The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-03-20
.tNSURGENT STRENGTH.
their Army.in Cuba Now Nuanbers About
$4,000 Men.

Havana, March IA, via Tampa, Fla,
March 1s.-The present strength of
the insurgent army is close 10 $4,000
men. Cpbans themselves estimate the
number of men in the field as high as
go. 600 men. but even if unarmeG camp
followers, men in charge of provision
trains, hospitals and camps were
counted it is doubtful if that nun1ber
could be found actually in service.
There are thousands of Cubans who
would willingly east their lots with the
patriot army, but lack of arms and ani~
m unition prevents. The insurgent
forces operate as a rule in zones or dis
;tricts and are organized on military
Zines. The columns of Gomez, Maceo,
Lacret and Banderas are. however,
imited to no one province, but pass
from one to another under direct
orders of Gomez The cOmmander-in-
thief is now in Matanzas and the others
havs re-invaded Havana province.
Dis4ributfon According to Provinces.
The distribution according to prov
1nces iss Havana 16 800, Mantapzas g.
300, Santa Clara $500, Santiago $500,
Pinar del Rio 5000, Camaguay l,500
Total, 42, $50. In addition to the above
there are inaumerable local bands of
rom fifteen men to fifty, or even 100.
These do not form part of the fighting
xoxce and should not be connted on as
Dart of the army. Their main func-
ions are to carry out the orders of
&omez prohibiting the grinding of
zane, the movement of troops and sup
lies by rail, the shipment of provisions
10 cities, the suppression of 'platea-
6Ds" who rob, burn and commit other
times. These small bands serve as
Necruiting agencies, and when they
row too large for local operation they
re attached to one of the army col.
Nsnns OF the army proper fully two
4hirds are we'll mounted and about
Lii are well armed. The others are
Nfmed with shotguns revolvers or
&hly with the machete.
Armed with Antique Weapons.
Some of Maceo's men have old style
#hzzle-loading guns, and lead is so
Arce that telegraph wire chopped in
short lengths is used for the charge.
nnish surgeons have on several occa-
bns reported soldiers wounded with
ts of wire. The insurgents have
IL pieces of mountain cannon cap
red from government troops There
*fb perhaps a dozen Of these guns
Nich have been used with disastrous
bet against the small wooden forts
ich the Spanish troops have erected
Farious points. The Cuban ''army
s. liberation" as it is called, has grown
It's present size in the face of almost
hrmountable difficulties. From the
inning it has been outnumbered by
army of Spain in the ratio of never
than to l. 1t has escaped ami
ttion in many encounters when am
hilton ran out. 1t has lived on
4ge, been almost constantly under
and is to-day a reckless, dare
army with but one idea in view,
that is to free Cuba. What comes
is not given a thought.
Affairs In Cuba.
From Staff Correspondent
Avana, March 1S.-It is reported
Antonio Maceo, the second in
mand of the rebel forces, is near
aelaria, in the province of Pinar
Bio At meeting of the reformist
here it was decided to take no
in the election of members of the
rs, it being held impossible for the
to do so because of the disturb
caused by the war. This decision
cabled to Madrid Replies have
received from the leaders there
bending the action of the party,
ring that the elections in Cuba
only be simulated, and advising
the reformists only take part in
pms when the provinces are paci-
j. FRANK CLARK.