The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-28


General Uprising of The People
Against spain Feared AIaTm-
ing Rumors Circulated.
HAVANA, Dec. 21-The excitement
which has prevailed here since the in
surgent army under Gomez and Maceo
entered the province of Matanzas, con-
tinues to-day and is heightened by the
meagreness of the news from the
front. The Spanish authorities insist
that the insurgents are in retreat and
General Campos is still here and the
work of fortifying Havana and its vi
cinity continues without an hours in
terruption in any direction.
According to the official advices,
Maceo is at the plantation of OlimpO,
near the town of CimarroncS. Il little
way north of JoyellanOs, the town
from which Campos retreated upon
limonare. Cimarrones is about 4j
kilometres from the city of Matanzas
of the province of that name.
Quintin Bandera is said TO be with
his column at Sumidero, about 20
| kilometres from Matanzas and only Il
little way from Limonare, where, ac-
| cording to the official announcements,
Campos defeated the insurgents at
| Coliseo. But Sumidero is nearer to
Matanzas than Coliseo, which would
| not seem to confirm the story that
Bandera's column was defeated.
Maxine Gomez. still. according to
the official advices. is at the farm of
Ciervo, in the district of Jaguey
Grande, and i'm the direction of the
Grande Cienaga Occidental de Zapata
an immense stretch of swamp land in
to which he could retreat to the south
ward if necessary, and possibly avoid
pursuit upon the part of the Spanish
troops.
1T viii thus be seen that three Cuban
columns are accounted FOR. one to the
| north. n Sumidero. under Bandera:
one in the centre at Cimarrones. under
Maceo. and one 10 the south, near
.lH1ucy Grandc. under Gomez, all in
the province of Matanlas and all to
| the westward of Colon.
The exact position Of the Spanish
coiamns being concentrated TO meet
The insurgents ito pursue them ac-
| cording To the Spanish otficials) is not
known but the last reports received
had it that the Spaniards were concen-
trating at Union de Reyes. But, Sunni
dero, where the Bandera column is
located is well to the nOrthward and
only little westward of Union de
REYES and l}andeTa would thus have
no difficulty in pressing onward to-
wards Havana northward OF Union de
Reyes and south OF the city OF Matan-
zas. Bandera would also be able to at
/ IN, ~ ta n 80 H.
| gage Maceo at Cimarrones. or he
| might join together and move upon
| any force sent 10 attack Gomez in the
| .Jaguev Grande district. Consequently
| it is difficult 10 see how the Spanish
commander figures out his statement
| that the Spanish troops occupy the
| most advantageous positions in the
| province OF MatmzaS. TO the obser-
| yer of the movements Of the opposing
| forces. it would appear that Gomez to
| the south. MaceO in the centre and
| Eandera to the north and further
| west. really form half circle around
| the Spanish forces and completely
! command that portion OF the island
Many people are convinced that IL
| Gomez succeeds in pushing his forces
| to within a reasonable distance ot liza
| yana. am uprising of the friends OF the
| insurgents here is not at all unlikely.
| Every body YOU see in the streets seems
| 10 be in Il state Of great nervous eN-
element. and there are not Il teW peo-
| ple who are asking themselves now 1t
| is possible that CampoS Is now IN la
| wanna if the insurgents are IN retreat
| and. if the city is threatened, why II is
| that he does not go out to meet the
| enemy.
The authorities are not blind to the
| fact that there is a strong element
| among the Younger male population
| of this city which is in strong sA'hpa-
| INV with the insurgents and, III ease
| of serious trouble with the insurgents
| outside the city, it is an open question
whether the fire department and even
| the bulk Of the civil guards ana VOL
| unteers here could be counted upon
for any length of time. The triumphant
march of the insurgents seems 10 nave
GREAT effect upon the pOpulace ana
| those who three weeks ago lauSheu
| at the insurrection ever amounting 10
| ANYTHING more than an uprising Oh the
| disnfTected portion Of the population
| ara now anxjouslV looking Tor news
! from the front and are extremely ap-
! nrebensive OF hearing within n short
! tjmc tnat the advance guard OF the IN
| snreents has been sighted from the
! outer works of the city OF Havana
| The merchants of this city winnie
! sin IovaIly supporting the govern
raent are beginning to be very nervous
| and look forward with a deal Of alarm
10 the prospect of an uprising here
,,,J tl,e entry of the insurgents INTO
Havana which, it is claimed, is certain
to be the signal for wholesale looting
| and other serious disorders.
| In face of all these alarming ru-
mors and expressed fears, the govern
ment authorities insist that there is
absolutely no danger that insurgents
| will ever get any distance beyond Ma
| tanzas and they continue laughing at
the mere mention of the idea that
Gomez can get within sight of Havana