The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-08
WEARS AND NOTHING
GAINED.
New York Tribune.)

Let lis take from Spanish sources the
news of recent fighting in Cuba and see
what it means.
1t Lucia. a Havana newspaper that
, rdentlv supports Span, reports a bas-
tie IN the Province Of Puerto Principe
on Feb. IS and 19. The Spanish troops,
numbering 2.4OO infantry and 4U cas-
airy were commanded by Gen. JlmlneZ
Costellanos. The insurgents numbered
3.uoJ. According to the ofhclal dlspatcil
printed by La Lucha the insurgents LETT
EIGHT y-seven dead on the held, several
officers being among the siam. Inc
Spaniaris lost one officer anu seven sol
d.ers killed, and three officers and sew
enty-three soldiers were wounded. IheE
captured from the insurgents many
weapons, 4 large quantity OF ammunl-
ton, and thirty-nine horses.
That must have been a lively engage
ment. If the official dispatch tells the
truth, the Spanish troops fought bravely
against slightly superior numbers and
repulsed the foe. From unofficial sources
the report comes that two determined
cavalry charges We're made by the Gu
bans. and that the losses We're about
equal; also that there has been q great
deal of fighting in the east Of late, and
tina the insurgents held fortified posi-
tons along the road leading east from
Santiago de Cuba. But we will lea We
that out Of the reckoning, and stick to
la Lucha's official dispatches.
What does the official report show:
1t shows that three years after the be-
| ginning of the Cuban insurrection the
insurgents are still able to put an army
OF 1900 men in the field, we'll equipped
with weapons, ammunition, and horses,
as is proved by the Spanish reports of
captured war material. They were in
such spirits and under such disciplin"
that they fought with great courage and
determination. That is Shown by the
fact that the fighting lasted two days.
And the insurgent army lives to fight
another day. 1t was not captured or de-
strOycd. That is one of the most i'm
portant of the facts we AVE to consider.
And this is not the only army the in
surgents have in the field.
The nature of the showing is not al
tered by the probability that the two
days fighting consisted Of a series Of en-
gagements along the route of the Span
lsh army's march, successive bands of in
surgents being encountered in thea way
side strongholds. The fact that these
5000 rebsl fought the Spaniards two
u".S div IL dIlNe dIu 1T large 10 USuJ
them again us the serious one for
Bianco and the government. "
AT this rate when will Spain finish put
ting down the insurrection? Never.
The least intelligent observer can4tsee
that She is as far from it as ever. Those
who are specially familiar with condi-
tons on the island say the Cubans arc
stronger than ever. The Spaniards are
certainly less strong, less confident, less
free to pursue the rebels, and less ca pa
Die of suhduing them than they were
when their troops were more numerous
and less disaffected. bf
The Spanish newspapers are almost
frantlca1ly calling on the government to
push operations against the rebels IT as
the only means of averting intervention
by the United States. The luckless De
LONE wrote that all depended on the sol.
dlers In CHba-they must strike a de-
c-slvc blow or the game was up. But
Spain can strike no decisive blow. .IShe
can do nothing more than she has done.
She will go on Intellectually pecking al
the armed insurgents. burning houses,
and butcherlng prisoners meanwhile il
order TO make some showing of blood
and destruction, and her people are FER
r. lncensed at the suggestion that W.
may step in to wrench her neryeIess
hand from the throat of Cuba!
In three years she has had her full on.
portunity, has done all that she can do
all that she ought to be allowed TO at.
tempt.