The record-union., 1896-12-06
Spanish Bitter Against His Unsuc-
cessful Campaign.
Report That Weyler Intends to Issue
a Decree Ordering Every Able
Bodied rlan From Eighteen to
Sixty Years of Age to Enlist in the
Army and Take the Field Against
the Insurgents.

KEY WEST (Fla.), Dec. 5.-Passen-
gers who arrived tonight from Havana
give interesting information as to the
condition of affairs in Cuba. Feverish
excitement has been rife in Havana
since the rumor spread that Weyler IN
tended to return, announcing, it is SAID,
that he had pacified the province OF
Pinar del Rio, when it is a known fact
that Maceo remains, bidding defiance
to all forces sent to crush him. The
Spanish are bitter against WeylerS un-
successful effort, and say his return
will mean defeat. The official state
ment of pacification is ridiculed, in the
face of the number of rebels In the
province and the activity displayed re-
Gently.
Weyler has established headquarters
at Los Palacios, and sends columns to
sweep the country, leaving trails OF flre
and blood. All prisoners captured are
killed on the spot. All who surrender
are also killed. Spaniards are horrl-
fled at such slaughter and destruction.
MelguizoS reported victory was simply
a treacherous surprise of Cuban hos
pital. Forty-five helpless inmates We're
slaughtered.
Meantime the rebels are displaying
great activity all around. 1t is said
that under cover of the attack a body
of insurgents crossed the line into P1nar
del Rio and last night again attacked
the trocha at Zayas station. The losses
are unknown. When the rebels en-
tered Guanabacoa Tuesday night they
succeeded in burning twenty-slx houses.
They announced that they would soon
return, and carried out their threat as
last night the town was again attacked,
several houses were burned and stores
sacked, despite the garrison had been
reinforced. Besides, at Guanabacoa
the rebels lately attacked and, burned
many houses at Arroyo, NaranJo, III
Cano. Santa Maria and Del Rosario, all
within a radius of fifteen miles OF Ha-
vana. The glares of fires are nightly
seen in the city.
1t is said that news has been received
at the palace that Colonel Aldea had a
serious encounter with La Cret at Pur-
gatorio Hills, in Matanzas. The Span
ish admit that they suffered a loss of
seventy-five, but claim the victory,
saying they killed 800 rebels.
1t is reported that as soon as Weyler
returns a delegation of Spanish plant
ers will petition to be allowed to start
grinding In case of refusal they Will
cable to Madrid asking Weyler's recall.
Amongst Spaniards Weyler is consid-
ereded doomed.
WEYLER GETTING DESPERATE.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-The Sun" this
morning prints the following:
HAVANA, Dec. 2.-The Spaniards
here say that General Weyler intends to
issue a decree ordering every able
bodied man from Is years to go years to
enlist in the army and take the field
against the insurgents. This news has
created such excitement among Cuban
families that the number of young men
who have joined the insurgents within
the past few days is greater than at
any time since the beginning of the
war
A circular has been quietly circulated
to the Cubans, which says that no man
of honor can doubt which side he must
take If placed by the tyranny of the
Spanish Government in the position of
choosing between Spain and Cuba liz
bra
lei Publica" says: General Weylers
duty is to issue that decree. We ought
to know here who is a Spaniard a,d
who is a conspirator. Havana is full of
Spain's enemies masquerading under
the guise of Spaniards. Let us know
who is friend and who is enemy. Masks
off!
But the real motive OF Weyler with
regard to this decree has not been the
above. 1t is fact that the $4,000 SOL
diers recently sent by Spain are not
enough to cover all the losses of the
Spanish army within the past few weeks
More than that, it is said that the high
military authorities here are conceal
ing from Spain the knowledge of more
than half of the army's losses for the
purpose of continuing to draw from the
treasury the wages and allowances OF
the dead men. 1t is estimated tha.
from April, 1895, to last November
more than 100000 900 have been stolen
from the Spanish treasury in this way.
The number of soldiers in the field IS
less than the central Government be-
lieves, and Is not sufficient for Weyler's
plan of campaign, which is simply to
march against the insurgents in heavy
bodies.
Outside of Havana famine Is begin
ming to spread. In Bramates, province
sons are dying from hunger. In Car
denas poverty is so great that families
who were wealthy before the war are
now begging in the streets. In Cienfu
gos an opulent city in 1895. the mis-
cry Is also great, and here in Havana
famine is expected soon as a conse-
quence of Weyler's methods of warfare
and his destruction of all the provisions
in the country districts.
REBELS UNUSUALLY ACTIVE.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-Among the mas
sengers on the steamship Vigilancia
from Havana was a young American
who has been engaged in business in
Havana for several years. Just before
the steamship sailed, he says. rumors
were spread about the city that the in
surgents were unusually active in Pinar
del Rio, Santa Clara and Havana Pro-
vinces. A body of daring horsemen
dashed up to within six miles of Ha-
vana burned plantation and escaped
before the squad of cavalry sent out TO
meet them got to the scene. Such in
cidents as this which a short time ago
would have created a profound sensa-
tion, are alarmingly frequent now, the
American said. They produce the dou-
BILE effect of demoraliZing the Spanish
soldiery and shaking the belief Of the
residents Of the city in the ability Of
Weyler TO keen the insurgents away