The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-12-12
THE REPORTS THAT GEMS. GO
MEZ AND MACEO WERE RE-
TREATING IS FALSE.
SPANISH IRE REFUSED ENROUIE.
Endeavored to Stay Progress of the Gu
bans-A Decisive Battle May be
Fought Any Day-NIore Span
ish Troops Arrive.

Havana, Dec. 7.-(Copyrighted, 1895,
by the Associated Press i'm spite of the
reported defeats of Maxine Gomez and
Antonio Maceo by General Suarez Valdez
and General Aldecoa, the latter being I'M
| derstood to be in pursuit of the insurg-
ents, who were believed to be caught be-
tween the columns of troops commanded
by those generals, and that of General
Aldaca, it is now understood that Gomez
and Maceo, having united their forces,
instead of being in fight in the province
of Peurto Principe, are advancing
through the province of Santa Clara.
General Valdez, as already cabled, was
said to be in pursuit of the insurgents, at
ter they had turned his flank and crossed
the line between Ciego De Avila and
Moron, in the province OF Puerto Principe
on their way to Santa Clara. Maceo and
Gomez, it is now stated, have already
passed the road from lguara, on the from
tier to Taguasco, little north of Sancti
Espiritu.
This news would seem to be correct, if
only from the fact that the column of
troops commanded by Col. Zegura, con-
veying mules loaded with ammunition and
with the enemy near Iguara, the result
IF which was to drive the Spaniards into
lguara with the loss it is claimed, of only
nine killed. But it is admitted that the
Spanish troops had to fight desperately
in order to escape being captured, and
soon afterwards the insurgents were di-
vidcd into two columns, marching north
ward in the direction of Santa Clara.
From this it would seem that the Span
"a ha,, tod On nfI
Espiritu or else their force of troops there
is so insignificant that the insurgent COM
manders have no hesitation in leaving it
| in their rear, although it may be rein
| forced later by the column commanded
| by General Aldav.
| These movements of the insurgents
| throw an entirely different light upon the
campaign in Cuba, and if correctly re-
ported, would indicate that the Spaniards
have been unable to prevent the advance
| of the enemy from the province of Puerto
| Principe 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 heart of the dis
trict where General CampOs has made
his headquarters and where about 10000
Spanish troops are reported to have been
| arranged.
This view of the case is all the more
| noteworthy from the fact that only yes
terday morning it was officially stated
here that the insurgents friends, who eX-
pected Gomez and Maceo to move rapidly
upon the province of Santa Clara, and
later upon the province of Mantanzas,
which would bring them dangerously
near Havana, had been disappointed at
| their failure to do so. and the reported de-
feats of the insurgents. classed as having
been due to their shameful and cowardly
behavior, was said to have demoralized
them, and it was stated further that the
Spanish officials considered the rebellion
ments of the insurgents, which their
friends hoped they would accomplish "be-
fore the arrival of reinforcements of
troops" now seem to have actually TAX
en- place, and therefore the rebellion, in
stead of being broken, looks as if it was
making rapid progress in spite of the eff
forts of the Spanish government.
| Only this morning, however, the sup
| porters of the government were so hope
| full of the speedy suppression of the insur-
| rection that it was announced that they
| were expecting to be able to reap the
sugar crop, and that many of the plant
ers, in view of recent events, were prepar-
ing for grinding their sugar cane.
At the same time it was admitted that
the arrival of the reinforcements was inn
patiently awaited, and when the steamer
Montevideo arrived here from Spain to-
day with the Cantabria and Bailon bat
talions, the soldiers were accorded a
most enthusiastic reception. This is the
situation in a nutshell. The insurgents,
according to reports received this after
noon and having practically official con-
frmation, are advancing in two strong
columns through the province of Santa
Clara where it may be said the entire
effective Spanish force is concentrated.
This startling news is in conflict with the
government adyices given out earlier in
the day to the effect that the insurgents
were in retreat through the province of
Puerto Urincipe The reported advance
of the two columns under Maceo and Go
mez into Santa Clara and the defeat of
the Spanish troops near lguara has caus-
ed some excitement in Havana tonight.