were instantly
warned that they were in danger, made a hasty retreat, and the Cubans lost
their prize.

The Cubans are in strong force round Havana; they are further than ever
from being pacified; the rebellion is by no means over, and Weyler's
telegrams are not deceiving any one any more.

The General is not in favor in Spain, his reports are no longer believed,
and he will most likely be ordered home before long, and some one else be
sent to Cuba in his stead.

Spain is in a very unhappy state at present. The people are angry at
having spent so much money, and wasted so many lives, over the wars in
Cuba and the Philippine Islands, without arriving at any result, and they
are blaming the Government for not trying to bring about peace.

It is more than likely that a change in the government will soon take
place.

The present Government is very angry with Weyler, because it has come to
light that many of the marches he has cabled about to Spain have not been
made at all. He has taken the train wherever he could, and if he has seen
no bands of insurgents from the car windows he has telegraphed that peace
was restored, and no more rebels were to be found in the province.

The latest news of all is, that the Spanish Government in Madrid is
preparing a paper which will be sent to Cuba very shortly. It offers the
Cubans Home Rule, and gives them a great many rights that they do not now
possess.

While the Cubans are pleased at this, they have not much faith in the
offer, and say that unless the United States promises to see that Spain
carries out her promises, they will not consider the offer at all.

The principal Cubans are waiting to see the actual paper before they say
much about it.

In the mean while, many of the Spanish soldiers are deserting from their
own ranks, and going over to the Cuban side.

The Spaniards have been offering every inducement to get the Cubans to
desert, and go over to them, but hardly any have done so--the only person
of importance being the infamous Dr. Zertuccha, who betrayed Maceo.

A telegram from Havana says that a major in the Spanish army, with 100 men
and 50,000 rounds of ammunition, joined General Gomez the other day. At
Puerto Principe, a Spanish colonel, with a whole company of well-armed
men, also went over to the Cubans.

The Cubans think this is a very favorable sign for them, and look for a
speedy end to the war.

* * * * *

The fili