Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-25
GENERAL WEYLER'S RETURN
To Havana Is a Puzzle After
He SAYS IT IS BUSINESS
While Others r. His Pinar del Rio Cam
ss'sn Failure
'0''"' = '0S'LANI OVER HIS 'E'0H"
TheP of Havana is Very Much Guarded
IL What it Says Concerning Weyler
T-Spaniards Claim He will Join
~ = His Commend Again.
~ JuBlLANT OVER HIS RETURN

Havana, Nov. 24.-Every effort has
been made to learn the true reasons for
the return last night to Havana of Cap
tain-G General Weyler, from the province
of Pinar del Rio.
All that is known is that he came here
on the gun boat from Mariel, accompani-
ed by only one adjutant. The rest of
his staff came by rail from Artemasa.
General Weyler has made no official
declaration concerning the condition of
affairs in the province of Pinar Del Rio.
In an interview had with him just be-
fore he left Pinar del Rio he said he
was satisfied with his campaign. He
had crossed to the south and had ex-
pected to meet Maceo to give him COM
bat. He had, however, met only small
bands of rebels who disappeared when
the Spanish troops came near to them.
When questioned concerning the where-
abouts of Maceo General Weyler said:
II do not know where he is. 1t is cer-
tain that did not get him in either the
hills or dells of Pinar del Rio.
Despite their reputed bravado the reb-
els always flee on the approach of the
troops"
General Weyler added that the sup
plies of cattle that had been obtained
by the insurgents are disappearing, the
troops capturing and destroying all that
they saw. The military combinations
planned by him had resulted as he had
expected. All these combinations We're
not finished, but there would be much
less to be at end of the year.
The press comments on the return of
the captain general are guarded, as
natural under the strict censorship ex-
ercised here. 1t is rumored that he will
soon return to his commands. as his vis-
1t to Havana is on pressing government
business which demanded his personal
attention. However, nothing really def
mite is known and events in the near fu-
ture are anxiously awaited.
Some dissatisfaction Is quietly expressed
even by loyalists that Gen. Weyler after
his long preparations to infiict a cruching
blow on Maceo, should now come back to
the capital without even catching sight
or the main body of the rebels. The
ing that Gen. Weyler's return sgnalizes
the abandonment of his personal leader
ship of the campaign.
HIS CAMPAIGN A FAILURE.
New York, Nov 24-The sympathizers
with the Cuban cause in this city were
very jubilant today over the news that
Capt.-Gen. Weyler had returned to Ha-
vana. Several reasons are given for the
generals action in withdrawing from the
field, one of them being that Marquise
Ahmuda, who took charge of affairs in
Havana during the absence of Weyler,
did not properly conduct the war. The
Cubans all agree that Weyler's CAM
paign In Pinar del Rio has been fall
ure Senior Estrada Palma, president OF
the junta, in conversation with re-
porter today, said: II think Gen. Weyler
has dsgraced himself by leaving the
field for although he had over three
times the number of men at his command
that Maceo has in Pinar del Rio, he has
not accomplished his avowed purpose to
crush the revolutionists.
1.-The information has come to me-"
he continued that the insurgent forces
under Gen. Calixto Garcia have besieged
Puerto Principe, the fourth largest city
in the island, which they now practically
control, and this has, I believe, had
something to do with his return, for he
is needed in Havana to direct the entire
movements of the Spanish army"