The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-26
AFFAIRSIN CUBA
insurgents Believed to Be Marching
Toward the Capital.
A COMBINED ATTACK FEARED.
Campos Ventllates His Views
on His Enemies Work.
fCopyrighted. 1851

itOpyfikulen, 1910,
HABANA, Dec. 26.-Chrlstmas day here |
wore away with continued anxiety in all |
circles, the news of the morning of the |
continued advance OF the insurgent forces |
being confirmed by details coming In |
through the day and embell she'd by fly. |
ing runors of the close approach OF Gomez |
and his army.
AS matter of fact there was very littlo
accurate information of the exact where
abouts OF the insurgents or the course
they were taking, the military authorities
themselves being much at fault as 10
where the enemy was to be met. They
continued throughout the day TO express
an utter disbelief that an attack could bo
contemplated on Habana itself, and their
confidence did much to strengthen thas
Of the other residents Of the city.
Much is still made of by the authorities
OF an engagement at Colseo plantation,
which they insist was signal victory over
the forces OF Gomez. After this check,
they assert, the Insurgents will not dare to
advance upon Habana. The fact remains
that the westward course of the insurgents
continues, and active preparations con.
tinue for the immediate defense Of tho
city against an assault.
1t was announced during the afternoon
that Captain General Campos was ex.
pected to arrive In Habana at o'clock
from Guanabann, near Matanzas, making
the seventh change of his headquarters In
two weeks, OF since the unchecked progress
of the insurgents through Santa Clara
and Matanzas provinces commenced, and
always TO the westward or nearer Habana.
This fact in itself Is regarded as highly
significant of the critical situation OF
Habana and as a relinquish ment of any
hope on the part of the Spanish com
mander of bringing the insurgents TO
standstill outside Jaruco, or any part be.
tween Matnnzas and Habana
.CIlmax Near at Hand.
The arrival here OF the captain general
makes il evident that the base OF opera.
tions against the Insurgents must now bc
Habana direct. III it IS true that General
Campos has deliberately suffered the ad-
vance Of the insurgents into the open and
populated country where they now arc
with the purpose of closing I'm behind
them while he attacks them from Habana,
thus crushing them between the upper
and neither millstones, his arrival in Ha.
bana shows that the hour for his coup has
arrived.
How much of an available force tho
Spaniards have left in the rear of the in
surgents to cooperate in such blow III
rot accurately known. but the official re-
ports themselves indhate that jt is in
badly disorgarizcd condition, that il has
suffered serious losses from the insurgents
and that the country through which they
have come is almost a barren waste, with
means OF communication in every direc.
ton cut off and in bad condition for tech
nical military operations such as the Span
ish rely on for success A combined at
tack on Habana by the insurgents would
necessarily be i'm the nature of pitched
battle--a very different matter from tho
skirmishes and feints by a small force
which have been adopteLbthus far to lead
away the Spanish forces, while the main
column eludes them and advances out OF
their reach.
Upon his arrival here last evening, Gem
eral Campos made known his belief that
General Gomez has designed his move
mcnt, which has thus far proved so success
full, merely as a raid into the heart OF his
enemy's country and rs near to Habana
a. it was possible for him to go, intending
then TO fight his way back. General
Campos believes that the whole aim OF tho
insurrection was the destruction of pro-
perty, and he asserts that they have
already initiated a retreat He states that
he has forescen this purpose, and he as
serts that he has taken effective measures
to prevent their return TO Santa Clara.
They will be compelled to fight at Matan-
zas, he says, or To surrender. He does not
believe that they can effect retreat with.
out destruction.
Campos Cordially Greeted.
The captain general was accorded an en-.
thusiastic reception upon his arrival hero
by the city authorities and by commit.
tee representative of all the political
parties. so far rs can be learned he ex-
presses unabated confidence in the success
Of the Spaniards, and believes that tho
hour of the destruction of the insurgent
forces is at hand. He brings news that a
battalion from the city of Sancti Spiritus,
in the province of Santa Clara, has ar
rived at Union do Reyes, i'm Matanzas,
about 10 miles south of the city of Matan-
zas, and "A battalion from Hoguim, in the
province of Santiago dc Cuba, is on its
way to Guanahana. The Spanish army,
he says, for whom these rc-cnforccments
arc coming forward. are in an advantage
Gus position about Matanzas Nothing is
said of the presence OF the insurgent forces
west of Matanzas, between that point and
Habana.
Ii is not thought probable that il is tho
intention OF the insurgents to engage i'm a
pitched battle, and much anxiety is felt To
know whether they have actually initiated
n retreat, and whether the elusive strategy
they have hitherto employed will serve TO
open way for them in either direction
they choose TO 90.
Zeitoun Captured by the Turks.
ROME, Dec. 26. -.Advices received here