Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-27
PREPARING THE DEFENSES
Uncertainty at Havana Over the Insurgents
Intentions.
Spanish Official Reports Are Now Re-
cetved With Considerable Incredu-
lity-StrenSth of Opposing Forces.


night, Of Captain General Martinez de
Campos, from Matanzas, he has been in
conference with leading military and naval
officers, and the civil dignitaries. They as
sempled at the palace and during the
course of a number of patriotic speeches
pledged their unconditional support to the
government in its efforts to suppress the
insurrection, and promised to do every
thing possible in the way of moral and
actual assistance.
Senior Galvez, president of the autono-
mist party, during the course of a speech
which was warmly applauded, advised the
captain general not to expose himself to
the fire of the insurgents, who, the speaker
claimed, made war against the lives and
property of civilians, never making a stand
long enough to cause an engagement be-
tween themselves and the troops, and
adopting all methods of savage warfare
Senior GalveZ also stated that in spite of
the supreme effort made by the insurgent
army, they had not heard of the capture
of any towns, the mischief Of the enemy
being confined to small villages and the
plantations of the island. He compared
the army of Gomez and Maceo to wander
ing hordes of Tartars," and expressed the
opinion that the raid of the Cubans into
the province of Matanzas, where they had
done so much injury to crops, would turn
out to be the worst thing for them in the
long run, as the fields, cleared of the stand
ing cane, were now much better suited for
military operations.
News from the front seems to be inter-
rupted both by rail and telegraph, and no
information was obtainable concerning the
movements of the insurgents yesterday.
The captain general, upon his arrival, an
nounced that the Spanish troops in Matan-
zas occupied advantageous positions, and
that the Cubans would either be compelled
to fight a pitched battle in that province
or surrender. 1t is not generally believed
at Havana, however. that the march of
Gomez and Maceo upon Havana has really
Eeen stopped and that they are in retreat.
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 obtanable concerning this
feature of the hitherto triumphant march
of the insurgents from the province of
Puerto Principe, through the province of
Santa Clara, into the province of Havana,
in spite of the numerous columns Of Span
ish troops in the territory traversed.
The last news of the movements of the
Spanish columns was that they were head
Ing for Guananbana, the headquarters re-
Gently evacuated by Campos, situated no:
far from Matanzas.
"WOlf' Cried Too Often.
The fact is that SO many announcements
of the defeat and retreat of the insurgents
have been made that it will require strong
confirmation to make anybody at Havana
believe that such is an actual fact. When
the insurgents first entered the province of
santa CARA IL was announced Inat Iney
lad been defeated with great loss and had
retreated across the border, but the next
news received from the front was that the
Cuban army was threatening Placetas,
more than half way between the border
and the capital Santa Clara, and since
then they have apparently pushed onward
with little or snoHinterruption.
The absence of news of the movements
of the insurgents is causing some anxiety
among their friends at, Havana, but they
claim Gomez and Maceo are in possession
of the railroad and telegraph lines and
that it was with difficulty that Campos
succeeded in reaching. Havana. Be that
as it may, the only news obtainable Is that
furnished by rumor. and If the authorities
are in possession of any additional facts
all such matter is carefully suppressed.
In the meanwhile, active preparations are
being made for the defense of the city and
for forwarding to the front all the troops
which can be spared. 1t is understood that
the Spanish columns in the rear of the in
surgent army have been ordered to concen-
trate as quickly as possible about the from
tier of Matanzas, and that every effort is
to be made to prevent the retreat of the
Cubans into Santa Clara.
Preparing the Defenses.
While these preparations are being made
to apparently stop the insurgents from es-
Gaping back into Santa Clara, the land for
t'ficat!ons of Havana are receiving attention
day and night. A number of additional
earthworks have been thrown up during the
last month, also, and these are being hastily
completed and supplied with guns as rapidly
as possible The magazines are being plen-
tifully supplied with ammunition, and the
outposts of the Spanish troops around Ha-
vana are being strengthened and more Sc
curely fortified. .. ,.t.
Throughout the night and all day there
was an air of hurry and anxiety about the
different headquarters, which did not seem
to Indicate that the supreme authorities
were in any way satisfied that the inSur
tivity go for anything, the most determined
efforts are being made to prevent a sur
prise.
Number of Insurgents.
There is considerable speculation in Ha-
vana as to the actual number of men under
the command of Gomez and Maceo The
highest estimates have 1t that the Cuban
army numbers 1900 men, while the lowest
number of followers which the irsurgent
leaders are credited with having under their
command is 5000. 1t 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 ad-
herentS since they entered the province of
MatanZaS. The insurgents have also been
plentifully supplied with ammunition. said
to have been stored for their use at differ
ent points and accumulated and hidden for
months past.
In order to er able as many troops as pos
sibe to be sent to the front, all the marines
and sailors who could be spared from the
Spanish fleet have been landed, ami the for
mer are now doing duty as artillerymen
whenever their services are needed. All
the volunteers available are under arms
and every male inha btant capable of doing
active service or of finding somebody else
to do it for him has been or is being called
upon to bear arms.
The Havana authorities claim that the
march of the insurgents through Santa
Clara into the province of Matanzas was
Only a raid made with the Intention of de-
stroyng property and throwing all the la
borers possible out of work in order to COM
pei them to join the insurgent army.
Gen. CampOs' Forces.
A conservative estimate of the force at
the disposal Of the captain general has been
made, and 1t is estimated that he has 10000