The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-18
THE SITUATION In CUBA
An Extended and ClrcumstantlaI Report Of
the aspect of Affairs In Havana.
THOSE FAXED CUBAN PRESS DISPATCHES
Ridiculous Slush Manufactured in
This Country md Sent 0ut with
"a Cuban Lahei- Condition OF HIn.
vann .-'Fhe Numerical Strength OF
the Spanish Army.

Havana, Jan. 15 via Tampa. Jan II.
With the commander In chief Of the
rebel forces only fifteen miles away
and the entire island overrun with rov-
ing bands OF Insurgents, the people of
This city pursue their usual vocations
with Il serenity and lack of outward
sign Of uncasiness or alarm that IS re-
markablc. Merchants and business
men generally discuss the situation as
though II We're nothing more than Il spell
ol hard times. 1t certainly is that for
all the railroads have notified the au-
thorities that they can run no more
trains There is little shipping in port
for there remains only stored goods for
export. Several American tobacco
houses have shipped all their goods to
the states. closed their warehouses and
business generally is stagnant The fu-
iure OF Cuba is not bright and the re-
Deiiion has reached the magnitude of
civil war. although Spain will not
admit that anything but brigandage
anu some disorder exists
American newspapers have arrived at
this place with long and startling ac-
counts ot the condition Of affairs in this
city and immediate vicinity. Most Of
these accounts are labelled "By Associa-
ted l'ress. and are dated from Havana
ON me day preceding publication That
iaci alone proves that they were never
written in Cuba for the press censor
ship of cablcCrams, is so strict that
such matter could not be cabled from
mere even If i. were true The an
houH2ement that Havana had fallen
ana only Morro Castle held out, which
was given Boston date and claimed
70 nave neen sent from Eltabano was a
php3Dle take. for Batabano which is
Il small towp on the south coast, had
neeh cut off from communication with
faVaha by rail or wire for three DAYS
me city Is protected from approach
ny !and as well as from the sea by
lNooefh tartliic1tiOn and field artillery
capture by an army like that Of Gomez
Wlthoni cannon does not come within
tne range of probability and he is Too
SArewd leader 10 make the fooI-hardv
uttehlPt even though recognition as bel
liEerent by the United States hangs in
the balance.
he press censorship is more rigid thai n
az any llne since the insuIrection was
ocsuii' Sencr CasansaS. the political
"rcietaiS ;,eS OF the Governor-General has
.SSs!i.N replaced the chief of staff the
i9Iiner censor. He does not sneak Eng
liSh ana all cabloSrams in that languaSo
must be- accompanied by n literal roN,,
III spanish Senor Casanas is rytren,aly
c"iltie"ns and kind in his manner ana
on'S pauScS IN ms protestations of regard
70 uilW MS pen through a few sentences
IN your cablogiam which do MOI ,,,no,
ms approval. An Illustration of the cloen
WaiGE Kept upon tele,;ranl> otcrrred
Huh1ay.when lnSurgcnt Leader C,onbc,n
M'S captured by the authorities travel
ms ihc0Enito on South coast ctn.r,r
The Diaro De La Marina issued mn nY,,',
ueScfiping the arrest. which wns rivnn
All "Na2crated Importance when I, is
considered that only one man was al,an.
MilN"Ht arms ana he was of Indifferent
l''ic. attempted to cable II Ia thn
states sunday night. The censor stn,'
pea IL; telling me that,while il was ner.
Hhtl.u 10 De published In Havana Il
could not 20 10 New York until Tho noyt
uaS. MondaN ! mentioned the arrest
IN my cablcEram, but it was cut az,
although ] was permitted to FOL, or ~, ~
iltack ana burning of two towns by
tnr rebels. only what is known nc oui
cai news Is permitted to be published
IN IN iiayana parers. After reading tbc
: 'ISn'h t'ahSiatlon of Il cablcgram Tho
S!cfHlaEN signs his name to il and nlocne
ms Official stamp upon it. Both cnnios
may then he taken Ia the cable ot,irn
ana the English version is 1lon.m;,t,'1
Senefai Cnmpos has drawn all avaij-
.ple 'roops from the Provinces of san
tiaSo. santa Clara and Puerto Princinn
and thrown them into the narrow. ,n,
uoA oi the island around Havana and
hataN2aS. II is Il country without
mountains or forests: il is rich in snmo,.
cane ana has more towns. people. more
railroads and more improysmants 80
orally than any other part of iba isIo M
Canios iA supposed 10 have I2O con rn,.
u!arS and $4,000 volunteers al his dis
posal. The latter are kept In The citins
ana towns Tor home defense. exccni q
few regiments. which have bern snnt
out with the regulars II is sunnnsni
though no figures are given oi,i ,ho,
CampuS has about $4,000 Regulars in thn
troVihce of Havana and NIatanzas OK
tending To the Pinar Del Rio lin" This
force mas attempted TO pen Maceo and
Z -.I-t
ana mas repeatedly ATTEMPTED 10 sir
round ana crush the willy leader OF the
rebels but Gomez is like n fox. he avoids
All traps and lodges through some very
narrow places. He openly Announces
ms intention TO invade the western
province and stop the grir[iu.. of cann
IN order 10 cut off Spain's main revenue
lie is apparently accomplishing his MIR
pose and in doing so has wrought vast
destruction upon crops and nrouertv
generally. He has turned his attention
from crops to the railroads. giving as
his reason on that they were being used
by the Spaniards for military
purposes. he has set fire 10 freight
trains and started them running ACROSS
the country They have moved locono-
tivcs two miles apart and started them
running toward each other at full speed
They have burned tre%tles. stations
coaches and freight sheds.
After destroying one-tilird OF thc
cane fields and causing many Of the
planters TO stop grinding, Gomez is
sued the following proclamation: