The herald., 1896-01-01
Offset by Continued Advance OF
Insurgents
MATANZAS IS THREATENED
Lack OF Ammunition Prevents an Ad-
vance on Havana
Ii the Insurgents Are in Retreat the Signs
Apparent Are Deceptive-A Popu-
lar Uprising Possible

Associated Press Special Wire
HAVANA, Dec. 3l.-rhe most conflicting
reports were in circulation again today re-
.sarding the movements of the insurgent
forces under Generals Gomez, Maceo and
Bandera. The Spanish officials continue
to claim that the insurgents are in retreat
and that the Spanish troops are pursuing
them out of the province of Matanzas.
But the friends of the insurgents point to
TIL fact that even the authorities here were
compelled yesterday and today to admit
that de elachments at least of the insurgents
are still in the vicinity of the city of Ma
tanzas and they are still doing damage.
OaIy yesterday it was reported that in
surgents, numbering 1000 men, were NOV
ing in that vicinity, which would indicate
the determination of the insurgent COM
manders to capture Matanzas.
Strong detachments of the insurgent cav
airy are also reported to have passed Ma
tanzas, going from the direction northward
of Jaruco and southwark of Guines, two
important towns within short distance of
Havana.
Adherents of the insurgent cause here
assert that the insurgent infantry and artil-
lery will follow the cavalry westward in due
course of time, and that Gomex and Maceo
have simply besn collecting the necessary
supplies of mon and ammunition prepara-
tory to final movement upon Havana.
Indeed, there are rumors here that the in
surgents have been awaiting supplies of
ammunition which should now he within
their reach, and that they will be ION to
Havana" within few days.
4 tho Snapiah haadutlart6ra hero the
possibility of the advent OF Gomez outside
the fortifications of Havana is secuted as
being an absurdity. and il is still insisted
that he and his companions are in retreat.
If this is the case all outward signs here
are deceiving in the extreme. The naval
and military authorities are eXhausting
every resource in hurrying troops to the
front and in preparing for the defense OF
the capital. The police have been kept
in state of hurry and mystery for some
time past and a number OF arrests OF
friends of insurgents are understood to
have been secretly made.
There is no doubt that the authorities
here, while expressing great confidence OF
being able to repel an insurgent attack
upon Havana, are not quite so certain OF
being able to suppress popular uprising
should there be an outbreak here in favor
of tine insurgents. While the vast COM
mercial interests of this city are mainly
in the hands of persons who support
Swanish rule, these people do not form by
any means the majority OF the population; !;
they would, it is believed, be unable to
stem the current of popular sympathy
with Gomez should the insurgent flag be
hoisted here, or appear outside of Havana.
The wonderfully successful march of the
insurgen through the island of Cuba, and
the utterly unsuccessful attempts OF the
Spanish troops TO stop their progress, have
won for the insurgent cause sympathy, If
not adherents, in circles and quarters
hitherto entirely loyal to Spain.
1t is reported here tonight that additional
reinforcem- of troops have been urgent-
ly requested from Spain, and that some of
them have already started in order to lake
part in the defense of Havana.
The statement is made in official quar-
ters that the insurgents acknowledge loss
of over 300 in the engagement at Cali
mete on the 2Sth Saturday.
AN INsURGENT REPORT
KEY WEST, Fla. Dec. 31.-An account
has been received here Of the recent fight
ing around Colon and of the rough manner
in which the Spaniards were handled.
Some of the Spanish commands were
nearly cut to pieces. One brigade COM
posed of 1000 men was practically de-