Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-28
BOTH IRE HARD TO LOCATE.
The Cuban and Spanish Armies Are
Playing Hide and Seek.
the Insurgents Seem to
Have the Spaniards Scared, and
Great Efforts Are Making to Pre-
vent an Assault Upon Havana.
Fortifcations Are Being Perfect
ed by Working Day and Night.

insurgent army under Gomez and Maceo
entered the province of Matanzas con-
t.nues to-day and is heightened by the
meagernessof the news from the front.
The Spanish authorities insist that the
insurgents are in retreat and yet Capt.
Gen. Martinez de Campos is still here
and the work of fortifying Havana and
its vicinity continues without an hours
interruption in any direction.
According to the official adv.ces,
Maceo is at the plantation of Olmpo,
near the town OF Cimarrones, little
way north OF JoyellanOs, the town from
which Campos returned upon Limonne.
C.marrones 5 about 45 k.lometers from
the city OF Matanzas, capital of the prov
lnce OF that name.
Quintin Blndera is said to be with his
column al oum.der0, about 70 k.lome-
tres from Ma,anZas and only little way
from LlmOnaire, where, according 10
the official announcements, Camp0s de-
feated the insurgents at CoEseo. But
Sumider.o is nearer 10 Matanzas than
COMseo, which would not seem TO con-
firm the story that Bandera's column
was defeated.
Maxine Gomez still, according to the
official adv.ces, is at the farm OF C.ervo,
in the district of Jaguey Grande, and
IN the direction of the grand Cienanga
Occidental de Zapata, an immense
stretch of swamp land, into which he
could retreat to che southwark, il nee
esssry, and possibly avoid pursuit upon
the part of the Spanish troops.
Ii will thus be seen that the three
Cuban columns are accounted for, one
to the North at Sum.dero, under Ban
dera; one in the centre at C.marrones,
under Maceo. and one to the south. near
Jaquey Grande, under Gomez, all in the
province Of Matanzas and all to the
westward of Colon.
THE EXACT POSITION
Of the Spanish columns being concen-
trated to meet the insurgents (to pur-
sue them according to the Spanish Off
cials) is not known, but the last reports
received had it that the Spaniards were
concentrating at Union de Reyes. But
SumiderO, where the Bandera column
column IS located, is we'll to the north
ward and only a little eastward of I'm
ion de Reyes and Bandera would thus
have no difficulty in pressing on towards
Havana, northward of Union de Reyes,
and south of the city Of MatanZas. Ban
dera would also be able to attack in the
rear the troops sent to engage Maceo at
CimmarOnes or might join forces with
MaceO end the two insurgents column
might join together and move upon any
force sent to attack Gomez in the Jaquey
Grande district.
Consequently it is difficult TO see how
the Spanish commander figures out his
statement that the Spanish troops occu-
py the most advantageous positions IN
the province of Matanzas. To the OBJ
server Of the movements of the opposing
forces, it would appear that Gomez to
the south, Maceo in the center, and Ban
dera to the north and further west,
really form a half circle around the
Spanish forces and completely COM
mand that portion Of the Island. Then
again, admitting that Union de Reyes
is the Spanish headquarters for the op-
erations against the insurgents in the
province of Natanzas it would appear
that the Span.ards cannot move in
body upon either Of the Cuban columns
without being attacked in the rear and
upon both flank by the Cubans. The
only operations possible to them, sup
posing Union de Reyes to be their raj
lying point is to divide in three col
umns to move simultaneously
UPON THE CUBAN COLUMNS.
Therefore it will be noticed that the
tactics followed by Gomez throughout
the campaign successfully prevail even
at the present moment He has h.th-
erto been able to avoid a pitched battle
with the Spanish troops, and while lead
ing them to concentrate at various
points. he has managed to slip by the
Spanish forces although the Span.ardS
have over half a dozen times believed
that they had his whole force before
them and that they would be able to
deliver a crushing blow. Il is there
fore reasonable to believe that if Ban
dera pushes on westward in Sum:dero,
he will turn the left flank Of the Span
;ards at Union de Reyes and that the
latter must sent a column in pursuit,
thus weakening their main body. Then
again. suppOs Dg that MaceO moves for
ward from C.mm9rrones on the same
line as Bandera, the Spanish command
er at Union de Reyes must send another
column to meet him. This would leave
but one-third of the Spanish forces at
Union de Reyes and Gomez from Jaquy
Grande would not have much difficulty,
Judging from his previous successes in
pushing westward, southwark, and a
little to the rear Of the two other Cuban
columns.
1t IS announced that the insurgents
have burned the cane feds Of the plan
tations Of Dolores. Maria, Santa Maria,
Santa Quin. Socorro, Santa Filomen,
Santa Catalina, Industria and Infante
at la Guyra nd Macurijes. also known
as Corral False, half way between Union
de Reeves and Jaquey Grande. 1t is said
that this
RESTRICTION OF PROPERTY
was caused while the insurgents were
retreat:ng upon Jaquy Grande. But
Sum.dero. where the Bendera column
of Insurgents s said TO be located is
Uav 70 the northward and westward
nearer to Havana, and these burned
plantations.
The insurgents have also burned the
village Of PedrosO and in the district OF
Guantanamo they have destroyed the
came fislds Of the plantations Of Soledad,
las Carras. Santa Cecilia, Romelia, San
"a Rosa ConAuente, San Miguel, Santa
Maria San Ildef0nso, Santa Fe. San
Iu:s San Sebastian. Santa Ana del Ba-
tillo. N all over 1900 acres.
Al Natanzas every preparation has
heen made to resist an attack upon the