Azcarraga had gone out of office and that of Senor Sagasta had come in,
he cabled to the new Prime Minister, saying that he had no intention of
resigning his office, but instead, begged to offer his services to the
new ministry.
A great excitement is being worked up over him in Cuba, which his
enemies declare is being done by his orders. Soldiers are parading the
streets, crying, "Long live Weyler!" Merchants are hurrying to the
palace, begging him not to resign, and a rumor having been circulated
that it is the United States that has been asking that he be sent away
from Cuba, the soldiers are adding cries of "Death to the United
States!"
The Cuban and American residents of Havana are terror-stricken. Much as
they desired to be free of the tyrant, they now dread his downfall lest
it shall cause more trouble for them.
It is said that Senor Sagasta will try to bring the war to a close by
offering liberal terms of Home Rule to Cuba.
In fact, the new cabinet has already held a council in which it was
agreed to establish reforms in the island with as little delay as
possible.
The Colonial Minister has been instructed to prepare a draft of the
scheme for Home Rule, and to have it ready to present to the cabinet
officers at their next meeting.
The Cubans, however, declare that they do not want Home Rule. They have
been fighting for freedom, and nothing less will satisfy them. They are
willing to buy their freedom from Spain, but they declare that they will
never lay down their arms until Cuba is free.
A despatch from the Philippine Islands brings the news that Spain is
faring badly in that direction also.
In a recent battle four hundred Spanish soldiers were killed. It seems
that the rebels in the Philippines fight in the American Indian fashion;
that is to say, they get under cover, behind bushes or trees, and,
taking careful aim at their enemy, make every shot tell. In this manner
they are able to inflict great injury without suffering much themselves.
It is reported that an entire battalion of Spanish soldiers, eight
hundred strong, has deserted in a body to the rebels.
The soldiers in the Philippines are suffering just as severely for food
and pay as their brother soldiers in Cuba, and finding that the rebels
feed their soldiers well, and treat them better than the Spaniards,
great numbers are constantly deserting and joining the rebel ranks.
* * * * *
Affairs in
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