The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-08
SURPRISE IN HAVANA
Campos Compelled to Admit He
Has Been Lying.
THE PATRIOTS NOT RsTREATiNG
Gomez and Maceo Marching Through
santa Clara Province More Soldiers
Arrive From Spain.

Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
Havana. Dec I'm spite Of the reported
defeats or Maxine Gomez and Antonio
Mace0 by Gen. Suarez Valdez. Gen. Ma
varro and Gen. Aldecoa. the latter having
been understood 10 be in pursuit Of the
insurgents. who were believed to be caught
between the columns Of troops commanded
by these generals and that Of Gen. Aldave.
Il Is now stated that Gomez and Maceo.
having united their forces. instead OF be-
ing IN fight IN the province Of Puerto
Principe. are advancing through the prov
ince OF Santa Clara Gen. Aldaye. as al
ready cahled. vas said 10 be in pursuit Of
the insurgents after they had turned his
flank and crossed the line between Ciego
de Aviia and Moron. in the province Of
Puerto Principe, on their way 70 Santa
Clara.
Maceo and Gomez, II Is now stated, have
already passed the road from Iguara. on
the frontier. TO Taluasco. a little north OF
Santo Spiritu. This news would seem TO
be correct, II only from the fact that the
column OF troops comuan ded by Col. Ze-
gUara. conveying 30 mules loaded with
ammunition and provisions, seems to have
had q brush with the enemy near Iggara,
with the loss. II is estimated. Of only nine
killed, but it is admitted that the Spanish
troops had to fight desperately in order
TO escape being captured, and soon after
ward the insurgents were divided into two
corps, one marching northward in the d.
rection OF the Remedies district. and the
other heading southwark toward the Trim
dad district. From this ii would seem
that the Spaniards must either have evac-
uated Santo Spiritu or e.se their force of
troops there is so insignificant that the in
surgent commanders have no hesitation in
leaving IL in their rear, although IT may
be reinforced later by the column COM
manded by Gen. Aldave.
an entirely different light upon the cam
paign in Cuba and IL correctly reported
would Indicate that the Spaniards have
been unable TO prevent the advance OF the
enemy from the province OF Puerto Prin-
cipe 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 district where Gen.
Campos has made his headquarters and
where about 40 900 Spaniards are reported
10 have been assembled. This view Of the
case Is all the more noteworthy from the
fact that only this morning 1t was official
~ stated that friends of the insurgents
who expected Gomez and Maceo 10 move
rapidly upon the province of Santa Clara
and later upon the province or Matanzas,
which would bring them dangerously near
Havana had been disappointed at their
failure to do so. The reported defeat of
the insurgents was classed as having been
due 10. their shameful and cowardly be-
havior," which demoralized them, and it
was further stated that the Spanish OFF,
Gals considered the rebellion to be moral
~ broken.
These rapid movements of the insurgents
which their friends hoped they would ac-
complsh before the arrival of reinforce
ments Of troops" now seem 10 have actual
Is taken place and therefore the rebellion,
~ bot
were making rapid progress in spite Of
efforts of the Spanish government Only
this morning the supporters Of the govern
nent were so hopeful of the speedy sup
preston OF the insurreCtion that IL was an
nounced that they expected 10 he able TO
raise 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 IL was admitted
that the arrival OF achievements was i'm
patiently awaited. and when tie steamer
Montevideo arrived here from Spain with
the Cantabria and Baillon battalions the
soldiers were accorded most enthus-
lastc reception.
This is the situation in a nutshell. The
insurgents according 10 the report received
this afternoon and having practically Of
fetal confirmation, are advancing in TWO
strong columns through tho province OF
Santa Clara. where IL may be said near
~ the entire eUecUNe spanish IoTCe u
concentrated. This startling news Is in
conflict with the government adyiCes given
out earlier in the day. 70 the effect that
the insurgents We're In retreat through the
province Of Puerto Principe, The report
"a advance OF the two columns under Gen.
Gomez aud Gen. Maceo into Santa Clara,
and the defeat of the Spanish troops near
Iguara. has caused some excitement in
Havana tonight
New York. Dec. Word was received
az the Cuban iunta yesterday through
private sources that Col. Alfred Reg3 is
about 70 descend on the garrisoned city OF
Natauzas. I'm the northeastern part Of
Cuha. Secretary Qucsada says the news
"a unofficial