Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-12
NEW GENERAL is VERY ACTIVE.
weyler's Campaign for Crushing n
nebcIIIOn Alrcndy Under MnN.

wcyIer's Campaign for Crushing n
Rebellion Already Under Way.
HAVANA Feb. 1.-THE greatest activity
was displayed in military circles today. The
festivities in honor Of the arrival here OF
General weyler, the new captain general
who landed yesterday from the steamship
Alfonso Kill, are ended and another chapter
in the history of the island Of Cuba has been
opened. At the captain generals headquar-
ters the reports he sent for upon his arrivla
yesterday, telling Of the number Of men avail
able for active service, the number OF sick,
the quantity OF ammunition and supplies in
the possession of each column or detachment,
the state of the country roads, railroads and
telegraph lines and the probable location and
strength of the enemy were being collected
and tabulated by number Of clerks. The
captain general intended to have the whole
situation laid out clearly before any move
ments Of Importance are undertaken.
1t is understood that steps are being taken
to organize large cavalry brigade for I'M
mediate service. Considerable difficulty is
being experienced in securing the necessary
animals, as a great number Of them have
been cortaled by the enemy. But 1t is ex-
pected that the efforts of the captain general
will result in strongly reinforcing the
mounted infantry now at the disposal Of the
Spanish commanders.
Orders were issued this morning from
headquarters to make considerable increase
in the number of armored railroad cars for
the use of troops. These cars have been of
great assistance to the Spaniards in pro-
tecting conveys Of provisions passing through
parts of the country infested with insurgent
bands Pilot engines are sent ahead in order
to guard against the explosion of dynamite
along the road and then comes the military
train itself Some times there are two OF
these armored cars attached to one train.
One armored car is placed Immediately after
the engine and the other brings up the rear.
Both are filled with troops and are protected
with boiler iron in most cases, although this
has been found to be of insufficient protection
in nearly all cases, insurgent bullets passing
through the cars. Therefore recently the
armor plate has been increased in thickness.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
But there Is room for considerable improve
ment even now. For instance, news was re-
ceved here this morning that the insurgents
had succeeded in derailing a pilot engine be-
tween Coliseo and Sumidero. The work was
done so effectively that the military train
with its armored car was under the fire of
the insurgents very soCn afterward, but
thanks to the gallant defense Of the military
detachment defending it the train was res
cued.
In addition a passenger train at Retroces
has been derailed, plundered and burned.
The insurgents have also burned the railroad
station at Nieves, as well as destroying by
fire there a number of cars.
Further details received from Coiseo con-
firm the report that the escort of the train
whose pilot engine was deraied near that
place made really heroic defense but, as
already stated in these dispatches, the pro-
tection afforded by the armored ear was not
sufficient and seven civil guards were killed.
The remainder of the escort was compelled,
it now appears, to retreat to a plantation
near Coliseo The insurgent loss was twenty
killed and number wounded. The passen-
gers of the waylaid train highly praise the
conduct of the corporal who was in command
Of the detachment Of civil guards in charge
Of the train.
General Jcse Maceo and nine other per-
sons who have been IN prison for some time
past at Puerto Padre on the charge Of con-
spring against the government have been
ordered to be transported to the Spanish
prisons in Africa They have made every
effort possible to obtain their release, claim
ing that nothing has been proven against
them but in obedience TO superior orders
they will shortly be embarked for Africa.
The insurgents are reported to have ap-
NeaIed in force, although divided up int
small bands, in the vicinity Of Muira Melena,
they attacked. Guira Meina, which is about
due south of this city has frequently of late
been the scene Of insurgent operations. Upon
this occasion the enemy made strong at
tack upon the town, which was defended by
a small force of volunteers and civil guards.
tions behind bTeastworks and in the most
advantageously situated houses. From these
points they made a heroc resistance and
eventually repulsed the insurgent attack
Valentine Mendcz, the insurgent chief who
led the insurgent attack upon Guira Melina
was among the killed.
SURPRISED THE VOLUNTEERS.
detachment of insurgents has surprised
a number of volunteers in plantation near
San Marcos de Macurijes province OF Pinar
del Rio The volunteers, who are said to
have numbered twenty men, defended them
selves gallantly against superior numbers
but the insurgents charged upon them with
machetes and cut down and killed nine OF
the Spaniards. Upon the arrival of reinforce
ments for the volunteers the insurgents re-
treated in their customary manner
General Maxine Gomez, the insurgent COM
mander-in-chief, camped last night at the
plantation of Brugua, near San Antonio dc
Las Vegas, about twelve miles south of tn s
city and little north Of Bejuca He is
said to have a large force with him and
to have been considerably reinforced recently
from the province of Maanzas and the prov
ince of Pinar del Rio