The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-28
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN HAVANA
A Strong Element There Favor
able to the Insurgents.
Reports From Spanish Sources MeaKer.
They Ridioule the Idea OF the Gap
ature OF Havana. But at tho Same
Time Are Busy Certifying tho Place.
The Insurgents Have tho Advantage
in Position.

In Position.
+ HAVANA, Dec: 27.-The excitement
which has prevailed here since the in
surRent army under Gomez and Maceo
entered the province OF Matsnzas, con-
tinues To-day and is heightened by the
meagerness OF the news from the front.
The Spanish authorities Insist that the
insurgents are in retreat and that GEN
eral Campos Ia here and the work Of for.
tifying Havana and its vicinity con-
tinues without an hours interruption In
any direction. According to tho official
advioes, Maceo Is a. the plantation of
Olimpo, near the town OF Cimarrones,
little way north of Jovellanos the town
from which Campo5 retreated upon
Limonsre. Clmarrones Ia about forty
five kilometres from tho city of Matan-
zas OF the province Of that name.
Qutntin Bandero is said to be with his
column at Sumtdero, about twenty kilo-
metres from Matanzss and only listle
way from Limonare, where according 60
the official announcements Campos de-
feated the insurgents al Coliseo. But
Sumidero is nearer to Matanzas than
Coliseo, which would not seem to COM
firm the story that Bandero's column
was defeated. Maxine Gomez is still,
according to the official advices, at the
farm Of Ciefro, in the district OF Jhguey
Grende, and in the direction of the
grand Cienaga Occidental de Zapats, an
immense stretch Of swamp land into
which he will retreat TO the south II
necessary to avoid capture by the Span
fRrds.
The exact position OF the Spanish
columns being concentrated to meet the
insurgents Ito pursue them, according
to the Spanish oft1cials) Ia not known,
but the last reports had the Spaniaris
| concentrating at Union de Reyes. But
Sumidero, where the Bandero column Ia
located, Is we'll to the northward and
only little westward Of Union Dereyes,
and Bandero would thus have no diff
Guilty In pressing onward towards
Havana, northward OF Union de Reyes,
| Bandero would also be able to attack
the rear OF the troops sent to engage
maceo at Oimsrrones, or he might join
| forces with Maceo, and the insurgent
| columns might, thus united, move upon
| snY force sent to attack Gomez in tho
Jagey district.
| Consequently, 1t is difficult TO sec no "
| the Spanish com M ander figures out his
statement that Spanish troops occupy
| the most advantageous positions in the
province Of Matanzas. TO tho observer
Of the movements Of the opposing forces,
1t would appear that Gomez to the south,
Msceo in the center and Bandero to the
north and further west, really form
half circle around tho Spanish forces
| and completely command that portion
of the island. Many people are con-
WINGED that II Gomez succeeds in push
| ing his forces to within o reasonable
| distance OF Havana, an uprising of the
| friends Of the insurgents Ia not at all
unlikely.
Everybody ono sees In the streets
seems to be in q state of great nervous
! excitement, and there are not few
people who are asking themselves how
! 1t is possible that Campos Is now in
Havana II the insurgents are in re-
treat, and If the city ia threatened
why 1t is that he does not 90 out to
meet the enemy. The authorities sre
not blind to the fact that there is a
! strong element among the younger
male population OF this city which is
in strong sympathy with the insur-
gents, and In case OF serious trouble
with the insurgents outside. 1t Ia an
| open question whether the fire depart.
ment and even the bulk Of the civil
guards and volunteers here could be
counted upon for any length OF time.
The triumphant march OF the insur-
gents seems to have great effect upon
the populace, and those who. three
weeks ago laughed ct the idea Of the
insurfecsion ever amounting to any thing
more than an uprising of the dissffected
portion OF the population, are now
snxiously looking for news from the
front and are extremely sppreb ensive
OF hearing within short time OF the
advance guard OF the insurgents. The
merchants OF this city, while still
loyalty supporting the government are
beginning to be very nervous and look
forward with o great deal of alarm st
the prospecs Of an uprising here and
the entry Of insurgents to Havans,
which 1t Is claimed, is certain to be the
signsl for looting and other disorders.
In the face Of all these alarming ru-
mors and expressed fears, the govern
ment authorities insist that there Ia abb
solutely no danger that the insurgents
will ever get any distance beyond Ma
tanzas, and they continue laughing at
the mere mention of the idea that Go
mez can get within sight Of Havana.