Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-28
GETTING READY FOR BATTLE
Location of the Insurgent Army a Matter
Of Much Doubt.
PEOPLE ALARMED At THE CUBAN CAPITAL
Work of Throwing Up Enrthworks
efore the city Is Bcing Pushed
Might and Dny-Privnte Citi-
zens Helping the Troops.


of Matanzas continues today and is height
ened by the meagerness of the news from
the front. The Spanish authorities insist
that the insurgents are in retreat and yet
Captain G. neral Martinez de Campos is still
here AMI the work Of Certifying Havana
and its vicinity continues without an hours
interruption in any direction.
According TO the official advices, Maceo is
at the plantation of Olimpo, near the town
of Camarones, a little way north OF
Jovellanos, the town from which Campos re-
treated from Limonar. Camarones is about
forty-fve kilometres from the city OF
Maianzas, capital Of the province of that
name. Quintin Banderi is said to be with
his column at Sumidero, about twenty
kilometres from Matanzas, and only a little
way from Limonar, where, according to the
official announcements, Campos defeat d the
Insurgents at Coliseo. But Sumidero IS
nearer to Matanzas than Coliseo, winch
would not seem to confirm the story that
Banderis columns were defeated.
Maxine Gomez. according TO the official ad-
vices, is still at the farm of Cieryo In the
district of Jaguey Grande and in the direc-
ton Of the grand Cienaga Occidental de
Zapata, an immense stretch of swamp land
into which he could retreat to the southwark,
II necessary, and possibly avoid pursuit upon
the part CT the Spanish troops. 1t VIII thus
be seen that the three Cuban columns are &C
counted for, one to the north Of Sumidero,
under Banderi; one in the Camarones, under
Macco, and one to thes outh near Jaguey
Grande, under Gomez, all in the province of
80 Matanzas and all to the westward OF Colon.
POSITION OF THE SPANISH.
The exact position of the Spanish columns
bsing concentrated to meet the insurgents
Uo pursue them, according to the Spanish
oh,cialn is not known, but the last reports
received had 1t that the Spaniards were con
~centrat,r & at Union d. Rtye:. But Sumide7o,
where the Banderi cloumn is located, is well
to the northward and only a little eastward
OF Union de Reyes, and Banderi would thus
have no difficulty in pressing onward toward
Havana %northward of Union de Reyes and
= south of the city of Matanzas. Banderi
~ would also be able to attack in the
rear the troops at Camarones, or
he might join forces with Maceo, and the
two lnsurgent columns might join together
and move upon any force sent to attack
Gomez in the Jaguey Grande district. Con-
seuuently. it is difficult to see how the Span
ish commander figures out his statement
that the Spanish troops occupy the most ad-
yantageous positions in the province of Matan-
zas. To the observer of the movements of
the opposing forces 1t would appear Gomez
to the south, Maceo In the center. and Ban
deri to the north and furthest west, really
form a half circle around the Spanish forces
and completely command that portion OF the
island. Then again, admitting that Union
do Reyes Is the Spanish headquarters for the
operations against the insurgents in the
province of Matanzas, 1t would appear that
the Spaniards cannot move in a body upon
either of the Cuban columns without being
attacked in the rear and upon both TANKS
by the Cubans. The only operations pes
sible to them, supposing Union de Reyes to
be their rallying point, Is to divide into
4 three columns to move Simultaneously upon
the Cuban columns.
CAN AVOID A BATTLE.
Therefore 1t will be noticed that the tactics
followed by Gomez throughout the campaign
pnnnaecfully prnyal oven ,t the DTnSnnt
moment. He has hitherto BEN able to avoid
a pitched battle with the Spanish troops and
Will, leading them to concentrate at various
points he has managed to slip by the
Spanish forces, although the Spaniards have
over half a dozen times believed that they
had his VIII lie force before them and that
they would be able to deliver a crushing blow.
1t is therefore reasonable to believe that If
Banderi pushes on westward from Sumidero
he will turn tn left flank of the Spanish
Amy at Union de Reyes, and that the latter
must send a column in pursuit, thus weak
ening their main body. Thsn again, sup
posing that Maceo moves forward from
Camirones on the same line as Banderi, the
Spanish commander at Union de II yes must
send another column to meet him. This
- would leave but one-third Of the Spanish
>Sf0rce at Union de Reyes and Gomez. from
Jaguey Grande would not have much diff
Guilty. judging from his previous successes, in
pushing westward, southwark and a little to
the rear of the two other Cuban columns.
1t Is announced that the insurgents have
burned the cane fields Of the plantations of
Dolores. Santa Maria, San Joaquin. Socoro,
Santa Filomena, Santa Catalina, Industrial,
lnfante La Gulra, and Macurijes, half way
- between Union de Reyes and Jaguey Grande.
1t Is said that this destruction of property
was caused while the insurgents were retreat
ing upon Jaguey Grande, But Sumidero, |
where the Banderi column of insurgents is
said to ba located, is away to the %northward
and westward. nearer to Havana than these
burned plantations.
Tha nSuruaOt have also burpAJ tho ,tlIaun |
OF Pedros3, and in the district Of Guantanamo |
they have destroyed the cane fields of the
plantations of Soledad Las Carras, Santa
Cecilia, Romelia, Santa Isabella of the Col |
onies, Antonio, San Carlos. and Peranza.
Santa Rosa, ConHuente. San Miguel. Santa
Maria. San Ildefonso, Santa Fe. San Luis,
San Sebastian, Santa Ana del Batillo, in all
over 1 800 acres. |
made to resist an attack upon tn part Of
the insurgents. As this IL an official an
nouncement II would seem to confirm the
impression which prevails among the friends
OF the Cubans that the report that Gomez,
Maceo and Banderi are in retreat is not quite
correct Three field pieces have been
mounted before The palace of the governor
at Matarzas, the windows and doors have
beer barrcaded and the building is filled
with troops and volunteers.
ARREsTiNG SUSPECTS.
Troops and volunteers are also stationed at
all the strategic points, and two warships are
said TO be on their way there TO reinforce
the naval contingent already on duty at
that port. The authorities claim that hun
q eds Of families from the provinces of
latanzas are nocking into the capital Of that
part OF the country, whil- on the other
hand, the insurgents assert they have been
strongly reinforced from the population of
Matanzas since their columns entered that
province. The authorities OF Matanzas are
buslly at work a~rresting people suspected of
being In sympathy with the Cuban army
and forty-eight people were taken into Gus
tody there today. The Cubans here who are
" In sympatry with the insurgent cause assert
that there will be a popular uprising in
,Matanzas II Banderi approaches near enough
Mo that city TO warrant It.
Hero In this city in spite OF the reported
bad position OF the insurgents, the work of
preparing for the defense OF Havana is being
pushed with all the yigor possible. and all
the regular soldiers and volunteers who can
he spared are being hurried to the front.
Provisions are being collected. cattle are