The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-22
Spanish Strategy.
Abandoning Everything to
Hold Maceo in Check.

Ha5aua. April 20. General Weyler
has succeeded iu accomplishing what
Martinez Campos aud other captains
general have attempted III vain. He
has built trocha across the island and
kept it intact for two weeks That the
present trocha is formidable, even the
insurgents admit, but they profess that
it alarms them not at all.
When Maceo passed through Habaoa
province to the west. and Weyler sta.
toned 10000 men along the Il miles
from Mariel on the uorth coast to MaJa-
"a 90 the south, he cabled to Madrid
announcing that the second in command
of the rebel forces was penned up 10
the western province. After stalking
his reputation on the absolute lmpoSsl-
bli,y of Macco's crossing, be found
that detached parties of from loo to
200 insurgents we're getting through
the line at will He then brought all
troops from. other parts Of the island
that could be spared, leaving the east
ern aud middle provinces with forces
barely sufficient for garrison duty. and
practically suspendiug active operations
10 all but the westorn provinces. This
concentration raised the force on the
trocha to 5000. and gave 5000 more
for use iu flying columns. acting 10 con,
iup pction With those 90 the line The
troops were set at work erecting forts.
digging trenches and building barri-
cades. The work has been pushed
night aud day and the best trocha Spain
has ever built now coufropts Maceo.
Through the billy country south of
Mariel redoubts have been buiIs for the
artillery upon every eminence. Be-
tween Guausjay aud Artemisa. along
the middle part Of the line, forts aud
block houses, With eazthworks between,
have beeu constructed From M,jsna
TO he south coast through very 'na'sby
land, broad ditch, backed by a stock
ade, With block houses at iotervalS, has
been resor,ed to. General Aroas, who
is in command of the troops on the line
says the Insurgents cannot cross with
out tremendous losses The troops are
under arms night and day, but though
they have waited TWO weeks, Maceo bas
not attacked the line
This fact has raised question as to
the value of the liue from military
standpoint. To maintain its strength
at all points seaves only few thousand
men who can be- used 10 aggressive op
erations Maceo's own forces with
those of Bandera and Delgado. nun Der
abou, Is, 900. They have been in the
bills around Lecbuza. Is miles west Of
the trocha. for two weeks. They have
plenty of provisions and have the whole
province of Pipar Gel Rio a: their
backs. They have some ammunition,
how much is rot knowu They pesrl !
wiped out Of existence the column CON
manded by Lieutenant Colonel Dehos,
who attem pied to drive tbec, out Of The
hiis. and vas himself driven TO the
shores of Cabanas bay. A second
com bination of flying columns has failed
10 dislodge the insurgents. Meao while
the main body of Spanish troops holds
the ,rocha
Maxiuo Goacz has accepted the
situation. and has directed Maceo TO re-
,uain ia Pnar del Rio province. Sew
eral large insurgent columns bave been
ordered iuto Rabaua province from the
east. Ooe of these columns. number
ing 5000 men. from Santiago province,
has arrived and is uow near Qcivicau,
20 miles south Of this city.
Rumor has it that Jose Maceo,
brther of Antonio. is 10 command, but
this is not positively kuown. 1t is said
that be has been relieved Of command
iu the eastern districts, and General
Calixto Garcia, who arrived on the
Bermuda, has been named as his suc-
cessor.
In Santa Clara. Sera6n Sanchez,
having proved himself Incapable of
handling a large force of men, has
been relegated to second position, Roloff
being given command in the province.
Gomez himself assumes command 10
Camsguey (Puerso Principe with
Rodriguez second. aud Antonio Alsceo
is given command in Pinar del Rio
An official decree making these changes
has been issued Gomez says he is
satisfied to have Maceo remain in the
western province. as it keeps $4,000
Spauiards stationed 90 the line~ aud
prevents them from interfering with
operations io other parts Of the island.
Gomez ,s said to be willing to have the
Spanish troops hold the line until the
rainy season sets in. by which time
they will 6nd it very unhealthy spot
Reports are already being received Of
Spanish soldiers succumbing to the
heat, aud between the wounded aud