is said that General Blanco sent for Rivera, and asked him if he
would promise not to take up arms against Spain if he were set free.

Rivera replied that as soon as he was free he would return to the
insurgent camp and fight for Cuba till the last drop of his blood was
spilled.

General Blanco then asked him if he would go to the rebels and offer
Home Rule to them.

This was met by another firm refusal. The Cubans are feeling very proud
of his bravery and firmness.

You will remember General Sanguilly promised, if he were freed, never to
fight against Spain, but Rivera prefers imprisonment or exile to giving
a pledge which he could never keep.

Rius Rivera was the general who took Maceo's command after that leader
had been killed. He was captured last March, while severely wounded.

There is a rumor that Gen. Julio Sanguilly has gone over to the Spanish
cause and offered his services to General Blanco.

It is impossible as yet to learn the truth of this rumor. The General,
over his own signature, indignantly denies it, and begs his friends to
deny it for him.

In spite of the fact that when he was released, through the intervention
of our Government, he had to sign an agreement not to return to Cuba, it
is said that Sanguilly would willingly head an expedition against Spain
to-morrow, if he only had the chance.

The Cuban Junta (or council) will not, however, send him, and it is said
that his willingness to go back on his promised word has made the Cubans
suspicious of him. They think that a man of honor would never have made
a promise he did not intend to keep, and therefore, in this hour of
trouble, when he is accused of being a traitor to his cause, he finds
few people willing to believe in him.

If he is indeed true to the cause, he is in a very sad position.

* * * * *

It has been officially announced that General Pando has been heard from.
He is fighting Gomez, and from all we hear has the old Cuban leader at a
disadvantage.

Gomez, so the story goes, is being forced to retreat before him in hot
haste.

It is also said that none of the messengers has returned who were sent
out by Pando to offer Home Rule to the Cuban army.

It is supposed that they have been killed by the insurgents.

There is much discouragement in Havana over the present aspect of
affairs. There seems to be no hope for a speedy end to the revolution.

* * * * *