The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-21
GOMEZ In GOOD HEALTH
His Age and the Rough Campaign He Has
Passed Through Have Told Upon Him.
WEYLER HAS WON NO IMPORTANT BATTLE
Nut With Tho Trocha Me Has Built
He Hns Accomplished Something
and BY 1t He Saved Himself Ig.
nominiOus Recall which WINS Pom
ding-Cubans Not AZ All Alarmed.

Havana. April 20-Gen. Weyler has
succeeded in accomplishing what Mar
tinez Campos and other captain generals
have attempted in vain. He has built
u trocha across the island and kept Intact
for two weeks. That the present trocha
is formidable, even the Insurgents admit
but the profess that 1t alarms them not
ct all But Maceo passed through Ha-
vana province to the west and Weylcr
stationed 10000 men from NInriet on the
north coast to Majana on the south, he
cabled to Madrid announcing that the
second I'm command OF the rebel forces
was penned up in the western province
After stalking his reputation on the alb
solute impossiblity of Maceo's cross
Ing. he found that detached parties OF
from 100 to 200 Insurgents were getting
through the line at will. He then brought
all troops from other parts of the island
that could be spared. leaving the eastern
and middle provinces with forces barely
sufncient for garrison duty and practi-
cally suspending active operations in all
but the western province. This conccn-
tration raised the force of the trocha
to 2S,OOO and gave $4,000 more use innying
columns. The troops were set at work
erecting forts. digging trenches and build
ing barricades. The work has been
pushed night and day and the best
trocha Spain has ever built in Cuba now
confronts Maceo. Through the hilly
country south from A1ariet, redoubts
have been built for artillery upon every
eminence. Between Guanajay and Ar
tennis, along the middle part of the line,
Tort and block houses. with earth works
between. have been constructed From
Majana TO the south coast through
marShy land broad ditch backed by n
stockade with block houses at intervals.
has De"n reported to. Gen. Arolus, who
Is IN command OF the troops ON the line,
says the insurgents cannot cross with
out tremendous lossess. The troops are
under arms night and day but though
tney nave waited two weeks Macco has
not attacked the line. This fact has
raised question as to the value Of the
line from military standpoint To
maintain its strength at all points, leaves
only q few thousand men who can be
used IN aggressive operations Maceo's
own forces, with these OF Bandora and
Del Gndo number about 1900 men They
nave been in the hills around I.echuza
iltteHn miles west OF the trocha for two
weeks They hove plenty of provisions
ana have the whole province of PInar
Del Rio at their backs. They have some
ammunition, how much is not known.
Ihcy wiped out OF existence the column
commanded by Lieut.. Colonel Debos. who
attempted to drive them out OF the hills
ana was himself driven to the shores of
Cahanas bay \ second combina ton of
Tying columns has failed TO dislodge the
insurgents.
Meanwhile the main body of the Span-
ish troops host the trochu. Several large
insurgent columns have been ordered in
10 Havana province from the east One
these nj q
from Santiago province has arrived and
Is now near Quivican, twenty miles
south of this city.
Rumor has it that Jose Maceo brother
of Antonio is in command. but this Is
not positively known. 1t is said that he
has been relieved OF command in the
eastern districts and Gen. Calixto Gar
cia. who arrived or the Bermuda ha-
been named as his successor Gomez
himself assumes command I'm Camaguey.
with Rodriguez second and Antonia
Macco is given command in Pinar Del
Rio. An official decree making these
changes has been issued Gomez saws he
is satisfied to have Macco remain in the
western province as II keeps 25,O00 Span
iards stationed on the line and prevents
them from interfering with operations
in other parts of the island. Gomez is said
10 no willing to have the Spanish troops
hold the line until the rainy season sets
In by which time they will find 1t a very
unhealthy spot. Reports are already
being received of Spanish soldiers sue
cumhinS to the heat and between the
wounded and sick there are fully l500y
now in hospitals on the island
The stories about Gomez being al
deaths door himself are cXagEerations.
lie is still in command and apparantly
able TO keep up some years though his
age and the rough cuinnaign through
which he has past have told upon him
Colazo, who landed in MatanZas prov
ince three weeks ago and lost Il portion
OF his expedition. is now in Havana
province. The number of insurgents now
between this city and the trocha has
aroused some alarm here and Gen. Wcy-
Ter has been compelled TO move troops
from Artemisia. on the line to Rincon.
just back of Havana. Should Macco de-
rcbss this side who could render
valuable assistance. The trocha is built
to repel attack from the west and were
simultaneous assaults made upon n from
both sides its military might prove 10
be Eil. However, so long as II remains
Il barrier between Maceo and his Ooo0
and the other 10000 to the eastward Cen
Weyler accomplishes something He ha. :,
won no important battle during his two
moaths stay and he has failed to clear
Havana and Pinar Del Rio OF Insurgents
as he set out TO do: but he has stopped
their movements cast and west tbrous n
the narrow parts Of the island lie has
kept his word in that and undoubtedly
saved himself from the ignominious re-
call of Spain, which was pending a fort.
night ago.