4 OCTOBER 1873, Page 1

The Alicante difficulty has ended in a very odd way.

The insurgents returned on 24th September, and asked for £40,000. Sir Hastings Yelverton and the French Admiral again insisted on four days' delay, but on the remonstrance of Martinez Campos, the term was reduced to two days. A furious quarrel thereupon broke out between the General and the Municipality, the Madrid Government supported the latter, and sent up the Minister of the Interior. The General retired, but on the Intmnsigentes opening fire at five o'clock on September 28th, the Minister encouraged the artillery and the people, till it was found that after six hours' firing the victory remained with the authorities. The insurgents failed utterly to bring down the castle, which is built on a hill of friable stone, and if it had fallen, would have crushed the town ; while the Mendez. Nunez was swept five times by shells, the Tetuan disabled, and the Numancia apparently cowed, till the Insurgents resolved on a retreat, which was effected quietly. Something may perhaps be attributed to fear lest the foreign squadrons should fire at last, but the troops and people in Alicante evidently rose to the fight- ing point, and defeated their enemy for themselves,—an immense advantage, which does not prevent their scolding at Great Britain for not doing their work for them. The Government, however,

are delighted, and as Cartagena can now expect little by sea, and two Krupp guns have arrived to bombard it by land, it is not probable that the Insurrection will long continue.