The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-26

The Captain General WIFI Look After
the DefeAxe Of the City.

The Captain General WIFI Look After
the DefeASe of the City.
Copyright, 1885, the Associated Press)
HAVANA, Dec. .R5.-Christmas day wore
away in Havana with continued anxiety
in all circles, the news of the morning OF
the continued advance or tne insurgent
forces being confirmed by details coming
in through the day and embeflshed by fly
ing rumors of the close approach OF Co
mez and his army. AS matter of fact.
there was very little accurate information
of the exact whereabouts of the insur-
gents or the course they were taking, the
military authorities themselves being much
at fault as to where the enemy was to
meet them. They continued throughout the
day to express utter disbelief that an at
tack could be contemplated on Havana 1T
self and their confidence did much to
strengthen that of the other residents OF
the city. Much is still made by the au-
thorities Of the engagement at Coliseo
plantation, which, they insist. was a sig
nal victory over the forces of Gomez. After
the check they assert that the insurgents
will not dare to advance on Havana The
fact remains that the westward course OF
the insurgents continues, and active prep
arations are going on for the immediate
defense Of the city against assault.
It was announced in the afternoon that
Captain General Campos was expected to
arrive in Havana at o'clock from GUIANA
,bana, near Matanzas, where he slept last
night. making the seventh change OF his
headquarters in two weeks, or since the un-
checked progress of the insurgents through
Santa Clara and Matanzas provinces COM
menced, and also to the westward, or nearer
Havana. This act in itself is regarded as
highly significant of the critical situation Of
Havana and as a REIMBURSEMENT of any
hope on the part of the Spanish commander
of bringing the insurgents to a standstill
outside Jaruco. or any point between Matan-
zas and Havana. The arrival here OF the
Captpain General makes 1t evident that the
base Of operations against the insurgents
must now be Havana direct. II Ii is true
that General Campos has deliberately suf-
fered the advance of the insurgents into the
open and populated country, where they now
are, 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 ar
rived. How much Of an available force the
Span!ards have left In the van OF the insur-
gents to cooperate in such blow is
not accurately known. but the off,
cial reports themselves Indicate that
it is In a badly disorganized condition,
that 1t has suffered serious losses from the
insurgents. and that the country through
which they have come is almost a barren
waste with means OF communication in
every direction cut of and in bad condition
for technical military operations such as
the Spanish rely on for success. A COM
bined attack on Havana by the insurgents
would necessarily be In the nature OF a
pitched battle-a very different matter from
the skrmishes and feints by a small force
which have been adopted thus far TO lead
away the Spanish forces. while the main
column eludes them ana advances out of
their reach.
on his arrival here this evening General
Campos made known his belief that General
Gomez has designed mis- movement which
has thus far proved so signaily successful
merely as raid into the heart OF the
enemy's country. and as near TO Havana as
1t was possible for him 10 go. intending
then 10 fight his way back. General Cam
pos believes that the whole aim OF the in
.curs.on was the destruction OF property
and he asserts that they have already in
itiated retreat. He states that he has
foreseen this purpose. anG he asserts that
he has taken effective measures to prevent
their return TO Santa Cla.a. They will be
compsned to hght at Matanzas. he says. or
Continued on seoond Fagel