The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-26

OF the critical situation OF Havana and
as REIMBURSEMENT OF any hope on the
part OF the Spanish commander ot
bringing tho insurgents 10 stnndstill
outside JaTuca or any point between
MntRnEas and Havana, Tho arrival
here of the captain general, makes II
evident that the base OF operations
against the insurgents must now be
Havana direct,
canpoS' Last Move.
lit Is true that General Campos has
deliberately suffered the advance Of the
Insurgents into the open and unpopu-
lated country where they are now with
the purpose OF closing In behind them
while he attacks them from Havana,
thus crushing them between the upper
and neither millstones, his arrival In
Havana shows that the hour for his
coup has arrived. How much Of an
available force OF SpRniRrds haYe been
left In the rear OF the insurgents to CO.
operate In such blow is not accurately
known, but the official reports them
selves indicate that II "a In badly
organized condition; that It has suf-
fered serious losses from the insur-
gents, and the country through which
they have come Is almost a barren
waste, with means OF communication
In every direction cut on and In bad
condition for technical military opera
tlons, such us the Spanish rely on for
success, a combined attack on Havana
by the insurgents would necessarily he
In the nature OF pitched battle-a very
different matter from tho skirmishes
and feints by small force, which have
been adopted thus far TO lead away the
Spanish forces, while the main column
eMdes them and advances out OF their
reach.
Upon his arrival here this evening.
General Campos made known his be-
lief that General Gomez has designed
his movement, which has thus far
proved 30 signally successful, merely
Rs raid into the heart OF the enerny's
country and rs near to Havana rs II
was possible for him 10 90, intending
then to fight his way back. General
Campos believes that the while aim of
the incursion was the destruction OF
property, and ho asserts that they have
already initiated retreat. He states
that hO has foreseen this purpose. and
he asserts that he has taken effective
measures TO prevent their return TO
Santa Clara. They will be compelled to
flght at MatanEas, he says, or 10 sur
render. He does not believe that they
can effect u retreat without destruc-
tion.
Ills Reception.
The captain general was accorded an
enthusiastic reception upon his nrrivnl
here BY the city authorities and by
committee representative OF all the po-
lltical parties So far as can be learned
he expresses unRbated confidence In
the success OF the Spanlards. and be-
lleves that the hour OF the destruction
OF the insurgent forces is at hand. He
brings news that q battalion from the
city OF Sanctl Splritus. in the province
OF Santa Clara, has arrived at Union
Dereyes. IN the Mntanzas, about tifteGn
miles south OF the city of MatRnEns,
and q battalion from Holuuin in the
province OF Santiago dc Cuba, is on Its
way to GuanabanR. The Spanish army.
he says, for whom these rOlnfOrcp-
mentS are coming forward. ARE In IN
advantageous position nbout Matnn-
zas. Nothing IL said OF the presence
of the insurgent forces east of Matan-
Zas, between that point aud Havana,
II In not thought probable that II Is
the intention OF tho insurgents to en-
gage In o pitched battle, and much
anxiety Is felt 10 know whether they
have actually initiated n retreat and
whether the elusive strategy they have
hitherto employed will serve 10 open n
way for them In either direction they
choose TO go.
There was public meeting held here
Friday evening as n demonstration OF
sympathy for General Campos.