Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-26
Sir Julian Pauncefote and Senior Du-
puy de LONE.
IMPRESSION As TO THE FORMERS VISIT
The Latter Talked Over the Situa-
ton in Cuba.
GOMEZ'S BRILLIANT MARCH

Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambas-
sador, and Senor Dupuy De Lome the
Spanish minister. were among Secretary
Olney's official callers today. In view of
the prominence of the two countries they
represent in current public affairs their
visit occasioned general comment. notwith-
staEding the statement that the calls were
of a purely routine character 1t frequently
happens, however that these apparently
trifing functions of diplomatic day serve
for the transaction of business of much
Importance.
Sir Julian was accompanied by Mr.. San
Gerson, the British consul general at New
York. a brother of Sir T. H. Sanderson,
who drew the "Sanderson line in the
British-Guana boundary dispute. and who
addressed the two notes to DIR. Pulido and
DIR. Urbanea of Venezuela, which are
claimed by the Venezueans to have ema-
mated from Lord Salisbury. 1t is said.
however that this relationship did not fig
ure in the call today. Outside of the
Venezuelan question there are a number
of minor subjects, concerning postal ex-
changes, etc, which engage the attention
of the State Department and the British
authorities. This is the first time Sir
Julian has visited the State Department
since the President sent his Venezuelan
message.
strong impression prevails as a result
of the visit today that Secretary Olney has
officially notified the British representative
of the enactment Of the law for the crea-
ton of the Venezuelan boundary commits
sion. This, CT course, is matter of such
public notoriety that the ambassador al
ready had full cognizance of the facts. but
an official notification of the action of this
country would be more likely to bring out
the attitude of Great Britain toward the
commission.
The Cuban Situation.
Senior De Lone, the Spanish minister
came to talk over the Cuban situation with
Secretary Olney. He had nothing in the
way of recent dispatches to communicate,
as he had not heard from Havana today.
The minister is firmly of the belief that the
much-talked-of NOV ement of Gomez upon
Havana Is nothing more than a raid, the
intent being to burn and destroy property
and by throwing the numerous laborers on
the sugar plantations out of work, force
them to join the insurgent army. This
movement, he says has already spent its
force, and as far as the purpose of secur-
ing recruits was concerned it is likely to
prove failure, for the negroes in the Ma
tanzas province are of quiet and peaceabie
disposition, entirely unlike those in the east
who are from San Domingo
In other official quarters the informa ton
received leads to the belief that, without
reference to why Gomez had made his ad-
vance. a decisive battle between the Cubans
and Spaniards is imminent, and is likely to
De Fought today or tomorrow in the stretch
of open country between Havana and Ma
tanzas. 1t is a level plain, without wood or
ntain, and Is field such as Gen. Cam
pos has been seeking.
AS to the possibilities of an attack on
Havana, it is said General Campos has
there 25,OOO regulars and 60,0O0 volunteers
total of SJ,UD men, well armed and
equipped, as against the insurgent force
of 12GOO undisciplined men. Besides this
the city is surrounded on the land side by
Gordon of forts, like those around Wash
ington during the rebellion, while the har-
Dor is heavily fortified.
GOmez's Brilliant March.
The brilliancy of Gomez's march is con-
ceded in all quarters. 1t is known that
General Campos campaign contemplated
holding the Cubans east of the province
of Santa Clara, so that they could not de-
vastate the rich sugar districts With
that end in view a Gordon of Spanish
troops was thrown across the "Trocha,"
the narrowest part OF the island and ex-
tending about forty miles north and south
But Gomez and Maceo, avoiding direct
conflict, made their way by mountain pass
es much as Wolfe scaled the Heights of
Abraham, passing the T-ocha crossing
Santa Clara province, entering Matanzas
and now threatening the capital of that
province, fifty miles from Havana. As
military movement this march is said to
be most brilliant one, bringing out Co
mez and Maceo as considerably more than
the Ignorant negroes they have been pic
tured.