The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-12-27
THEDEFENSEORHAVANA
Active Preparations to Repel the
Insurgent Advance.
GOVERNMENT SURPRISING NEWS
That the Cuban Capital L. In Danger Is
Evidenced by tho Extraordinary Efforts
Made for Defending It--Insargents Plen-
ttfally suPplied with AmmunitIon.

Made for Defending It--Insargents Plen-
tiraiiy Supplied with Ammunition
HAVANA, Dec e7.-Sinca the arrival
here "Wednesday night Of Captain General
Marines de Campos from MatanzRs he
has been In conference with leading mill
tary and naval officials, the civil digni-
taries, and the leaders of tho different po-
litieal parties. They assembled at the pal
nee and during the course of number of
patriotic speeches pledged their uncondi-
tional support to the government in it's
efforts to suppress the instruction, and
promised to do everything possible in tho
way of moral and actual assistance.
News from the front seems to be inter
rupted both by rail and telegraph, and no
information Is obtainahle concerning the
movements of the Insurgents. The cap
tain general, upon his arrival here, an
nounced that the Spanish troops in Ma
tanzas occupied advantageous positions,
and that the Cubans would either be com
pellel to fight pitched battle in that
province or surrender. 1t is not generally
believed here however, that the march OF
Gomez and Macco upon Havana has really
been stopped.
In support Of this it is said that II Gomez
and Macco were retreating, the govern
ment would not be slow in making public
every item Of news obtainable concerning
this feature of the hitherto triumphant
march of the insurgents from the province
Of Puerto Principe, through the province
of Santa Clara, into the province of Har
vana, in spite of the numerous columns OF
Spanish troops in the territory traversed.
The fact is that so many announcements
of the defeat and retreat OF the insurgents
have been made that it will require strong
confirmation to make anybody here be-
lieve that such is an actual fact. When
the insurgents first entered the province
of Santa Clara II was announced that they
had been defeated with great loss, and
had retreated across the border But the
next news received from the front was
that the Cuban army was threatening
Placetas, more than half way between the
border and the capitol, Santa Clara, and
since then they have apparently pushed
onward with little or no interruption.
The absence of news of the movements
of the insurgents is causing some anxiety
among their friends here, but they claim
that Gomez and Maeeo are In possession
of the railroad and telegraph lines, and
that it was with difficulty that Campos
succeeded in reaching Havana BE that
as II may, the only news obtainable Is that
furnished by rumor, and IL the authorities
are in possession of any additional facts
all such matter is carefully suppressed.
In the meanwhile active preparations are
| being made here for the defense of the
city and for forwarding to the front all the
troops which can be spared. 1t Is under
stood that the Spanish columns in the rear
of the insurgent army have been ordered to
concentrate as quickly as possible about
the frontier Of MatanZas, and that every
effort Is TO be made to prevent the retreat
of the Cubans into Santa Clara.
While these preparations are being
made to apparently stop the insurgents
from escaping back into Santa Clara, the
land Notifications Of Havana are receiving
attention day and night A number Of
additional earthworksl have been thrown
| up during the last month also, and these
are being hastily completed and supplied
with guns rs rapidly as possible. The
magazines are being plentifully supplied
with ammunition, and the outposts of thG
Spanish troops around Havana are beinG
strengthened and more securely fortified.
There is considerable speculation here al
to the actual number of men under thu
command Of Gomez and Maceo, Th
highest estimates have il that the Cubal
army numbers 1000 men, while the low
est number of followers the insurgen
leaders are credited with having unde
their command is 600 1t is TO be pre-
sumed however, that Gomez and Mace
may have lOOoo men with them, as the
arc known TO have been joined by larg
numbers Of adherents since they entere
the province Of Matanzas The insurgcnt
have also been plentitully supplied witt
ammunition, said to have been stored fo
their usc at different points and account
lated and hidden formcnths past.
A conservative estimate Of the force q
tho disposal here Of the captain gsener;
has been made, and 1t is estimated that Ii
has 21,OOo regulars and about 1900 yoluf
tccrs with which 10 meet the insurgar
army.