The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-25

1hu the MOSL thtehSc flhthusLaS1h IS
 Displayed Among the Troops-PeOpIe
 Accustomed to the American Blockade
 The Number of Free Kitchens for
 Feeding the Poor Increased-Thc Att
 tack on ManzanilIo.
 Nrom q Spanish Correspondent)
 Havana, July 23-Oelayed in trans
 misison)--In accordance with the de-
 sire of the inhabitants to defend Ha-
 vana to the last against the attacks of
 the American forces the city has lately
 been converted into a Sebastopol and
 Malakoff. Great animation reigns in
 the city, and the most intense enthu-
 siasm is displayed among the regular
 troops and the volunteers. Military
 exercises and drills are being held con-
 stantly All the forces express a desire
 to measure arms with the invaders and
 determination to sell their lives dear
 ly, if necessary, in defense of the hon
 or of their country. Judging from the
 words and acts of the troops, it would
 be difficult to find soldiers more willing
 than those in Havan to suffer and
 even to give their lives as if they were
 of no value when yielded in defense of
 their country.
 After several days continuous rainfall
 the whole island is again experiencing
 the overpowering effects of the tropical
 sun, which enervates even the strong
 est persons and causes the spread of
 yellow fever, smallpox, dysentery and
 other diseases common to the rainy
 season. Hayana's people have become
 accustomed to the effects of the Ameri-
 can blockade and are tired of watching the movements of the blockading fleet, which previously formed one of their
 chief distractions, and now the parks
 are again frequented by the inhabitants
 and the various places of amusement are filling up. At most of the theaters patriotic plays are presented, contain ing references to the war with the United States, the allusions to the conflict invariably calling forth applause
 from both men and women At the Great Tacon theater the production of
 La Dame aux Camelias" and ''Marg.
 eta of Borgena," by a company whose leading lady is Senaro Luisa Marines Casado, Cuban woman of great beau ty, is drawing large audiences from
 the best classes of society. The attend ance of ladies at the churches is very large and many elegant and rich toil- cites are to be seen on Sundays on Obispo street, exciting the admiration
 of strangers visiting the capital.
 General Parade, the second in com-
 mand in Cuba, recently gave a break fast in honor of the Russian army and navy officers, Colonel J. DeLinsky and Lieutenant Pondoimoff, and the Swed- ish artillery captain, George Bond, who came to Cuba to join the Spanish army for the purpose of studying the war
 These officers attract great attention wherever they appear owing to their height and their handsome uniforms and the many decorations they wear. A report from Manzanillo under date of July 21 said the Americans had landed troops near that place and that it was believed it was their intention toattack the town simultaneously by
 land and sea. A telegram from Admiral Manterola, the naval commander at | Havana, from the port commander at Manzanillo, also dated July 21 says the force landed by the Americans opened | fire on the town on the night of the 20th instant, but that the American ships, | which made an attack on the lSth were l not seen again. The port commander | also reported that detachment of | Spainish sailors were quartered near Manzanillo. News was received on the morning of July 22 at general head quarters that Manzanillo had not been | attacked again and that the spanish troops were still at their places and were filled with enthusiasm. All pos l sible measures had been taken to rem
 der Manzanillos defenses more effec- tive.
 | At about g o'clock on the 9th of July | a ship was sighted off Havana with her lights burning. She was not fired upon, but when about two and a half miles | off the port a searchlight was turned | on her and she immediately withdrew, disappearing in the offing. A band of
 insurgents recently went to the railroad bridge at Arroyo Hondo, near Candela- ria. in the province of Pinar del Rio, and despite the opposition of the gar
 rison of the fort placed a dynamite 1 bomb under the bridge, exploding 1t | and blowing up the structure.
 | The free kitchens for the poor estab-
 1ished in Havana. the nuroer of which
 is being steadily incl easet, feed thou sands of destitute persons, and more 1 than ever before are shown the char iteble sentiments of a city whose gen. erositv has always been prove~bial.
 The commercial establishments of the | city are continually making donations for this work, and the government of 1 CaDtain General Blanco has sanctioned
 the expenditure of large sums of money | to relieve the prevailing distress. The i insurgents are reduced to the utmost in i the provinces of Santa Clara, Matan-
 gas. Havana and Pinar del Rio, where | the railroad trains are moving as in
 normal times, and give very little proof
 of their existence. Official reports pub 1 fish only accounts of unimportant skir- | mishing except in Pinar del Rio prov i ince, where the insurgents continue l their savage tactics.
 | It is reported here that the insurgents | on the 18th inst. made an attack upon | the Managuas fort, Havana province, | and that after general firing lasting