Evening star., 1898-02-03
INSURGENTS WIN VICTORIES.
Pitfnble Plight of Reconcentrado
Described by Cuban Pauer.

By Associated Press
HAVANA, via Key West, Fla. February
3.-Spanish military operations continue
almost paralyzed, the season most favor
able for movements against the insurgents
thus being lost.
On Friday night the insurgents entered
the town OF Artemisa, province of Pinar del
Rio. and plundered several stores Eigh-
teen of the townspeople. joined them. The
governor Of Pinar del Rio sent Jose Men,
endez Diaz as an emissary to the insur-
gent leader, Perico Diaz, with proposals OF
peace and surrender.
The insurgents hung him near a railway
orening, with the governors letter on his
body. Monday night they renewed the at
tack on Artemisa, but were repelled, leav-
ing two killed
After attacking the Contancia plantation
in Santa Clara province, as already cabled,
the insurgents burned immense cane fields.
They burned also very large fields on the
Central plantation La Palma.
In the fight at Vega Alta, in which the
guerrillas were involved, the insurgents
macheted seven gucrrillas and wounded a
ccptain, lieutenant and five privates seri-
ously. In an engagement near Guines the
Spanish loss was a lieutenant, sergeant
and five privates killed and thirteen pri-
Yates wounded.
On Monday night the insurgents attacked
Cayajabos, in the province Of Pinar del
Rio. but were repeled. General Bernal
has left the military operations in that
province. At Holguin, province of Santiago
de Cuba, General Luque is making urgent
requests for provisions, as his soldiers are
without rations Private advices from Gil
bara confirm the report that General Lu-
que's losses at Mejia were more serious
than was officially given out. He lost not
twenty, but one hundred and twenty-four
killed and wounded.
The insurgents under Leader Jose Miguel
Gomez surprised two squadrons of cavalry
on the military trocha near Ciego De Avila
and inflicted considerable loss, including a
Spanish. captain. The remainder of the
Spanish force made q disorderly retreat
to Ciego De Avila.
Mails Are Violated.
Mail matter in the Havana post office
continues to be tampered with. There are
eighteen extra men on duty opening letters
and reading newspapers before delivery.
While European mail matter gets through
all right. correspondence from the United
States. especially from Tampa and Key
West. is most carefully examined.
Letters from Madrid to members of the
opposition party are opened The delivery Of
the mail Is habitually delayed several days.
Newspapers are held much longer and are
often not delivered at all. In many cases let
tiers and valuable packages fail to reach
their destination. the failure causing severe
loss. 1t Is reported that this system of in
spection was prompted by DR.. Jose Congos-
to. the secretary to the government
Great discomfort exists among the Cubans.
as most Of them want to be in the govern
ment employ, and there are not situations
enough for all The number of maIcon-
tents is steadily increasing. La Discussion,
In its leading editorial today, charges the
Cubans with preferring government office
to agriculture or commerce, and 1t points
out that the countries which are foremost
In civilization are those which prefer in
dustrial, commercial and agricultural en-
terprises to the corrupt situations of gov
ernment employees"
Conservatives Are Dixxusted.
Conservatives are more and more dis
gusted with the political doings of a gov
ernment which is cutting them out of pub
lie Office and which in other ways Is SO
utilizing the election machiaery as to keen
them from winning the next elections.
They persist. therefore, in keeping away
from election booths. Moreover thew feel
islation will soon fail completely, owing tc
the inability of the present autonomie
leaders properly to insure the stability OF
public interests.
La Lucha, in a leading editorial which
appeared last Saturday and has since been
reproduced tngenioueiy,- criticises Captain
General Blanco's declaration at ManxaHiils
that peace would be re-established in Cuba
by February ]. The authorities have pro-