent leader Mssso
who surrendered It IL still further assert
I'd was prescribed by General Gomez ana
Nag ltabie to lie tried BIZ court martial
while OF the Insurgents who surrendered
viii him more than half were back vita
the insurgents within q fortnight
The general opinion seeps TO be that
the Pando conference will be the end Of
autonomy and the met sanguine aEGe-f