Year: 1870

e.


rnlship-lntriWues In His Favor.


HAVANA, April 23.-For q considerable time
intrigues have been carried on here having for
their purpose the elevation of Count Valmaseda
to the position of Captain General. ORR
ginally an Isabellino and sent out here by the
unfortunate Queen, he has seemed to realize
that his only hope of being retained in position
or for Advancement was in remaining constantly
in the field. Since his departure from here in
Nov. 1868, he has visited the capital but once,
and then but for few hours and in order to
confer with his superior His operations in
the field, and particularly the sanguinary
disposition he has shown in the Jiguani massa-
ere and on other occasions, have made him very
popular, particularly in the eastern end of the
island where he has been feted and feasted dd
Srltinitun and dd ndusedn1. Indeed, there and
elsewhere in the island his name has come to
excite the utmost enthusiasm. AS it is known
that De Rodas is the right hand man of Prim
and is very popular with the army, his recall
has been expected in order to assist Prim in
maintaining his supremacy at home, and great
efforts have been made by the friends of Valma-
seda to accomplish his succession. During his
absence in the country his wife has remained
here and has used such influence as she could
WELD to win over the more prominent officials
to the cause of her husband. In this, however,
she has not been successful, as Valmaseda, in
dependent of his connection with the oldregine,
is not regarded as possessing either the judg-
ment or capabilities for the position. The
Countess recently left for Spain, doubtless in
her husbands interest, after an interview with
him at Manzanillo.


While little is positively known, it has long
been whispered that the feeling between the
Captain General and the Count was never very
good, and there is good authority for saying
that the former has become weary of the plots
and intrigues concerning his succession. AS the
result of this it is stated in the streets and
generally repeated among the Spaniards that
Valmaseda has been relieved and ordered home
Connected with this story is news concerning
the recent defeat of the troops under his COM
mand near the Cauto The details of the en-
gagement, in so far as they have reached us,
are already familiar. 1t is evident they had
nothing to do with his belief, as the order if
issued at all, must have come from Spain, as in
the present condition of affairs here the Cap
tain-General would hardly assume the RESPONSE
bjlity of relieving him from his command.


Volunteers-The Seizure of the "AspinwalI.'


The World publishes the following special
despatch-


WASHINGTON, April 2S. = Information has
been received at the Navy Department of the
forcible seizure of the Lloyd Aspinwall steamer
by the Spanish volunteers in Cuba, and of a
general rising of the volunteers throughout the
island, with o view to the assumption of the
reins of government into their own hands This
movement is looked upon as of startling import
ance, and Secretary Robson has instructed Ad-
miral Poor to keep the department. thoroughly
informed of everything that transpires in con-
nection with it. As thus far received,
the news is more than conirmatory of the
reports which came day or two ago via Key
West, stating that the Captain-General was
losing his authority, and that Count Valmaseda
and the political Governor of Santiago had re-
fused to obey orders from him and from Madrid.
What will result from this revolt it is impossible
to foretell, but there are some here who have
SO little faith in the moral persistence of the
leaders of the Cuban cause as to predict an af1i-
liation between them and the volunteers in case
the, latter Tsucceed in their present endeavor
and are disposed to treat for the joint posses
sion and control of the island, independent Of
the home government.