The herald., 1895-12-25
ADVANCE OF Insurgents
Raises High Hopes in the
Hearts of Cubans
REPORTS Of Spanish SUCCESS
Prove to Be Altogether With
out Foundation
DISMAY REIGNS AT HAVANA
Christmas Day is Likely to See the
Siege Of the Capital
Battles Fought We're But Feints to Deceive
the Spaniards
Splendid GeneraIship Has Brought the Rev.
olutionists to the Outskirts Of Havana,
With the RoyaIist Forces Scattered
All Over the Country
Battles Fought We're But Feints to Deceive
the Spaniards
Associate ted Press. snecial Wire

Associated Press, Special Wire
HAVANA, Dec. 24.-Shortly after noon
today the startling news was received from
Matanzas that General Maximo Gomez. at
the head of the insurgent army, said to
number 10000 men of all arms, fairly
we'll supplied with artillery, had by feint
turned the flank of Captain-General Mar
tinez de Campos, in command of the Span
ish forces at Colon, attempted to stop the
advance of the army upon Havana and
were we'll to the westward of Colon and
threatening Matanzas to the southwark
and preparing to strike directly at Havana.
The receipt of this startling news has
caused the greatest excitement here, both
in official and unofficial circles. As pre-
viously detailed in these dispatches, the in
surgents little over two weeks ago, en-
tered the province of Santa Clara from the
province of Puerto Principe at Igura, and
there defeating Colonel Segura and a Span
ish column, they made a most wonderful
advance through the province, passing
through the flower of the Spanish army as
sembled there and said to number about
5000 men. After some sharp skirmishes,
in which the Spaniards were worsted, Gen
at Santa Clara, transferred them to Cien-
fuegos, with the announced intention of
personally commanding the troops which
were to check the insurgents advance.
But in spite of repeated repulses, the in
surgents pressed onward, and passing
Placitas, Santa Clara, San Juan de las
Yeras, Ranchuelo and other towns, pushed
on for the frontier of Matanzas.
At one time it was reported that they in
tended to attack Santa Clara, but their
tactics seemed TO be to pass all the big
towns and press on for Havana. 1t was
only few days ago that the announce
ment was made that the insurgents were
at Las Lajas and marching onward to
Havana. Then came the news that the
insurgents had entered the province of
Matanzas at Palma Sala. Before this,
however, General Campos had changed his
headquarters to Colon and he commenced
hurriedly concentrating his forces there,
intending to compel General Gomez to
fight pitched battle before passing that
place.
A day or SO ago, the insurgents caused a
scurry in Colon. Firing was heard at
Ajuca, about fifteen miles from the place,
and reinforcements were sent to the front,
but this turned out to be little more than
an outpost affair, and while the Spanish
troops made for this port. the main body of
the army passed south of Colon near the
line OF railroad and headed for the frontier
province of Havana, turning the flank of
the Captain-general, who with the bulk of
the Spanish forces in the island Of Cuba is
now we'll to the rear of the insugents' col
umns.
The Spanish troops are utterly unused to
travelling in this thickly wooded country,
without regular roads and with heavy