Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-12-17
GARCIA SUCCEEDS MACEo.
The Vetran Warrior Will be Sec
ond to Gomez, and Rivera
Will Lead the Forces i'm Pinar
del Rio.
Philadelphia Times,
del Rio.

P"h1ladelph1a Times,
The death of General Antonio
Maceo, the lieutenant general Of
the Cuban army of liberation,
having been confirmed beyond
any doubt, the chief topic of COM
versation in Cuban circles has
been the discussion as to who
would be appointed as his sue
cessor in command of the army
now operating In Pinar del Rio
ProviLce, of which General
Maceo was in personal command
since the time he and General
Gomez invaded the western por-
ton of the island. just one year
ago. So many contradictory
statements have been published
within the past few days that DR..
John Guiteras yesterday took
occasion to correct them and
to show that the Cuban army is
we'll organic ID and disciplined.
DIR. Guiteras said:
1.-The greatest good feeling
always existed between General
Gomez, the commander>in>chi
of the army, and General Maceo,
and this could not be better
proven than the orders of Gen
eral Gomez to his young son
that he should join Maceo and be
a member of his staff. This alone
was proof that Gomez fell
sure Of the ability Of Maceo as a
leader and capable of conducting
the operations in Pinar del Rio
Further proof of the executive
and military ability Of the dead
leader was the devotion of his
troops to him. His followers, to
the number of about 5000 well
armed mer, placed all their con-
idence in him and we're always
ready to follow him anywhere,
knowing that he would porson>
ally lead them in battle and in
varlably to victory. His ability
in evading Weyler with his 40
900 followers and as many more
in the garrisons in that province
also showed him to be a chieftain
who could not be defeated, and
bis death, we are informed &C
cording to the latest dispatches,
only goes to show that he was
feared by Weyler and that bars
barous plot had to be planned to
secure his death, with the
thought that with his death a
great blow would be given to the
revolution and would hasten the
end of hostilities.
"But such will not he the case,"
continued DIR. Guiteras, s.for the
especially in the West,
will now be pushed on with the
greatest vigor. For a long time
past the Junta in this country was
afraid that some plot might be
Matched to take the life of Maceo
and took every precaution to meet
such a crisis. That is why Gen
eral Juan Rus Rivera was sent to
join Maceo and also General Leyte
Vidal, both being personal friends
to Maceo, having served with him
during the ten years a I'm
ne LATELY upon arriving in Pinar
del Rio in September, in an expe-
dition, General Rivera was made
second in command to Maceo, and
when Maceo left his command to
go on any expedition General
Rivera was left in command. Such
was the case when Maceo in the
early part Of this month left to
cross La Trocha.
General Rivera is now in COM
mand of Maceo's forces, but it has
been enormously reported that he
succeeds Maceo as lieutenant gen
.eral of the army. As soon as Gen.
Gomez is acquainted with the
facts concerning Maceo's death the
rank of lieutenant geneaal will fall
upon General Calixto Garcia who
is now in command of the eastern
forces and who is stationed at
present between Camaguey and
Puerto Principe. General Rivera
will be major general command
ing the army of the West. Garcia
will then be second in command
to Gomez, and in the event of the
death of Gomez would be the COM
mander-in-chief. However, we
do not look for such an unfortun-
ate condition of affairs, but the
death of Maceo will do much to
caution the commanding officers to
be more careful in the future.
"As the facilities for commune
eating with Gomez and the head of
the Cuban Government are very
poor, it may be some time before
we hear of the appointment of a
lieutenant general succeeding
Maceo. The Cuban Junta, how
ever, is in communication with
the Cuban government and letters
are received every month showing
the condition of the armies and the
work that has been done"
Speaking about the present
condition of affairs in the island,
DIR. Guiteras said that the people
were in a terrible position. From
Matanzas, according to private
letters, the people were suffer.
ling great DriVationS. ALI buSi-