Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1896 — BIG BLOW TO SPAIN. [ARTICLE]

BIG BLOW TO SPAIN.

Defeat in the Recent Finer , del Hlq Battle a Crashing One. The Cuban insurgents have dealt Spain a crashing blow. Trustworthy information has been received from Havana that the battle fought a few days ago in Knar del Rio, which the dispatches sent out with the sanction of the press censor de“seribed as a Spanish victory, was in reality a lamentable defeat for the forces of Pnn 'Wnttfni* Thia ti'ntrfl rnor.Wn/1 rj and was sent to New York in a brief cipher cablegram. The source of the information leaves no doobt of its reliability. The s Spanish officials will not permitthe renort of. insurgent successes .to be sent Lout of Havana. The late press dis-pa+ches-from Havana say that officials noiv -admit that the battle was a fiercely contested one, and that it was attended with serious consequences to the Spanish. It is the firm opinioß-in Now York among persons informed of events in Cuba that the Spanish cause is lost. It is also believed, despite denials, that this last defeat will so add to the .dissatisfaction Gen. Weyler that either his resig.riation of recall will '.soon fdliow. The engagement was more in the nature of a pitched battle than any previous one during the qisiirroction, and the attack made by the insurgents was bold and effective. The impression strengthens in Washingtbn official circles that Spain has made a failure of it in Cuba, and that the rebellion cannot be suppressed in any other way than by wearing it out. Until recently It was believed by both President Cleveland and Secretary Olhey that the Spanish forces would practically be able to restore order in Cuba during the present whiter and spring. It Mg-lwpic. of this belief and because his love of fair play prompted him to give Spain a reasonable chance that the President has hitherto declined to take any step looking to interference .into affairs of Spain and her colony. But it is now apparent the campaign in' Cuba is nearly at an end, so far as this winter is concerned. The rainy season will set in soon, find then military operations of a serious or effec-' five nature will have to end. Up to this time Gen. Weyler has made no substantial progress from a military point of view,- and there is little reason to hope

that he will accomplish anything in the short time remaining for field work. Moreover —and this is a condition of affairs for which President Cleveland has been waiting—there are piany indications that the Spanish authorities are despairing of success. It is freely predicted by officials familiar, with-what might be called the inside of the situation that President Cleveland will intervene, and intervene successfully, within sixty days. The interests of the United States'and of humanity require that the struggle be not allowed to continue another winter, after another summen of industrial paralysis.