he poor soldier lads, after the officers have got
through stealing it, is paid to them in the paper money Weyler tried to
force on Cuba. (You can read about it in No. 2 of THE GREAT ROUND
WORLD.) This money is utterly worthless; none of the Cuban merchants
will take it, and yet it is given to the poor soldiers, and they are told
to go and buy what they want, Weyler well knowing that they cannot
purchase even postage-stamps with it.

The disheartened, starving soldiers are falling back before the Cubans,
and victory after victory is reported for the insurgent side.

Havana has been attacked! The insurgents actually passed through the
suburbs, and reached Havana itself. They ransacked stores, put the whole
population in a panic, but after a fierce fight of two hours were at last
obliged to retire.

Weyler did his best to keep this news from the people, but, before his
plans were fully made, the Cubans made a fresh attack on another suburb of
the city, endeavoring to seize a large quantity of provisions and arms
that were stored there.

This time they again loaded themselves with plunder, but failed to get the
rich prize they had gone for.

A part of the same force which attacked Havana descended on the town of
Guines, also in Havana Province, and about thirty-five miles from the
capital. After a few hours' struggle they succeeded in forcing the
Spanish soldiers to take shelter in a church, and then they ransacked the
town, and took $10,000 in gold from the government safe.

Bejugad, another important town in the same province, was also attacked by
the Cubans, and with equal success.

It looks as if one great effort would win for Cuba the freedom for which
she has worked so faithfully.

* * * * *

The widow of the Dr. Ruiz who was reported to have been murdered in the
Cuban prison has arrived in this country.

She has gone to Washington, and has laid her sad story before the
government, and asked for help.

It seems that Mrs. Ruiz has some evidence which proves that the Spaniards
were ill-using Dr. Ruiz. The evidence came to her in a most curious way.

As we have mentioned before, the Spaniards do not put either beds or
benches in their prisons. Their captives must either stand, or lie down on
the filthy floors, among dirt and vermin.

Mrs. Ruiz went to the authorities when her husband was arrested, and asked
permission to send him a bed and some chairs.

She was refused. But