The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-08
But Senor Pierra Declares That
the Capital Is to Be
Taken.
GOMEZ READY FOR INVASION.
Spanish Volunteers and Citizens Pre-.
pared to Join the Insurgents
at Signal.

LONDON, Eng, Jan. THE Times Will
tomorrow publish a dispatch from Mad
rid stating that despite official denials of
the report that Captain General Campos
will resign his command in Cuba, public
opinion accepts as fact the possibility of
his handing over the active command of
the operations against the insurgents to a
younger general while he retains the posi-
ton of Governor. 1t is well known that the
health of Marshal Campos is not robust
WASHIN GTON, d. c., Jan. THE
Spanish Minister received tonight a tele-
gram from Madrid stating that Marshal
Campos, in a telegram received there this
morning, says:
''The main body of the enemy has
marched to the province of Pinar del Rio.
[ have advanced the columns of Generals
Valdez, Garcia, Navarro, Echague and
Luque to follow them. 1 have the other
columns on the railroad between Havana
and Batabano. They will take rations
and proceed tomorrow in a parallel line to
occupy the line from Mariel TO Artemisa.
'The columns of Pratz, Galvis, Fort AL.
dacoa and the battalionS of Valercia and
ESpana are chasing the small bands that
are burning cane and committing other
depredations. The situation in Cuba from
a military point of view remains un-
changed. The insurgents have proceeded
west without daring to stop in any place,
and are avoiding all encounters. Nothing
is in danger and it is absurd to suppose
that they will pretend TO attempt to sur
round or enter Havana, when, until the
present moment, they have not dared to
enter any town of medium Importance.
''In the Department of the East, in the
principal villas and even in Matanzas.
nothing of importance has occurred, not
withstandipg large number of troops
have been Withdrawn from there That
shows that the insurgents have no means
and are not supported by the population
NEW YORK, n. Y, Jan. THE Re-
corder will say tomorrow: Senior SideI
Pierra, a Cuban merchant of this city, who
has been in communication with friends
among the insurgents, scoffed yesterday at
the statement that General Gomez did not
intend to make an attack on Havana.
Senior Pierra declares positively that the
insurgent general will make the attack and
take the city.
1t is not Gomez intention to remain in
Havana any longer than it will take to
ransack it for arms, ammunition and sup
plies and recruit his forces from svmpa-
thizers who are kept under cover by the
presence of the Spanish soldiers Gomez
is now within thirteen miles of Havana.
and one of his first moves will be to cut off
the clty's water supply.
Senior Pierra made the rather startling
declaration that Gomez could take Havana
with 1000 men, and in support of this state
ment he said that the Spanish volunteers
were so thoroughly dissatisfied With
General Campos that they were ready to
do anything to aid the insurgents. 1t is
said that they intend to make certain de-
mands upon Campos as a pretext, which
they know he will refuse, and then will
give a signal to Gomez to make the attack,
when the volunteers will promptly desert
to the insurgent ranks.
There are $4,000 citizens in Havana old
enough to fight and the majority of these
are In sympathy with Gomez and only
await deliverance from the presence of the
Spanish soldiers to throw their support in
aid of the revolution.
Gomez, Senor Pierra declares, will go
into Havana with 1000 men. but will leave
it with a force of at least 80, 600.