The San Francisco call., 1896-03-29
GARCIA SAFE
ON CUBAN SOIL,
Men and Arms Landed for
Insurgents From the
Bermuda.
TAKING THE OFFENSIVE
With the Additional War Ma.
terial the Patriots Fight
Calamity.
ONE VICTORY IS EXPLODED.
Laborers on a Plantation Taken After
Buildings Occupied by Women
Are Bombarded.
ONE VICTORY IS EXPLODED.

HAVANA, CUBA, March 81 (via Key
West, Fla, March 28).-Immediately after
the landing of the Bermuda expedition,
Maceo. Calxto Garcia, and other leaders,
with long string of pack mules, moved
southwest in the direction ofthe capital OF
Pinar del Rio province. Rumors have been
current here two days that the city has
been attacked and captured. 1t is impos-
slble to obtain definite news, the wires
being down.
General Weyler has sent nine columns
of troops, about 10000 men, in pursuit Of
Maceo. The latter has 1900 men and the
arms, ammunition and rapid-fire guns
landed by the Bermuda. The Government
is still silent in regard to Maceo's where
abouts. Other sources place him IN Santa
Clara province, which was entered by the
rebels to-day. No official report of the
result of the attack has yet been made.
During the week half dozen importsnt
towns and cities were attacked.
The insurgents have taken the offensive
since the Garcia and Collazo expeditions
arrived. Weyler's recent order declaring
small bands of insurgents in Havana and
Pinar del Rio provinces bandits is de-
nounced by the Cubans, who say it opens
the way to wholesale slaughter. The
three brother Ferrar, Am erican citizens
and owners of the Estrella coffee planta-
tion near Alquizar, have filed protest
with the Consul-General stating their resi-
dence was bombarded with grape and can
ister shattering the doors and windows,
on March q, while occupied by their fami-
lies only. Two small children were in the
house at the time. No insurgents were
present. The troops looted the wardrobes
and jewelTy and money which were in the
house. Workmen were searched, and
twelve laborers were treated the same as
prisoners of war and summary court
martial ordered. Ferrar claims damages.
General Bernal, commanding the troop,
made an official report the next day,
describing brilliant victory and dislodg-
ing the enemy and capturing twelve
prisoners on the Estrella plantation.
Domingo Betarte, French citizen and
owner of the Oyalta estate, has arrived
here and filed claim with the French
Consul for the destruction of his property
by Spanish troops. He describes the kill
ing of thirteen employees as previously re-
ported. He says Durate, manager of the
estate, was shot down while wrapped in
the French flag. Another Frenchman
named Drake, owner of the Saratoga
estate, has filed protest, claiming Colonel
Molina threatened to burn the buildings
and shoot all on the estate in case Drake
failed Immediately to notify him when
ever rebel bands passed near the planta-
ton.
A mob of 200 persons followed twenty
prisoners through the streets of Havana
Wednesday. The pinioned men were
struck, kicked and stoned. General
Ahumada dispersed the mob
Yesterday LOG prisoners arrived from
Sagua. Weyler has ordered all stores
more than $500 meters distant from towns
and hamlets closed and goods removed.
Rappeleye, correspondent of the New Y York
Mail and Express, was expelled by order
of General Weyler Thursday, on the
ground that his presence here was preju-
dicial to the Government, his articles criti-
cizing the troops and volunteers and army
operations creating wrong impression
abroad. Rappeleye observed all the rules
and regulations while here, apparently in
curing displeasure entirely by treating
the war from an American rather than a
Spanish standpoint. ]. FRANK CLARK.