The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-13
wEYLER's HoNEYED woRDs.
Captain General Processes to BE
Pleased With the Situation.

Havana, Dec. 12.-The representative of
the Southern Associated Press in this city
had an interview this evening with Capt.
Gen. Weyler who returned to Havana last
night from the province of Pinar del Rio
The captain general received the press rep
resentative with much cordiality. When
asked concerning his opinion of the cam
paign in general, he said that he was very
well satisfied with the course of events
and expressed the hope that in a short
time there would be a change that would
modify some aspects of the situation.
lie was asked concerning the result of
his operations in Pinar del Rio and replied
that he was pleased with the outcome since
the rebels in that province are now broken
up into small bands and are rapidly losing
ground in the hills, the Spanish forces dis
lodging them from their hiding places. At
Rangel, there was one position occupied
by the insurgents which the rebel leaders
considered impregnable. This is now in
the hands Of the troops, the rebels having
been driven out of it, The Spanish troops
are now fortifying the place in order to
prevent the rebels from making an at
tempt to recapture il.
Continuing Gen. Weyler declared that the
fact was known to all that owing to the
pursuit of the rebels by the Spanish troops,
Maceo had been obliged to abandon the
province, proceeding by sea TO the PROV
ince of Havana, where it Is known he had
met his death.
Regarding the effect that would be pro-
duced in the rebel ranks and among rebel
sympathizers by the death Of Maceo, the
captain general said it would be demoraliz-
ing, since Maceo's prestige among them
was very great He was filled with the
fighting spirit, was a dashing commander
and alupaXG FpadU IN civ hal a n hn
Spaniards when the time and opportunity
suited him. There were, however, other
rebel leaders of Importance. The prestige
of a leader was an important factor for
the insurgents. When one disappeared the
others were seized with decentralization
and disorganization followed, a fact that
would be taken advantage of by the Span
ish. Gen. Weyer cited several examples
of the effect produced in the ranks of the
rebels by the death of some of their lead
ers.
He said that since the death of Jose
Maceo, brother of Antonio Maceo, the in
surgents in the province of Santiago de
Cuba had not been able to recuperate
from the blow. When Zavas died the
rebel faction in the province of Havana
at once became disorganized. There was
no leader able to resist the Spanish The
most able ones had fallen.
Speaking of Rios Rivera, who 1t Is sup
posed will succeed Maceo in the command
of the rebels in Pinar del Rio, Gen. Wey-
Ter remarked that he was now at the
head of the insurgent parties in that prov
ince. He added that Rivera had no MIS-
tory as a leader of men, nor did he have
the capacity to lead his forces. He had
reason to believe that Rivera would not
resist the Spanish troops very long.
In response to a question as to whether
ne would soon return to Pinar del Rio,
Gen. Weyler replied that as yet he was
unable to fix any date for his return, but
he would go back in a short time. He ad-
ded that he thought it would take about
twenty days more to terminate the insur-
rection in Pinar del Rio.
Gen. Weyler refused to say anything
concerning President Cleveland's mes
sage beyond that as a ruler he was obliged
to know its text.