News has just come that there has been another slaughter of Armenians,
seven hundred of these unfortunate people having fallen victims to the
Turks. If the Powers have any conscience left, this news must have made
them thoroughly ashamed of their ridiculous position.

* * * * *

The week's news from Cuba is still of the same hopeful character for the
Cubans.

It is stated on the best authority that the Cubans are in absolute
possession of the eastern end of the island, the whole province of
Santiago de Cuba being in the hands of the insurgents.

[Illustration: Gen. Maximo Gomez]

It is stated that this province is really _Cuba Libre_, or "Free Cuba."
The government is being carried on there, and the peasants are able to sow
their fields and gather their crops in peace and safety.

The Cubans assert that if we would only recognize that they were engaged
in a real war, and give them the right to fit out a navy for themselves,
the war would be over in a very short time. They have now no fear but that
they will gain their liberty; they say, however, that with the Spanish
navy guarding the coast, and preventing the landing of help and supplies,
the war will last a good deal longer than it ought.

The Spaniards are very uneasy, and Havana is greatly alarmed over the last
expedition of General Weyler. The Spanish general has determined to force
a battle on General Gomez, and to make one great effort to subdue him.