The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-29
CUBAN GOVERNMENTS
 OFFER OF CLEMENCY RESULT THUS FAR NOT WHAT WAS HOPED OR EX-
 PECTED.

Citizens Generally Unwilling 10 Predict
 Its Results-Criticized Especially In
 Many Quarters Because It Does Not
 Fix Time Limit for Laying Down
 of Arms-Respectful Opinions of the
 Size of the Insurgent Force.
 Havana. Aug. 2S-In the absence of news of fighting between government and insurgent forces to-day interest centers in the government offer of clenency to those of its enemies who will lay down their arms and return to their homes. While the press and pub lie regard the offer as an important in- cident of the conflict, the result thus far has not been what the government seemed to anticipate. Citizens general ly are unwilling to predict its results, and it is criticised especially in many quarters because it does not fix time limit for the laying down of arms thus giving the insurgents time to test their cause a while longer and still reserve the opportunity to quit when they are satisfied that there is no chance of suc- cess.
 Residents of the country districts of Havana and Pinar del Rio provinces uniformly speak respectfully of the size and conduct of the insurgent bands, and it is asserted that the people of the more remote districts unquestionably are with them. The forces of the revo- lutionary sentiment do not appear as yet to have greatly diminished, and there are no signs of the laying down of arms, but it is too early to expect thSt response of Secretary Montalvo's orA er.
 she first frank, outright discussion of the Platt amendment as bearing on the situation will appear tomorrow in the Diario de la Marina, the old estab- lished Spanish organ and the most con- servative. The editorial article, which was written by the chief editor, Nicho las Rivero, prominent member of the Spanish element, who says:
 "some people adn4R that the present rebellion is over. We do not know whether they are right, but we do know it should and quickly If the war lasts long and the United States gov- not intervene, the Platt amendment will be a failure. In the fewest words, intervention would mean the loss, or at least the diminution, of Cuban tnde> pendence The lack of intervention, were the war to continue long, would be equivalent to the annulment of guarantee which, up to the present, irl- duced foreign capitalists to invest their funds in Cuba If, instead of warrant ing peace solvency and security in Gu ba, the Platt amendment Is to be re- strictted solely to the protection of American interests, it is almost certain English American and Spanish money should not have veen invested in Cuba in such amounts as they have during the past year"
 Enlistments and other war prepara- tions proceeded more rapidly than ever to-day Extra precautions are being taken to guard the railroad between Pinar del Rio and San Juan de Marti- neg in anticipation of Guerra sending force against 1t. His strength is augmenting so much that he may un- dertake to carry out his threat of de- stroying bridges and wrecking trains
 Captain Asbert's band was reported to-day near Vavana in considerably large numbers The people of the cen- tral and southern portion of Havana province do not greatly fear this band as it's behavior thus far has been excel lent.
 General Betancourt, commanding the troops in Matanzas province, reported to-day that Matanzas was clear if in- surgents.
 News from Santa Clara province is slowing travelling and less reliable. The insurgents ip the southern and eastern parts of thaS province received such se- we're blows in recent fights that they I seem now more quiet. The governor of the province telegrapher late tonight that the insurgents in the vicinity of Ranch yeloz are surrendering.
 The governors of the province of Puerto Principe and Santiago tel egraph that those provinces are per- feotly quiet
 Major Gomez is moving from Colon toward Yaguaramas, Santa Clara prov ince, pursuing strong force of insur gents, and a battle is expected shortly MTN3S RODY TRANsEERpEn