The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-25
THE MYSTERY OF
WEYLER'S RETURN
He Was Unable to Find Mace0, the
Rebel Leader.
SUCCEEDED IN KILLING CATTLE
The Retirement of the spanish Gen.
erai From the Field is isegarded
With Delight by Cubans..Sym.
pathizers in New York Arc Also
Jubilant.

Havana, Nov. 24-The report circu-
lated by the New York World to the
effect that the men captured on the
American filibustering schooner, Com
petitor, had been retired by court-rar-
tial, despite a protest filed by Consul
General Lee prior to his departure from
Havana. is absolutely without a word
of truth. Only the preliminary eXami-
nations of the prisoners on their sec
ond trial, as ordered by the supreme
military and naval tribunal in Madrid,
have as yet occurred, as was reported
at the time by the United Associated
Presses 1t is not known when the
trials will take place.
Every effort has been made to learn
the true reasons for the return last
night to Havana of Captain General
Weyler from the province OF Pinar Del
Rio, but nothing definite has trans
pired. All that is known Is that he
came here on the gunboat Legazpi from
Marcel. accompanied by only one adju-
tant. The rest of his staff came by
rail from Artemisa. When questioned
General Weyler said IL don't know
where Maceo Is. 1t Is certain l did not
meet him in either the hills or dales
of Pinar Del Rio. Despite their brav-
ado, the rebels never fight but always
flee upon the approach OF our troops.
General Weyler added that the sup
plies of cattle that had been obtained
by the insurgents are disappearing. the
troops capturing and destroying all
that they saw. The military combina-
tions planned by him had resulted as
he had expected. All these combina-
tidns We're not finished, but there
would be much less to do at the end
of the year. The press comments on
the return of Captain General Weyler,
are guarded, as is natural under the
strict censorship exercised here. 1t Is ru-
mored tina: he will soon return to the
field. One report has it that the chief
reason for his return to Havana was
pressing government business which
demanded his personal attention. How
ever, nothing really definite is known.
and events in the near future are anX-
iously awaited. Some dissatisfaction
is quietly expressed even by loyalists
that General Weyler, after his long
preparations to inilict a crushing blow
on Maceo should now come back to
the capital without even catching sight
of the main body of the rebels. The
rebels sympathiZers are jubilant. be-
lieving that General eWyler's return
signaliZes the abandonment of his per-
sonal leadership of the campaign.
SYMPATHIZERS JUBILANT.
New York, Nov. 24.-The sympathiz-
ers with the Cuban cause in this city
were very jubilant today over the news
that Captain General Weyler had re-
turned to Havana. Several reasons
are given for the generals action in
withdrawing from the field, one of them
being that Marquis Ahumada, who
took charge of affairs in Havana dur
ing the absence of General Weyler, did
not properly conduct the war. The
Cubaps all agree that Weyler's cam
paign in Pinar Del Rio has been a
failure. Senior Estrada Palma, presi-
dent of the Junta in conversation with
d reporter today, said:
Il think General Weyler has dis
graced himself by leaving the field.
for, although he had over three times
the number of men at his command
than Maceo has in Plnar Del Rio, he
has not accomplished his avowed pur-
pose to crush the revolutionists.
THE information has come to me-"
he continued. that the insurgent
forces under General CaliXtO Garcia,
have besieged Puerto Principe, the
fourth largest city in the island. which
they now practically control, has, |
believe, had something to do with his
return. for he is needed in Havana to
direct the entire movements of the
Spanish army"
BUSINESS CALLED HIM.
Madrid. Nov. PA dispatch to the
impartial from Havana says that in
an interview General Weyler stated
that he had returned from the province
of Pinar Del Rio owing to the neces-
sty of settling the question of the new
issue made by the Spanish banks and
other matters. When these We're set
tied he would be ready to return to the
field. He added that he did not be-
lieve that Maceo had more than 5000
men and that these We're scattered In
remote positions. The object of the re-
cent Spanish operations had been the
occupancy of hills and passes. The in
surgents in the provinces of Las Villas
and Havana were easily kept in check.
There were more rebels in Camaguey
than in Las villas and Havana, but the
Spaniards had little to lose there More
over. the object of the insurgents In
gathering there might be to distract at
tention from Maceo in Pinar Del Rio.
At any rate he would crush the rebel
lion in the latter province before deal
IA. A.