St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-28
C.--iEFULLY AWAY FROM
EACH OTHER.
GoMEZ'S STRATEGIC MOVES.
e IDENTITY NOT DESTROYS OF A
PITCHED BATTLE WITH
TROOPS.
HAVANA NOT YET BnsIEGED.
Report of Number of AtrOciOus
Murders by Bands of In
surgents.

I1AAAISA, DeC. lI.-ITOOpS anu VOL
unteers are stationed at all the STRAIT
egic points around Mantanzas, and
two war ships are said to be on their
way to reinforce the naval contingent
already on duty at that port. The
authorities claim that hundreds of
families from the province Of Ma
tanzas are flocking into the capital
of that part of the country, while, on
the other hand, the insurgents assert
that they have been strongly rein
forced from the population Of Matanz-
as since their columns entered the
province. The authorities Of Matanzas
are busily at work arresting persons
suspected Of being in sympathy with
the Cuban army. Forty-eight people
were taken into cusody there today.
The Cubans in sympathy with the in
surgents assert that there will be
popular uprising in MatanZas If Ban
dera approaches near enough to that
city to warrant it. In spite of the re-
ported bad condition of the insurgents,
the work Of preparing for the defense
of Havana Is being pushed with all
the vigor possible, and all the regular
soldiers and volunteers who can be
spared are being hurried to the front.
Provisions are being collected, cattle
are being driven in and everything
denotes the greatest anxiety and eX
citement, a state Of affairs not at all
in keeping with the glowing reports
of Spanish victories and insurgent de-
feats which are announced. Many are
convinced that if Gomez succeeds in
pushing his forces to within a reason
able distance of Havana, an uprising
of the friends of the insurgents here is
not at all unlikely. Everybody one
sees in the streets seems to be in a
state of great nervous tension and
there are not a few people who are
asking themselves how it is possible
that Campos is naw in Havana if the
insurgents are in retreat, and, if the
city is threatened, why it is that he
does not go out to meet the enemy.
HAVANA SYMPATHIZERS.
The authorities are not blind to the
fact that there is a strong element
among the younger male population
here which is in strong sympathy with
the insurgents, and in case of serious
trouble with the insurgents outside the
city, 1t Is an open question whether
the fire department, and even the bulk
of the civil guards and volunteers here,
could be counted upon for any length
of time. The march Of the rebels seems
to have great effect on the populace,
and those who three weeks ago laughed
at the idea of the insurrection ever
amounting to anything more than an
uprising of the disaffected portion of
the population are now anxiously look
ing for news from the front, and are
o. trapp .-annrabonciua Of
within a short time that the advance
guard of the insurgents has been sight
ed from the outer works of the city Of
Havana. The merchants Of this city,
while still Loyalty supporting the gov
ernment, are beginning to be very
nervous, and look forward with a great
deal Of alarm to the prospect of an
uprising here and the entry of the in
surgents into Havana, which, it Is
claimed, is certain to be the signal for
wholesale looting and other serious dis
order. In face of all these alarming
rumors and expressed fears, the gov
eminent authorities insist that there Is
no danger that the enemy will ever get
any distance beyond Matanzas.
,.,,.. OFFICIAL AND DOUBTFUL.
News of small engagements and movements
of the troops and many rumors arrived here
continually throughout the day, all accom-
panied by the general claim that the in
surgents were in full retreat and the raid
into Matanzas was ended No reliable esti-
mate could be made of the real position Of
the insurgents, or the force they mustered
in any one place. Their movements could
only be surmised from the reported move
ments of the Spanish forces and their en-
counters with insurgents, who do not ap-
pear to have been in great numbers. The
official reports give the impression that the
insurgents are no longer making any ag-
gressive movement toward Havana, but are
effecting retreat back into Santa Clara.
Reports tonight would indicate that portion
at least of Gomez's column has crossed the
line back into Santa Clara and is now near
the great swamp land in the southern part
of that province. Bandera and Maceo in
the North, seem to be holding their own
against the Spanish forces.