The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-21
ONE PITCHED BATTLE
would Probably End the BIodoy
War I'm Cuba

KEY WEST, Fla, Nov. 2O.-Advicas
received here from Cuba today by thu
steamship Whitney, cast discredit unon
Inc statement that the campaien "A
captain General Weyler against AntoI
mo mo Naceo IN the province Of Pinar del
Rlo, mas failed, and that Weyler will
shortly return to Havana. 1T is stated
on the contrary, that Weyler has no
intention of returning to the canitaI
until he shall have exhausted every
effort to compel Maceo to meet him
IN a pitched battle. When last heard
from the Spanish commander was
massing his forces for an attack unOr
the insurgents. The latter are said I'd
number only 10000 men, all told. and
they are reported to be suffering from
scarcity of provisions. Maceo is
awaiting re1nforcements, and, in this
connection news of the whereabouts
ana do1ngs of Maximo Gomez ara
awaited with much interest. Little or
nothing has been heard recently Of
Gomez, who Is believed to be at the
mead OF the main body of the insurgent
| forces.
While Weylers present campaign is
regarded in Havana as marking a.
| crisis in the war, it is whispered that
at the conclusion Of any pitched battle
that may be fought, a truce may be-
declared and arrangements made for
| conference between the insurgent
leaders ana the representatives OF
Spain Looking to a settlement Of the
war. This is most significant as show
ing that all classes are utterly tired of
the war and its burdens and longing
for some way out Of the present diff
tculties. Under these circumstances.
an important 1nsurgent victory would
almost be hailed in commercial circles
at Havana with the same satisfaction
tnat Spanish victory would be re-
ce1Ved. A great deal of misery exists
in Havana, and the outlook grows
darker and darker as days pass. Busi-
ness Is almost at standstill the price
or all commodities have gone up to ex-
travagant rates, while the loyal portion
OF the population has been drained of
all its able-bOdies men in order to send
volunteers into the field to assist the
100000 troops operating against the in
surgents in various parts Of the island.
A rumOr was in circulation at Hava-
ma yesterday that the captain general
had been killed. But 1t appears to
have originated in the blowing up Of a.
railroad train upon which he was res
ported to be travelling between Cam
delaria and Punta Bravo. The Spanish
commander was at Candelaria and
may have intended to take the train
which was destroyed, but he did not
do So having left Candelaria some
time previous.
A squadron of the Hernandez Cortes
regiment and company Of the Leon
battalion have penetrated into an in
surgent camp, dispensing them with
heavy loss. The exact number Of the
enemy killed Is not known, but it is
stated that sixty bodies are known to
have been buried. The government
forces lost a lieutenant Of cavalry
killed and had two officials and twenty
soldiers wounded.
Later official reports Of the engage
ment near Damas says that Gen. Lo-
pez, the chief army authority in the
district Of Sancti Spiritus has killed the
insurgent general Serafin Sanchez and
Capt. Males, and has wounded the in
surgent leader Pancho Carrillo. The
insurgents suffered a loss of over 100
in the engagement