The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-25
MdCEO'S NM FORTRESS.
The InsurCcnt Leaders Position I'm Pinar
Del Rio Believed to be ImpregnabIe


Del Rio believed to be ImpregnabIe.
A Bejucal. Cuba, correspondent of the
| New York Herald. says:
The impregnability OF Maceo's position
IS now recognized. Even some OF the
Spanish commanders admit that a far
! greater force than any that General Wey-
Ter can muster would be pOwerless 10 dis
lodge the insurgents from their mountain
fortress.
The range running from CayaJabos
! westward 10 Mantua forms series OF
| high, irregular hills, the eastern END from
Cabanas TO Consolation del Norte risinS
TO the dignity of mountains. Between
Rubi and Caimite the hills are covered
with dense forests and shrubbery. Paths
are few. and these are only known TO the
most expert guides. VINO are win lhe
CLbans. To the west the country - more
regular. and sparse pine groves take the
place Of dense tropical forests.
The forests have been cleared IN va
rious places, and small farms had Deen
established. These have all been changed
into Cuban oncampmcnts. Vegetables
have been planted. and cattle collected
from tho plains. which are Kept III pas
ture until such time as they are needed
10 supply the insurgents with food. los
pitfalls and workshops have been estap-
lished nj various points. The paths lead
ing 10 these arc only known 10 the rebel
leaders and q few assistants. ana no
horses ara allowed TO pass within nali
81 mile. so as not TO make trail that
would be noticeable TO the enemy. Inc
sites for hospitals are selected 50 as 10
be easily defended by only few men,
and arc found only I'm tho most inaccessi-
bio places of the dense forests and hills.
Several that I have visited have been
reached only after hard climbing. Two
well armed men in the breach could easi-
~ have held a regiment in check.
The Spanish columns rarely operate IN
this section. owing 10 the large number
OF streams and rivers that traverse the
country from north 10 south. ~ lhiS
time of wear travel here is practically I'M
possible for infantry. During my TRIP J.
was forced to cross leagues OF Hooded
country tho water reaching 20 the sur
rups and the horses had 20 swim across
the rivers and other deep places. me
heavy forests and swamps that border
the sea are excellent hiding places Tor
the Cubans. and are probably as secure
as tho mountain iortrcsscs in the NORM.
once the Cubans gain the shelter OF
these forests, pursuit mas 10 pe gwen up'
for without guides ~ is imT Ossiole TO con-
tinue The Southern coat has been mp
10 tlle present time the sat OF operations
of Briradicr Roberto Dermudez. whose
men are all acquaintef with the various
trails.
THE Standards have an idea that Maceo
Is strongly intrcnI.ed In CacataJlcdl' u
awaiting their atty x. Whether TINS DC
true or not. from ~ seven months ex-
perience with the cubans IN these mis-
j am quite satisfied that IL VIII make very
little difference where MaceO awaits the
onslaught.
Spain expects 10 gain a decisive victory
by sending 1000 men 10 the province 10
f0rcc MaceO from the bills. IL remains
10 be seen whether they VIII succeed.
Three times only have the Spaniards en-
tered the hills and each time they have
| been defeated and put TO light viii great
loss The celebrated fight at Cac1raJca-
ra where the column of SuareZ lncan.
] 500 strong. attacked MactO, resulted IN
"a complete rOut on the part OF the span
iards. with an estimated loss Of 500. Ma
Geo fought with only 200 men-fOur lost,
three killed and fifteen wounded.
-Four days later. on May >. the column
Of ScrranO Altimira entered the hills
from tie south near Candelaria, his pun
pose being TO make Il short cut TO Bahia
Honda. When near Vega Morales and
Ouinones. MaccO. with only his staff and
escort opened fire on them. The retreat
that followed was diser2ceiul. The
| Spanish soldiers panic stricken. lcft tLir-
IS of their dead ON the road The column
reached Caudclaria with a loss of about
two hundred. / went over the road after
ward and counted tWenty-three dead that
had been hastily covered with palm leaves
and brush. TWO weeks atterward. pass
ing along The same ro1d with General
AlccO. Nc called my attention To- the wild
hogs that scampercd away 90 our ape
proaeh. They had rooted up the bodies
and We're leeliug on thcm.
These two disasters had n dishcartening
| effect ON the SuanIrds and no more at-
temDts wore made 20 enter the bills until
the month Of june whom the last grand
! demonstration was made dDIinst MaceC
! in Tapia hy General C0r7nles Mun0z
with twelve lltfali0ns. With this large
force he expected 10 take MaceO and ion
four days made repeated attempts 10 gain
tho inside of fhn bills. Ilc WAS stubborn
Is opposed with only two hundred armed
men. Macco was wounded in the leg in
This fglt AiunoZ diS succeed in cntor-
| ing the Ruhi camp and burned 90. The
camr was defended 10y Lieutenant Colo
mel Pedro Delcado.
After the fourth d1v ffunoz withdrew
and tho next day tho Rubi camp was
again fortified and occupied hy DeieadO
General Munoz returned 20 Snaln the
papers stating M the time that he had
fallen from his horse. sustaining severe
injuries.
n aracco could hold hts own against
| 1900 with only 200 badly armed mon 81 Is
| only logical 10 suppose thar he can still
continue to do so against 81 600 with his
! entire force Of GNO wei armed and with
] plenty Of ammunition and dynamite. IN
! 70 tho middle Cf August Tho Cuh3us were
practically without ammunition iu Pinai
dcl Rio. The arrival Of the exnpditi0n
| o. Ioyto VIDAL changed tho canditl0n ~
1ff7ira. bringing go Coo cartridges and 20O
| pounds ~ dfr1 mite. Tho victories OF "a.
| clrniin0ra anf QuirOncs We're gained
I with rho le0n rounds saved from the
/ il-f4f0l oyuediii0n Of the Competitor.
! have been Informed that another expedi-
/ ton has landed in Pinar del Rio hringinp
storage SUPPLIES for Nigco0 n this is
| true thon General IaCo0 has nothing "a
fear from Weylor's 5000 achievements