The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-03
spanish Commanders Seemingly I'm.
able to Check the Onward March
of Their Opponents
SITUATION MORE CRITICAL
GOMEZ, 1T Is THOUGHT, MAY ENTER
PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE.
Uprising Of Sympathixers Feared-Pa-
frfot Army Said to he $4,000 Strong
Every Man Armed to the Teeth.

HAVANA, Jan. News received to-day
leaves no doubt that the insurgents are in
large force In the province of Havana. and
are spread over a wide space, their rear
guard still stretching back into Matanzas
province, while their vanguard is at Aguay-
cate, town of some Importance on the
railroad line between Matanzas and Ha-
vana, and only little over thirty miles
from Havana. Apparently the full force of
the insurgents is engaged in this renewed
incursion towards Havana But they main.
tain the same scattered formation divided
into columns, which proved so effective in
carrying them into the immediate neighbor-
hood of Matanzas, the different columns
apparently retaining the intuitive faculty
Of knowing the Whereabouts and needs OF
each other. and thus being able to CO..
operate with one another and avail them
selves 10 the full of the feints and diver
sions which the different columns carry for
the assistance of the others. The Spanish
commanders are apparently utterly unable
to cope with this style of warfare or to
check the destructive advance of the insur-
gents which is now once more directed
straight upon Havana
Early in the day the authorities apparent
ly had hopes of preventing the entrance of
the insurgents into Havana province, when
it became known that they were gathering
in force on the border and two battalions
of troops were stationed at Las Palos to
oppose their advance into the rich valley
OF the Guianas district which is studded
over with some of the most valuable cane
fields in the island. This force seems to
have failed utterly to prevent the insur-
gents from passing them and reaching
Aguacate, which is, however well to the
north of the Guianas district.
1t is learned that Gomez now intends to
extend his incursion into the western
province of Pnar del Rio and the situation
is considered exceedingly grave, in view of
the great activity that has been manifested
by local bands of insurgents in Pinar del
Rio ever since Gomezs advance into Matan-
Zas. 1t is known that Gomez has directed
these movements Notwithstanding the des-
ignation of their leaders by the authorities
as mere bandits. 1t is feared that his ad-
vance will be accompanied by general up
rising in the province, co-operated in by
the local leaders, who are already very well
equipped for doing damage. An advance
into Pinar del Rio would have the effect
Of practically surrounding this city with
the insurgents and there are ill-concealed
fears of an uprising within the city OF the
insurgents sympathizers. The authorities.
however, stoutly maintain all their pre-
vously expressed confidence that the insur-
gents Will not dare to attack Havana and
that the new government is merely raid
intended 10 destroy property as was the
last one.
Honore Lane. who was a prisoner in
Gomez'S hands during five days, has eff
fected his escape and has returned to
Havana. He gives an interesting account
of his experiences in the insurgent camp,
wx1at.. s~ft
insurgent movements. which have proved
SO successful for their purposes and so baf-
ding to the Spanish authorities. He de-
scribes the so-called retreat Of the main
force OF the inurgents from about Matan-
zas through Navajas. Torrente, Crimea.
Murga and Aguada, when 1t was supposed
they were hUrrying to Santa Clara province
for a refuge or were making demonstra-
ton upon Cienfugoes and their subsequent
countermarch by a more northerly course,
by Calimete, Manquito, Baro and Corral in
the direction Of Alfonso XIII. Lame declares
that Gomez and Maceo are at the head of
force of 5000 cavalry and infantry, the
cavalry being excellently equipped, and that
they have a weii-organized force of three
hundred men to carry stretchers. Gomezs
aide-de-camp, Cruz, he says, has been killed
and Aide-de-camp Nordarse wounded and
his bugler has also been killed. The in
1antry Iorce Lame descrlpes as pelns armed
with Mauser rifles, while the rest of the
force is armed with different kinds of
weapons: When the column is on the
march, he says. it spreads out over six
miles both TANKS being carefully guarded
| by scouting parties under command of the
| brothers Nunez. 1t seems that several
| tailorS accompany Maceo's column, who de-
| vote themselves exclusively TO the care of
the insurgent Generals wardrobe. The en-
| gagement with General Navarro, Lame
| says, was a surprise to the insurgents. and
| they sustained a numerous loss. During
| this engagement a she'll fell within a short
| distance of General Gomez Lame himself
was slightly wounded by a Mauser rife bull
| let. He reports that most of the damage
| done to the country is being done by the
insurgent infantry. He asserts, also. that
General Gomez intends 10 make the ad-
vance into Pinar del Rio with it's cavalry.
Reports are received that the cane fields
Of the central state of Carmen in the dis
trict of Union de Res, have been burned, as
we'll as those on the Conchita plain in the
district of Alfonso XIII, and the fields at
Valiente, on the border of the province of
MatanZas. 1t is said that Gomez asked the
garrison of the fort at La Yayuga, number
ing seventy-four, to deliver up their arms
as he did not desire to see blood shed. but
Captain San Martin sent him back the mes
sage: IF you want them, come and take
them" The garrison then repulsed the in
sllrgents without loss.