St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-27
EVERY LOYAL MALE CITIZEN OF
HAVANA MAY HAVE TO
FIGHT.
DEFENSIVE PREPARATIONS.
cANPOs SAYS THE REBELS ARE
BEATEN, BUT 1T LOOKS
DOUBTFUL.
WHERE ARE THE 1NsURGENTse
CaparaI Disbelief of the Spanish
Story That They Are in Full
Retreat.

HA VANA, Dec Ao.-SlilCe tIie dil' "A
here last night of Capt. Gen. Martinez
de Campos from Matanzas he has been
in conference with leading military
and naval officials, the civil dignitaries
and the leaders Of the different politi-
cal parties, who assembled at the pal
ace last night and In the course Of a
number of patriotic speeches pledged
their unconditional support in its eff
forts to suppress the insurrection, and
promised to do everything possible in
the way of moral and actual assist
ance.
News from the front seems to be in
terrupted by rail and telegraph, and
no information was obtainable con-
cerning the movements Of the insur-
gents. The captain general, upon his
arrival here, announced that the Span
ish troops in MatanZas occupied ad-
vantageous positions. and that the
Cubans would either be compelled to
fight a pitched battle in that province
or surrender 1t Is not generally be-
lieved, however. that the march of
Gomez and Maceo on Havana has
really been stopped. In support Of this
it is said that if Gomez and Maceo
were retreating the government would
not be slow in making public every
item of news obtainable concerning
this feature Of the hitherto triumphant
march Of the insurgents. While prep
arations are being made to apparently
stop the insurgents from escaping back
into Santa Clara, the land fortifca-
tions Of Havana are receiving atten-
ton day and night. A number of
additional earthworks have been
thrown up during the. last month also,
and those are being hastily completed
and supplied with guns as rapidly as
possible. The magazines are being
plentifully supplied with ammunition,
and the outposts Of the Spanish troops
around Havana strengthened and more
securely fortified. Throughout the
night and all day there has been an
air Of hurry andsa nzssety at the differ
ent headquarters here, which does not
seem to indicate that the supreme au-
thorities are in any way satisfied that
the insurgents are retreating, and If
military activity goes for anything,
the most determined efforts are being
made to prevent surprise. There
Is considerable speculation here as to
the actual men under the command of
Gomez and Maceo. The highest esti-
mates have it that the Cuban army
number $4,000 men, while the lowest
number is placed at 6,OOO It is to
be presumed, however, that Gomez and
Maceo may have 10000 men with them,
as they are known to have been
Joined by large numbers Of adherents
since they entered the province Of
Matanzas. The insurgents have also
been plentifully supplied with ammu-
milton, said to have been stored for
their use at different points and ac-
cumulated and hidden for months past.
In order to enable as many troops as
possible to be sent to the front, all the
marines and sailors who could be
spared from the Spanish fleet have
been landed and the former are doing
duty as artillerymen wherever their
cervices are needed. All the volun-
teers available are under arms and
every male inhabitant capable of do
ing active service, or Of finding some
body else to do it for him. has been
called on to bear arms.