The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN CUBA
The POpulacs Of Havana Fearful Of
Bloody War To-Day.
MANY REPORTS OF BATTLE
All 10 Confusion In the City. and
the Authorities Are at Sea as
to What the Insurgents
Are Going to Do.

Copyrighted. 1886. by the Associated
Press)
Havana, Dec. A-The friends Of the
insurgents here are confident that the
arrival of Gomez before Havana will
be shortly announced. The insurgent
cavalry has been sighted within 30
miles OF Havana. to the westward OF
Matanxas. and had apparently taken
possession of the railroad lines Joining
that seaport to this city. Railroad and
mail communication between Jovolla-
no, Colon and Matanzas are interrupt
ed. and Il Is believed to be only a ques-
tion OF a few hours when the tele-
graphic communication with Matanzas
and the east will be cut General Cam
pos has ordered the Spanish command
ers nearest to the Insurgents. General
Valdez and Navarro. to do everything
possible to attack the insurgents under
any and all circumstances.
A later dispatch says the captain
general has managed to get to Colon
and has placed himself at the head OF
the Spanish forces at Llmonar, 20
miles east of Matanzas, where he ex-
poets to be able TO strike at the insur-
gents Thousands of people from all
parts OF the country around Mantanzas
cording TO the official dispatches.
Havana. Dec. 24.-Christmas eve is
ushered In with something like dis
may In this city. and there is aprre-
hension. hourly gaining ground, that
Havana will be besieged by armed
forces before Christmas day is over.
The advance of the insurgents seemed.
at latest advices. to be uninterrupted.
thus contradicting the report sent out
during the afternoon that they had been
turned back in a pitched battle by
Campos himself. and were striving to
make their way back into Santa Clara
province. This rumor stated. I'm great
detail. that General Campos. In per-
son at the head OF the Spanish forces,
had succeeded in coming face TO face
with Gomez and his forces at the
plantation OF Cotiseo. This plantation
Is situated 21 miles from Mantanzas.
The insurgents. II was said, were
hemmed In and were compelled 20
fight. Desperate engagements were
reported, the combatants being sur
rounded by the flames OF the burning
plantation. The insurgents, IL was
said, were dispersed. leaving 700 dead
and wounded on the field. The troops
loss. II was reported, was comparative
ly Insignificant, being only IL. and
General Valves and General Luque had
already started to Sabanilla del In
comodadum. supported by several
other columns. In pursuit of the flying
insurgents. who were supposed to be
making their way back to Santa Clara
province at their best speed.
This report had the effect OF general
iy restoring confidence here. and IL was
generally believed for a time. as II in
dicated that Gomez had given up his
campaign for lack of support In Man
tanzas.
The details of this engagement had
hardly become disseminated through
the city, however. before there came
further report that the insurgents
were marching toward Cuanabana and
that Captain General Campos had has
tened to that point to oppose the ad
vance. thus once more moving his
headquarters westward and nearer
Havana. as he has had to do 50 often
within the last few days. Cuanabana
is only about five miles out OF Man
tanzas, where General Campos was
said to have won his victory over Go
mez In person II became evident that
the reports Of General Campos' sue
cessful stand and the rout OF the in
surgents was either unfounded or that
the force he had met with was merely
a wing of the insurgent army. sent TO
make q diversion while the main ool-
umns pushed on to the westward
All IL confusion here. and the au-
thortties are apparently all At sea as
TO what will be next step of the in
eurRents