The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-11
WEYLER'S RARE Chance
Can Min Fame by Wiping Cuban
Rebels Off the Earth.
BUT THE TASK is NOT EASY
lie Is Confronted with Well Organized
Army of Determined Fightcrs-Tho
Spanish Arc Preparing for
Any Emergency.

Havana. Feb. 8, via Tampa, Fla.
Feb. 10.-General Weyler has an oppor-
tunity to achieve world wide fame. lie
succeeded Spain's greatest general and
has a much more difficult task than
the latter faced when he arrived from
Spain last April. The insurrection has
spread until the whole country Is in
volved and instead of disorganiZed
bands in the mountains he has before
him u fully organized army operating
I'm the open against the soldiers of
Spain. He has many capable generals
to carry out his orders, and an army
OF regulars and volunteers numbering
100000 men. Forty-siX men Of war
and gun boats patrol the coasts and
guard the harbors. Small forts and
block houses have been built at all i'm
port3nt towns on lines of railroad and
barricadeS have been erected at hun
dredS of other places. A trocha or
strong line has been established across
the island from havana to BatabanO.
1t required time to make these prep
arations and without them effective
work could not be done against the
rebels. Now that the strength of the
enemy and his elusive ways are ap-
prreciated by the Spanish, and his gem
epal plan of operations understood
General Weyler need not fight in the
dark as Campos did for a time. but may
be expected to dispose his superior
forces in a way that will crush the
enemy. and put an end to the army of
liberation. These are the possibilities.
The short time that remains before the
rainy season sets In may prove handi-
cap, and the mysterious way in which
the enemy grows stronger after every
defeat may make the task of putting
him down difficult. However all loyal
Spaniards look to General Weyler for
great things and predict their accom-
plishment.
Hope for Americans.
Americans and others here who de-
sire peace before calamity engulfs all
business. hope that Weyler will follow
the methods of modern warfare treat
prisoners properly and prevent whole
sale arrests of suspected citizens, and
give the enemy a chance to care for
his wounded. They hope to see the
war fought in the field and not in towns
whose citizens have not risen and hope
that Spain VIII fight armed men only,
and that those who sympathize with
their race but remain quiet. will not
be declared traitors and spies. Spain
is fortifying Havana'for any emergency
that may arise. Recently four coast
defense guns of about sixty tons each
arrived from Spain. They are now be-
ing moved along temporary tracks to
the Santa Clara battery, the most mod
ern of Havana's Notifications This
fortification is built in h rocky hill be-
tween the city and the sea. 1t is about
one mile west of MORO castle. 1t COM
ma1ds the approach of vessels from the
north and west while a battery beyond
Moro does similar service towards the
east. Neither of the batteries COM
mand the land approach or can even
point n gun toward the city itself. OF
all of Havana's forts, these are the
only ones containing modern guns.
Preparing for Emergency.
The manner In which they are being
strengthened shows that Spain is pre-
pairing for others than the insurgents.
When the news of the action of the
committee on foreign affairs of the
United States senate reached here. one
of the most prominent political lead
ers here said to me: We are pre-
pairing for any emergency. Tell that
to the people of the United States. Go
down to La Machina yourself and tell
them what guns we are unloading and
placing in our forts This gentleman
meant no threat. He believed that the
surest way to prevent foreign war Is
to make a show of strength.
\ glance at some of the big guns
around Havana is disappointing if one
looks for strength. Most of the guns
are half a century old. some are still
more ancient. For decorative pur-
poses they are equal to those on Castle
william. and some at Forts Wads-
worth and Hamilton, New York har-
Dor. For active service they are prac-
tically worthless. The few modern
guns here would be effective if well
manned.
(SisneO ]. FRANK CLARK,