The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-07
The FLAMES IN CUBA.
Gen. Gomez Applying the Torch
i'm Pinar del Rio.
HAVANA NOT NOW IN PERIL.
The Army of Liberty off Ravaging
the Country Farther West.
HAVANA NOT NOW IN PERIL
Plantations, an Important Town and a
Lighthouse Burned - Small Bands
Keep Havana In Alarm While
"omez II Away Campos Calling I'm
His Scattered Troops

Havana. Jan. 6-The Spanish officials as
seFt thal there Is no proba bility OF a tight
IN the near future between the Spanish
troops and the insurgents now around Ha-
Fana. The captain general is engaged in
bringing westward All the troops availa-
DIE. ana * thfs movement is completed IL is
hot thought that the attack viii be COM
meneed- The insurgents, accora4ng to ad-
vices received from the outlying districts
ot havana are now moving westward IN
the province OF Pinar del Rio. although a
number Of them are still In this vicinity
AT Managua. for instance, about twelve
inliss from here the insurgents are report
ed 10 be IN force under one Of the Nunez
brothers and Bermudez, and the water
works at Nento. which supply the city are
sui threatened. strong force Of insur-
gents Is reported moving northward from
Salud and Alquizar. Gen. Suarez Valdez
and Col. Arson arrived at Relga. across
the bay from this city last night. Gen.
LoQue Is IN command OF A strong force Of
spanish troops on the limits OF the prov
inee of Pfnar del Rio, ana Gen. Marin has
moved his forces from Colon toward the
province OF Havana and is expected 10
continue onward toward the province OF
flnar del Rio. Reinforcements OF Span
lsh troops are expected shortly at Ban
tanabo They are being drafted there from
the province of Santiago ie Cuba.
Little news is received in this city regard
ing the movements of either the Spanish
or Cuban forces, the lines Of communica-
ton being cut In every direction out of Ha-
Nana Enough is reported from points in
the province OF Pinar del Rio, however,
10 show that the insurgent columns have
covered wide territory in that province
ana are destroying the sugar cane and
damaging the tobacco crop. At Cabanas, q
seaport town OF considerable Importance,
the insurgents have destroyed the light
house.
The destruction of Guiramelena, the
burning of which was reported in these
dispatches, seems to have been complete.
IL is an important village of 1900 inhobi-
tants, situated In fertile district. The
report from there said that the insurgents
piundered the church. the business houses,
the stores and private residences. and then
destroyed them entirely. They are also
said to have killed the mayor and promi-
nent merchant OF the place. Similar tales
come from other towns in the route of
the insurgent march. Guirira, a small viii
lage east OF Guirametelan was also
burner and the mayor OF the viii
lage of San Felipe. 1t is said. was intent
upon Offering resistance TO the invasion
of that town by the insurgents. The
mayors temerity caused much surprise TO
Gomez. and his followers set about to burn
the village. The citizens went TO the mayor
with a request that ne offer no resistance
to Gomez, and thereupon, says the report,
he offered no resistance. The plantations If
Salvador. Julia, San Augustine Santa Te-
resa, Merccdita. Mora and Mirosa have
been burned
Incoming trains from the South are
bringing in vast throngs pf refugees. men.
women and children. some Of whom have
been burned out OF house and home. The
infusion OF the panic-stricken people into
the cityASpreads a general feeling Of alarm.
Last night a torpedo was exploded in
front OF the Corona cigar factory in this
city. No one was hurt. and the fire that
resulted was extinguished without much
damage. but the incident has a sinister
look. and Is a tangible expression Of a thing
that even the most hopeful citizens fear
and that is an outbreak I'm the city of the
disafYected elements In case the insurgents
attack the city.
There has been massng Of troops in
the northwestern part OF the province Of
Havana today. Immediately west and
southwest Of Havana. There is some faint
attempt 70 hold ont a claim that this is
designed as a strategic movement 10 hold
the insurgents In Pnar del Rio as In
trap. rs was claimed would be done when
the insurgents broke through the line into
Santa Clara and again into Matanzas. But
there is no robust conviction in the minds
OF even the most hopeful Of the authori-
ties that Gomez will not be able TO lead
his forces out of the province Of Pinar del
Rio when ne Is so minded, or when any
peril develops there for his army. tt is
perfectly weil understood that the troops
taking position in the northwest portion Of
the nrovfrce are designed 10 protect Hs~
vana ana 20 repel a possible attack by the
insurgent forces now overrunning Pinar
del Rio. Reyond the fact Of the destruC-
ton of the lighthouse at Cahanas there
. -
course taken bv the Insurgents in their
advance into Pinar del Rio
Loud disclaimers are being uttered bv
the authorities that they have any fear
for the welfare Of the city. II IS pointed
out that the city is well fortified. being
protected nv the strong fortress Of Moro.
and being rarrisoned by the Cubanas.
Principe. Alares Santa Clara and Reina
t~oops With heavy artillery and by - 0po
volunteers with a. go more loyal citizens
in the city willing - take up arms With
these forces az command tho authorities
EXPRESS the opinion with great conf tence
tha+ IL woul1 be impossible Tor the insur-
gents ~ captIre the city unless they Were
provi4ef with Siege artillery. II IS claimed
only small bands Of insurgents are en-
s-,~s4 in fht, onersti0ns under Gomez and
that they are stin only in small towns.
The main force Of the inSUrgent army
IS now in the province or finaT del RIO.
At Jaro Taco. small band - reported
al Woto Colorado and q Saludad The
nrinion here is that tho movements ~
th., insurgents Is directed against the
country districts. and. although prepa
,tors have been made here against a pos
sftla SURPRISE. thore IS no present fear of
an attack statement credited 10 pr.
Artedtes. that che Spanish military doc-
tors are poisoning the sick and wounded
t~oous. IS pronounced untrue. and = at
t-thutef 80 professional jealousy.
Madrid. Jan An official dispatch re-
.-sfv.-4 here from Havana saws that the
march westward or the insurgents has
49,, arrested 10y tSfn. Navarro. who has
aefea+ef them The Havana news recent
~ received here has caused much excite
r,,ent and II IS believed that furt her re-
ir<o~cer,auts viii h. dispatched 70 Cuba.
-rt,s military authorities severely rrittci -
f.ant Gen MARTINEZ CamYoS tov his con-
4trt Of The campaiG iGn. hut the govern
r7ent aprears Determined 20 maintain him
IN command of the Spanish forcvs IN Cuha.