The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-25

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Copyright, lSSS by the Associated PresS)
HAVANA. Dec. 2t,-shorly otter
noon to-day the startling news was re-
celyed from Matanzas that Gen. Maxi
mo Gomez, at the head OF the insurgenl
army. said to number about 1870 men
Of al arms, fairly we'll supplied with
artillery. had by a fclnt turned the
Iank OF Captain General Martinez do
Camps, In command OF the Spanish
forces u Colon attempting to stop the
advance OF the enemy upon Havana.
and wera well to the westward OF Col
on, and threatening to pass Matanzas
10 the southTWard and strike directly at
Havana
caused the greatest excitement here
both In official and unofficial circles.
AS previously detailed IN these DIS
watches, the insurgents, little over
tvn weeks ago, entered the province OF
santa clara from the province OF Pu-
orto Principe at Igllara, and, there de-
feaainR Colonel Segura, and n Spanish
column, they made a most wonderful
advance through the province, passing
through the flower OF the Spanish army
sssombied there and said TO number
5000 men.
After some sharp skirmlshes, in
which the SpaniaTds were worsted.
General Campos, who hhd made his
hsadanartRrs at Santa Clara, transfer
rcd them 70 Clenfuegos, with the an
nounoed intention OF personally com
unndtng tho troops which were to
check the inSurgent advance. But, in
spite OF the reported repulsez. the In
surgents pressed onward, and, passing
Placatas, Santa Clara, San Juan do
Iasyeras, Ranchuelo and other towns,
pushed on for the frontier Ot MatanEaS.
On 10 Havana.
AZ one time itwaRreported that they
Intended 70 Gttarl Santa Clara, but
their tartscs seemed TO be. TO pass all
the big towns and press on for Havana.
Il was only a few days ago that the an
Douncemeut was made that the inHur-
gents were Ut Las LajaS, and mnruh-
ing onward 70 Havana Then came
tie news that the insurgents had en-
tered the province OF MatanzaS NJ Pal
mASala. Before this, however, Gen,
Campos had changed his headquarters
coucentraslng his forces there. intend
ing 70 compel Gen. Gomez 10 fight q
pttchod battle before paSaing that
place
A dny or 10 ago the insurgents cnu1-
ed a scirry IN Colon. Firing was heard
al Attca, about flfteon miles from that
place, and reinforcomdnts were sent TO
the froFt from Colon; but this turned
out 70 be Fttie more than an outpost af-
mfr. and while the Spanish troops were
pudItnC for che point, the main body
Of the enemy passed soithward Of Col
on, near the line Of railroad. and head
Cd steadily for the frontier OF the prov
inoa OF Havana, thus turning the 0ani:
OF the Captnan General, who, with the
bulk Of the Spanish forcea In the Island
OF Crh1, % now well TO the rear OF the
irgurHout columns. The latter, NOV
ing much more rapidly than tho Span-
ish troops who are utterly unused TO
travelling in this thiokiy wooded coun-
Try, without regular roads and with
helyy grass and with low bush wood
tointsrfare with every movcment,are not
thought nIaoly TO be able 10 catch up
win the quickly moving Cubans, whose
mnnhetns clear a read for their ad-
Yunca and who, much more familiar
with the country and accustomed 70
the climate, have the advantage.
Tho report was circulated yesterday
that General oliver had been wounded
and that Genernls Prats and Godoy had
been killed In battle with the insurg'
cnts All these reports turn out to be
incorrect.
General Navarro has had several
BkirTnIahes with the Insurgents while
pursuing them towards the province of
MatRusas and has killed .ilfty-thrce, OF
them.
Gomez, by beautifully executed
counterfnnrch, hag turned tho llank OF
the famed Spanish COMMANDER, and
yesterday, with his army made his APP
pcarance close 10 the town OF Jo1elln.
nos, wcIl 10 the rear OF Colon. and
commanding the railroads TO Cardenas,
NatanZaB and Havana. The move
mcnl Of the Insurgents was m example
" splendid Beneralghip accomplished
under the most trying clrcuHBtunccS
and In the face OF Overwhelming NUM-
bera OF Spanish troops, Commanded by
the best officers of Spain.
The CubnnB were divided In three
columns, ono TO the south, under LIZ
tnrte and Suhrcs, numbering over 1000
men; another nOrthwrrd under Antn-
Mo Mhcco. Numbering over 5000 men;
and the centre, tho main body OF the
Insurgents. numbering over GOO9 mon,
under General Gomez IN the centre
" onrh column was the artillery, corr
aisting OF only two 1cid plcccH for chch
column. Ahead ~ these three col
umns wns the vanguard Of the insurg-
crtE, composed NJ 1000 men and COM
mandcd by General Frnncigco Perez.
The Insurgents burned tho railroad
riG,lon Of QulntHnn, eastward OF Jovol-
lpno1, and destroyed the railroads be-
hind them 10 prevent the advance dt the
Nsnn,arda upon their Tonr. Tho Int
fGwE received tliia afternoon WIS that
they had passed tho i4imonar. q small
ttWn only Il few miles from MntanLhH,
and were pushing for the rnilrond that
connects MntdnzEa with Havana.
Last T'ttlr lftaia
II sccna that there il nothing likely
to prcytnt them from besleElng Hnya-
nr within tho next fcw days, for tho
Enaulqi commanders appear 10 nave
,utir1ly loat their heads. md unlu1a
GpsorpI CnmpOa has Accomplished u
Miracle of dnflng atrAtggy, IN allowing
GousE md hiA forces 10 silly away, IN
order that the spanish troops may hc
hurried after thrm nnd by n gortlc on
iiDynnn, catch them between two ilrc7,
The lnaurgenlH arn ungiera of tho nltup-
tlnn
The odds hralnnt tho HpHnlnrds bo.
irg able IN prcBA on after thp trlum'
rhnnt inturRNnt army Hrr very heavy.
iIt only hive the Insurgents destroyed
the nllt0nin behind them. thus burn
,UE th1ir Bhlrr, ng n were, but they
have in inany Otior WAYS luho ryory.
iiur poFrible IN Impede llo pf0grrsh OF
IN" Npnnlth army, ana lho frlcnda "
inn lrHitRontH here nrc confident that
a.. UfftVsI AZ nputga ttofufo ftuvuVu