Year: 1869

of the news from Cuba, received by mail from


Havana and Nassau, and comprising accounts
| of recent events from both Cuban and Spanish
| sources. Our letters show that for some time
previous to the revolution in Havana, of which
we have received advices by telegraph, there
had been growing spirit of discomfort among
the Spanish volunteers in consequence of the
failure of commanders in the field to fulfil the
hopes entertained of an early suppression OF
the rebellion. This, it is now known, has cul-
minated in the deposition Of the Captain Gen
eral of the island and of the Governor of Ma
tanzas. From the tenor of the accounts re-
ceived to-day we shall not be surprised to
learn that similar outbreaks have taken place
in other cities still held by the Spaniards.


From the Spanish accounts it is evident that
the Cubans are carrying on an active guerilla
warfare, which is proving very exhausting to
the government. 1t is stated that the demands
upon the treasury at Havana amount to a
quarter Of million of dollars day, or over
seven millions month, while the gross reve-
nue., which in the most prosperous and peace
ful times averaged only about thirty millions
a year, has sunk to very Insignificant figure.
The military operations for some time past
have been confined to the reopening of the
Nuevitas and Principe Railroad, which had
been successfully accomplished, and great
efforts were being devoted to supplying Puerto
Principe with provisions and munitions. 1t
was when this work had been accomplished
that the landing OF the supplies for the Cubans
by the steamers Perrit and Salvador was
effected at points on the coast east of Nuevitas,
and large bodies of troops were at once
despatched to the points of landing with
orders to pursue and capture them. The re-
suit is yet to be seen.


The Cuban accounts give us some insight
into the apparent neglect of the patriots to
prevent the reopening of the Nuevitas Rail
road. On the 10th of May General Quesada
reviewed the camps in the vicinity of Guai-
maro-the present seat of government-and
the next day left with an organ lied force of
two thousand men, with the ostensible object
of attacking General Valmaseda at Bayamo.
From the reports of the severe fighting and
the defeat of the Spaniards, after the landing
of General Jordan's expedition at Nipe, we in
cline to believe that the true object Of with
drawing of the revolutionary forces from the
neighborhood Of the Nuevitas Railroad and
their concentration at point in the east was
the protection of the coming supplies. These
were greatly needed, and, when once secured,
General Quesada would be much stronger to
break up the railroad again than he could be
without them to prevent its reconstruction. In
no other portion of the island do the Spanish
troops appear to be making active hostilities.


The whole tenor Of the news goes to show
the steady decay of the power of Spain in
Cuba and the increasing enthusiasm of the
Cubans and their advance in the practices OF
war AS the rainy season is now close at
hand, when the roads in the deep virgin soil
OF the tropics become almost impossible to
man or beast, we may expect lull in military
movements Looking upon the present time
as the close of the first campaign we cannot
but recognize the fact that Spain, in the
period of her greatest resources, has not been
able to suppress revolution commenced by
a people utterly ignorant Of military or
ganization and maneuvre, without arms or
munitions of war and inspired only by feel
ing Of hatred to their oppressors and after
seven months of apprenticeship in war the
Cubans remain masters of the field in one
half of the island. The rainy season will
probably be spent by both parties in organ
izing for the next campaign and in the accu-
mutation of supplies Meanwhile the Cuban
agents are spreading in every direction, and
new complications in diplomacy and inter-


national relations are springing up every


where. Let the administration at Washington
| be not too confident that 1t Is well advised.
|