An announcement has also been made that the Sultan has formed twenty more cavalry regiments, and has raised the number of soldiers to be recruited for the Turkish army to seven hundred thousand, which gives him an immense number of fighting men at his command.

* * * * *

Little progress has been made with Cuban affairs, but they are still moving slowly forward.

The Liberal party in the Spanish Cortes has declared itself in favor of honest reforms in Cuba.

This party, which is led by Senor Sagasta, thinks that the reforms offered by Canovas, the Prime Minister, are not sufficient to pacify the insurgents.  They think that a Commissioner should be sent out by Spain, to insure to the Cubans real home rule, and bring peace and prosperity back to the island.

The Liberals say that the first step in the direction of peace must be the recall of General Weyler, and that the horrors of his rule must be stopped at once.

Senor Comas, who had his ears boxed by the Duke of Tetuan, belongs to this Liberal party.  His friends are still so incensed at this insult that they have issued a manifesto, refusing to have any relations with the Government so long as the Duke remains in power.

This disagreement in the Cortes is a very serious thing for Spain.  At this moment, when there is so much dissatisfaction over the expenses of the Cuban war and constant fears of a Carlist rising are entertained, it is most necessary that the two parties should agree.

The fear of a Carlist rising is growing stronger.  Only the other day a large store of rifles and ammunition was found in a house in Barcelona, one of the large cities of Spain.  They had been stored there to be in readiness for the Carlists.

Don Carlos has announced that if he secures the throne of Spain, it is his intention to give home rule to Cuba; and the Spanish people are so tired of the war, and the taxes, poverty, and sorrow that it has brought with it, that this statement brought many friends to his cause.

General Woodford is known to have sympathized with the Cubans in their last struggle for liberty, and to have made some very severe speeches against Spain at that time.

The Madrid papers have mentioned this fact, and it is thought that the Queen Regent may object to his appointment.

In the mean while some strange plans have been offered as a solution of the difficulty.

From Washington comes a report that the Sugar Trust has offered to buy Cuba, and keep it as a vast sugar plantation.

Gomez is reported to have said that Cuba does not want the United States to go to war with Spain for her sake.  All she asks is that she shall be granted belligerent rights, and be allowed to buy and ship her supplies without interference.

The Morgan Resolution (for granting these rights) has not yet passed the House.