INVASION OF CUBA.

Otago Witness, Issue 37, 31 January 1852, Page 3

INVASION OF CUBA.

{From the Glasgoio Herald, Sept. 8.)

' By accounts "from Havana brought to New York, we learn that the Lopez invasion of Cuba is of the most disastrous character, and had excited a great sensation throughout the United States.

Acsording to the Amerian papers, the expedition, which left New Orleans under the command of General Lopez and Colonels Pragay" and Clendennin. and numbering about 450 persons, after eluding the vigilance of the Spanish, American, French, and British vessels of war, succeeded in effecting a landing at Cabanos, about 40 miles from Havana. It is stated that a sanguinary engagement shortly afterwards took place near that point with the Spanish troops, in which 50 Americans were taken prisoners, but not before a great slaughter had taken place on both sides.

The subjoined account is from the " New York Herald :"

" After the landing of General Lopez and his party near Bahia Honda, fighting with the Spanish troops commenced, and a frightful slaughter took place, as near as we can learn, especially of the Spanish troops. The main body of the patriots, or invaders, were driven to the mountains, and the remainder took to boats and put to sea. These men were captured off Bahia Honda, 40 miles west of Havana, by the steamer Habanero. They were brought to Havana on Saturday morning the 16th inst., and placed on board a Spanish frigate lying in port, and executed the same morning. After they were shot they were dragged by the feet by negroes, who commenced stripping them of their clothes, which they carried on sticks through the streets, yelling like so many wild demons."

In a letter from Havana of the 16th ult., the writer, after detailing the circumstances connected with several engagements which had taken place, says,-—

" This morning, about three o'clock, the steamer Habanero arrived with 50 prisoners, who had been captured by the Spanish Admiral Bustillos and his soldiers, after a fight of four hours, the Spanish soldiers numbering no less than 329. The bloodiest day of the Cuban revolution is fast drawing to its close, and the sun that is now rapidly sinking in the west has seen 50 prisoners— the greater part of them young Americans — shot in cold blood, and their mutilated remains torn and dragged by a savage populace, the outpourings of Spain, the mule of Europe."

A correspondent of the Herald says — " I hav,e this day been witness to one of the most brutal acts of wanton inhumanity ever perpetrated in the annals of history. Not content, this Government, in avenging themselves in the death of these unfortunate,

and perhaps misguided men, and which it may eve n be said was brought upon themselves, these Spanish authorities deserve to be most severely chastised for permitting the desecration, as they have done, of the senseless clay of our brave countrymen. Before an assemblage of 20,000 people, 51 individuals were this morning shot, after which the troops were ordered to retire, and some hundreds of the very vilest rabble and negroes, hired for the purpose, commenced stripping the dead bodies and mutilating their limbs. They were shot six at a time — i. c., 12 were brought to the place of execution, six made to kneel down and receive the fire of the soldiers, after which the remaining six were made to walk round their dead comrades and kneel opposite to them, when they were also shot. One young man. requested that hia watch be sent to his sweetheart, hut no notice was taken of it. All seemed resigned to their fate."

Various one-sidel accounts are given of this affair by parties favourable to the Americans ; and on the other hand, by those favourable to the Spanish cause, a highly-coloured account is set forth ; but it would appear, however, that great excitement prevailed at New Orleans in reference to Cuban affairs. Nightly meetings were being held there and at New York, at which immense numbers attended, to sympathize with the Cuban invaders. Placards were posted through the streets with the inscription

— " The blood of 50 Americans cries for vengeance." Several resolutions have been passed, sympathizing with their Cuban brethren, denouncing the conduct of the Spanish authorities towards the American prisoners, as also on their firing on the United States steam-ship, and pledging themselves to raise subscriptions for the advancement of Cuban independence.

The " Glasgow Herald," in its remarks, says — " One thing alone seems certain, namely, that 31 of the lawless invaders have been shot by the Spanish soldiers, and their bodies left to be treated worse than those of beasts of prey would be by an infuriated mob of negroes. The justice of the sentence of death, and the so fearfully prompt execution, will be questioned. Again, the character of the offence perpetrated by the sympathizing Americans must be taken into consideration. They invaded an island the property of a nation with which the United States maintains fiiendly relations. There was no war being carried on between America and Spain. The invasion was an act of piracy as surely as were those of the buccaniers who infested in former times the shores of the island of Cuba. Such being the case, it is not easy to see how the Spanish Admiral could have acted otherwise than he did. It matters nothing to this question what is the state of feeling existing in Cuba with respect to the mode in which the mother country chooses to govern her colonial subjects. The invasion of the 450 was an act of piracy, and for that piracy the 51 infatuated young men suffered death. The ultimate issue of this affair between America and Spain will remain to be seen hereafter, and there is no doubt, will be looked forward towith interest."