The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-08

Mae, nLd Gen. Gomez Through the
Province of Santa Clara and the
Spanish Troop. car IguaTa Caused
Great FxcIts meBt in H8va9a Las,
Night. he Insurgents ana Their
Friends His hly EIa:ed
HAVANA, Dec. Tn spite OF the
reported defeats of MaXimo Gomez
and Antonio Maceo by General .Juatez
Valdez, General Navarro and General
AIdecoa, the latter being understood
to be in pursuit of the insurgents who
were believed to be caught between
the columns of troops commanded by
these generals and that of General
Aldave, il is now stated that Gomez
and Maceo, having united their forces,
instead of being in fight in the prov
ince of Puerto Principe, are advancing
through the province of Santa Clara
General Aldave, as already cabled, was
said to be in pursuit of the insurgents
after they had turned his flank and
crossed the line between Ciego de Avila
and Moren, in the province of Puerto
Principe, on their way to Santa Clara.
Maceo and Gomez, it is now stated,
have already passed the road from
Iguara, on the frontier, to Taguasco,
a little north of Santi Spiritus.
This news would seem to be correct
if only from the fact that the column
of troops commanded by Colonel Sc
gura, conveying 200 mules loaded with
| ammunition and provisions, seems to
have had brush with the enemy near
Iguara, the result of which was to
drive the Spaniard into lguara with
the loss, it is claimed, OF only nine
killed. But it is admitted that the
Spanish troops had to fight desperate
~ in order TO escape being captured,
and soon afterwards the insurgents
were divided into two corps, one
| marching in the direction of the Rem
edios district and the other heading
southwark towards the Trinidad dis
trict From this it would seem that
the Spaniards must have either eyacu-
ated Santi Spiritus or else their force
of troops there is so insignificant that
the insurgent commanders have no
hesitation in leaving it in their rear,
although itmay be reinforced later by
the column commanded by GencraI
Aldase
'ri5rsss movements OF the insurgents
throw an entirely different light upon
the campaign in Cuba. and if correctly
reported, would indicate that the
| Spaniards have been unable to prevent
the advance of the enemy from the
province of Puerto Principe into the
province of Santa Clara. and that the
combined armies of Gomez and Maceo
| are strong enough to enable them to
! be divided into two corps, which are
| advancing into the heart of the dis
| trict where General Campos has made
| his headquarters and where about 1000
| Spanish troops are reported to have
| been assembled.
This view of the ease is all the more
noteworthy from the fact that only
| this morning it was officially stated
| here that the friends of the insurgents
| who were expecting Gomez and Aiaceo
| to move rapidly upon the province Of
| Santa Clara, and later, upon the pro-
vince of Matanzas. which would bring
| them dangerously near heaven, have
| been disappointed at their failure to
| do so and the reported defeats of the
| insurgents. classed as having been due
| their shameful and cowardly be-
| hayior." were said TO have demoralized
! them and it was stated further that
| the Spanish officials considered the
rebellion to be morally broken. These
| rapid movements of the insurgents,
| their friends hoped they would accom-
| plish before the arrival of reinforce
ments of troops" now seem to have ac-
| tually taken place and therefore, the
rebellion. instead of being broken,
| looks as if it was making rapid pro-
| gress in spite of the efforts Of the
| Spanish government.
| nnIv fbiC r1crpipU however the SIM
porters of the government were 50.
| hopeful of the speedy suppression of
! the insurrection that it was announced
| that they were expecting to be able to
reap a good sugar crop and that many
OF the planters, in view OF the recent
| events. were preparing for grinding
| their sugar cane.
| At the same time. it was admitted
| that the arrival of re-inforcements was
| impat;cntly awaited, and when the
steamer Nonteyideo arrived here from
! Spain to-day with the Centrabia and
| BaiIou battallions. the soldiers were
| accorded a most enthusiastic recep-
| ton.
This is the situation in a nut shell.
| The insurgents according to the re-
| port received this afternoon, and haV-
| ing practically official confirmation,
are advancing in two strong icoiumns
through the province of Santa Clara,
where it may be said nearly the entire
effective Spanish force is concentrt-
ed This Startling news is in conflict
with the government advices given
out earlier in the day, TO the effect
| that the insurgents were in retreat
| through the province of Puerto Prin-
| cipe The reported advance Of the
| two columns under Maceo into Santa
| Clara and the defeat of the Spanish
| troops near Iguara has caused some
| excitement in Havana tonight
THE GOULD ESTATE EXEMPTED.