The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-09
CUBAN LEADER DEAD
ANTONIO MACEO REPORTED TO
HAVE BEEN KILLED In BATTLE.
His Body Said to Have Been Fully
Identified by the Spanish AuthOri-
ties, Who Are Much EIated.
GOMEZ'S SON ALSO SLAIN
HOW WEYLER WAS OUTwITTED BY
THE REBEL CHIEFTAIN,.
Who Succeeded I'm Crossing the TrOcha
After Sending His Enemies on
Wild-GoOse Chase.
BLOODY FIGHT ON THE LINE
WHICH WAS FINALLY FORCED BY
THE INsURGENT GENERAL.
The Latter Pursued by the Spanish
Soldiers and Killed I'm "a Sec
Ond Engagement.
Who Succeeded I'm Crossing the TrOcha
After Sending His Enemies on
Wild-GOOse Chase.
BLOODY FIGHT ON THE LINE
WHICH WAS FINALLY FORCED BY
THE INsURGENT GENERAL.
The Latter Pursued by the Spanish
Soldiers and Killed I'm Sec
Ond Engagement.

HAVANA, Dec. s.-What is regarded In
insurgent circles as the greatest strategic
movement of the rebellion has taken place
almost within sight of Havana. and in con-
sequence there is much excitement at the
capital. Several days ago 1t was rumored
that Antonio Maceo, leader of the Cuban
patriots in the province of Pinar del Rio,
and for whom Captain General Weyler has
been cunning in person, had given the
Spanish the slip and was on his way to
join the armies of Gomez and Garcia in
the east. 1t is now semi-officially admitted
that General Maceo passed the military
line of Pinar del Rio on Friday last, nea.
Mariel, the port at the northern end of the
trocha. He was accompanied by the son of
Maximo Gomez and strong force of
rebels.
When the news became generally known
in this city there was great surprise, bor-
dering on alarm among the loyal citizens,
who have been very uneasy over the fire.
quent insurgent raids on Guanabacoa, a
town just across the bay from Havana. 1t
seems evident that the insurgent command
er has not only cleverly turned the flank OF
Captain General Weyler. but has succeeded
in getting in his rear and crossing the IA
nous military line near the port which has
been used as a base of supplies for the
Spanish troops in Pinar del Rio. The i'm
portance of this movement cannot be ex-
aggerated.
The exact whereabouts of General Wey-
Ter is not known, but he is believed to be
hunting for Maceo in the mountains in the
western part OF Pinar del Rio, while the
insurgent chief has seemingly doubled on
his tracks, turned the flank of the Spanish
general and passed in his rear in the di-
rection of this city, crossing the military
line at will and possibly being by this time
in the vicinity of the capital of Cuba. If
Maxine Gomez has carried out the plan at
tributed to him, that of pushing westward
to the support of Maceo, a junction of the
two main bodies of the insurgent forces
may be expected shortly.
Nothing appears to be known of the
strength of the insurgent force with An
tonic Maceo in this province In fact, it
was not until the news was being passed
from person to person in the streets that
the authorities would give a half-hearted
admission of the truth of the report that
Maceo had crossed the military line. This.
ii is believed, will alter the whole stua-
tion and important events may occur with
in a short time. There is no doubt that the
insurgents have recently increased in num-
ber about the capital The stray bands of
twenty or thirty bandits met by the
Spanish troops have now swollen to insur-
gent forces of twenty thousand to forty
thousand men.
1t seems TO be admitted and believed that
Maceo will strike before Weyler can hurry
back from Pinar del Rio Indeed. il Is cur
rently reported that the captain general
has been wounded in an engagement with
the insurgents before the latter crossed the
military line and that he may not be able
to return except as a prisoner of the Cub
ans. The authorities naturally are doing all
in their power to minimize the crossing of
the trocha by Maceo and intimate that he
is. as usual according to the Spanish. run
ming away from them. This does not alter
the fact that he has escaped the hunter
and that the hunter may find difficulty in
getting home.
The friends of the insurgents here are
overjoyed at the new turn taken in the
campaign and are boasting that Maceo and
Gomez will soon be knocking at the gates
of Havana. To this the Spanish officials
simply say: "Wait and see: the time is no,
yet" But there is no denying that the sup
porters of Spain here to-day are looking
much crestfallen and discouraged. Even
defeat at the hands of the insurgents. il
is admitted. would have been better than
the humiliation which the Spanish troops
have suffered in being skilfully out
maneuvered by the insurgents