On the outskirts of Havana the insurgents are keeping up a constant
fight. They are burning houses, and making the best of every opportunity
to harass the enemy.
A bold attempt was made to capture Fondeviela the other day; some fierce
fighting took place, but the Colonel eventually succeeded in driving off
the Cubans.
The case of Gen. Rius Rivera is likely to be settled without the
interference of the Spanish Government.
The unfortunate soldier is seriously ill, and not expected to live many
days. It is said that he is not dying of his wounds, but of a disease
that has developed since he has been in prison.
A late report says that the discontent among the Spanish soldiers in
regard to their pay has induced their officers to give them permission
to plunder where they can. The few unfortunates who have any property
left are now at the mercy of the soldiers.
This state of distress in the island is in great contrast to the
charming picture of peace and prosperity which it presented a few short
years ago.
A writer in _The Sun_ describes the island as it was before the breaking
out of the first war.
He says that in those days its commerce with this country amounted to a
hundred million dollars a year. It maintained an army of twenty thousand
Spanish soldiers, and its harbors were always filled with Spanish
vessels.
Havana was then one of the gayest capitals in the world.
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