The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-08
THE PRESS CURTAILED.
Facts Regarding the Action or
the Rebels Held Back by
the Censor.
THE NEGRO LEADER THERE.
He Is Awaiting a Chance to Make d
Bold Strike for the Islands
Liberty.

HAVANA, CUBA, April There Is keen
anticipation from among the Cubans ana
will be for some days to come. GeneraI
MARTINEZ Campos with a couple Of million
dollars in cash, lot of troops and large
personal influence is bending sail here
Great will be the day and large the occa-
sion when Campos again sets foot on
Cuban soil to put down another rebellion.
The people here are expecting him and an
ticipate with anxious interest his coming.
To an onlooker the interest among official
people seems to come from an anticipa-
ton of the pageant and the clatter Of
bright metal more than from any con-
seriousness that Campos is needed here.
Havana, always accustomed to militia, has
not been wildly impressed by the landing
of troops from Spain. The suppression OF
of the Havana papers results in ignorance
of details. if not of facts, of the eastern dis
tricts, and so while the people look on and
are interected in the show before them
they feel they have no possible part in the
matter, and are, indeed, quite content to
leave all fatigue of activity to those who
must act.
Meanwhile during the week there will
be lesser diversion furnished by the arrival
OF about 1000 more Spanish troops. At
any moment now the steamer San Ignacio
de Leyola, from Cadiz, with 1140 men, and
the Ciudad de Santander, from Curuna,
with $40 men, may enter the harbor.
The Spanish cruiser Sanchez BarcaeZete-
gui entered the harbor here yesterday and
left to-day. The utmost vigilance is eXer-
cised by the Government to prevent the
landing in Cuba of the rebel leaders who
are in other parts. The Government espe-
cialIy definitely desires to intercept Maceo.
who the officials profess to believe has
not effected landing. There is positive
information in this city, however, that
Maceo is now on the island and that the
other leaders viii come later.
This Cuban negro Maceo is veteran of
the last revolution, and is said to be an able
man, a shrewd tactician in the chaparrel
and brave. He is to the official house here
the "bogie man. of the instruction. All
the movements of the rebels make proof
that the plan announced in these dis
patches and the one laid out by their lead
ers is being consistently followed.
This is waiting campaign. They ap-
pear and disappear. They make a sortie
against some village and if troops appear
they hustle away out of sight. They have
alarmed the inhabitants and they have
harassed the troops, whose officer tele-
graphs the Governor General that his
men bravely met ga group and routed
the enemy, who ran away"
1t is fact that there are on this island
to-day between 5000 and 5000 rebels who
have rifles and cartridges within their
reach. The Government may scout this
statement, but it holds The leaders know
better than to openly oppose their 5000 or
5000 men against superior forces, when
climate and sickness are relied upon as al
lies later on.
"Why don't the rebels pitch in and do
something before all the Spanish troops
are here2" is question asked by oppo-
nents of the rebellion here. The answer is
that while engaging the forces now here
the rebels would suffer to such degree as
not to be rapidly mended, and upon their
weakened force would be a constant in
crease of more fresh troops from Spain.
LET Spain get here all she intends to
send, and then We will play hide-and-seek
with them, aided by climatic conditions.
We can combine all our forces and strike a
decisive blow at the sick and climate-wor
forces of Spain"
That is about the reply the insurgents
would make to criticism OF their lack of
aggressive activity. Already the Govern
ment troops are securing through Man
zanillo, and Colonel Santocilde has Just
telegraphed the Governor here as to what
action shall be taken in the event of the
rebels in big or little groups desiring to
surrender. Clearly SantociIde expects sue
cess for bis army. Troops are being sent to
guard the plantations.