The herald., 1896-11-06
TIE REBELLION IN CUBA
Again Asserted to Approach a
Crisis
MACEO THREATENS HAVANA
Spanish Officers Ignorant OF the Insur.
gents Whereabouts
Rebel Leaders Confident That Belliger-
ent Rights Will Soon Be Granted
by the United States.


surgent statements the frequency OF
engagements recently fought in the pro-
vince of Havana are evidence of the
truth of the report that Antonio Maceo
and Maxine Gomez are directing the
forces under their command upon the
city of Havana itself with the intention
of laying seige to it. They still insist
that Maceo passed the military line af-
ter having bombarded Artemisa- AS
matter of fact, the Spanish commander
admits that he is not aware Of the where
abouts of Maceo.
There is another feature Of the situa-
tion which is causing the insurgents
considerable satisfaction, and that is
the visit of the United States consul gen.
eral to the United States. They insist
In spite Of all denials that the relations
| between the government at Washington
and Spanish authorities are of de-
cidedly strained nature, and further,
that the interviews which are expected
to. take place shortly between Consul
general Lee President Cleveland and
Secretary Olney will lead to important
and new departures in policy on the
part of the government. The more hot
headed of the insurgents continue main
tanning that the intervention Of the
United States in Cuba is certain before
long, as the insurgents insist they have
demonstrated their ability to maintain
for more than a year past. permanent
and independent government In Cuba
| and to keep their large armies in the
| field in spite of the fact that Captain
| general Weyler has some 250,000 troops.
They add that the Spanish are no longer
| in possession of anything more than the
| large cities of the island and that with
| the investment Of Havana the fall of
several of those cities would be antici-
| pated.
INSURGENTS ADVANCE.
| KEY WEST, Fla, Nov. 5.-Advices
| from Cuba give palmer descriptions of
the movements of the insurgents than
can be sent by cable from the island.
Antonio Maceo has moved to the
plain country, that is to say to the south
coast of Pinar del Rio, with the inten
ton to make an attempt to pass the
trocha, protected in the meantime, as
he hopes, by the insurgents at the rear
of the trocha. He is at present supposed
10 Dc at OdTOJdi, III Tie ulIeCliOIl VI tilc
swamp Of Majall.
Captain General Weyler's column is
fortifying the strategic positions taken
from the insurgents in the mountains
of Pinar del Rio, so as to form strong
base of operations. When once these
are finished, General Weyler calculates
he will be able to dispose of 1000 more
men in the pursuit of Maceo and it is
the general opinion that he will be able
to give decisive blow.
The splendid farm houses of San Mi
guel near Guayaraba Meleno, have been
burned by the insurgents. They also
attacked the village of Moacua, plum
dering the stores and burning the great
er part of the houses. The troops on the
| ground made a stubborn defense, but
We're unable to drive out the insurgents
before they burned the town. The fort
only dominated small part of the vii
lage. The insurgents left part of their
killed in the streets when they made
| their retreat. The numerous families
left homeless took refuge on the planta-
| ton of Dulze Nombrel.
| The insurgent leader Aguirre, and it
| is supposed some others, are active in
the neighborhood of Gunabaza just
| across the bay from Havana, and have
made several feints to attack tht viii
! lage with the intention of creating sem
| sational diversions, but the government
has several columns in pursuit of them
CONSUL LEE ARRIVES.
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.-General Fitz-
hugh Lee, accompanied by his private
! secretary, Thomas Jones, arrived from
Havana late last night on the Ward
line steamer Vigilancia. General Lee
said his health had been excellent from
the time he left this country last June,
in spite OF reports to the contrary. He
had been treated with military courtesy
by General Weyier, whom he described
as a gentleman with pleasant manners,
but strict disciplinarian. General Lee
declined to talk about the Cuban ques-
ton. even in general terms. Captain
Mcintosh, who is in command Of the
Vigilancia, had only few words to say
in reference to the attempt of the Span
ish authorities to arrest Antonio Esca-
lante on the Havana, on the outward
trip of the steamer.
.The chief of police" he said, "came
aboard when we reached Havana and
tOlQ me tndC he HaU an anonymous let
ter from New York stating that Esca-
lante WAS on board my ship, and that
he was a fugitive, inasmuch as he had
tried to evade the military law. 1 told
him that I had such a man on board,
but that 1 could not give him up until
l had consulted the American consul.
The chief Of police and have been fast
friends for over twenty years, and the
matter was conducted very quietly. OF
course General Lee refused to allow Es
calante to be taken from my ship. and
landed him safely in Vera Cruz"
LEE S REPORT.
WASHINGTON Nov. 5. = General
Fitzhugh Lee, consul general to Havana,
who arrived in New York today, reached
Washington this afternoon.
In reply to direct question he said
he had not been called here by the presi-
dent for the discussion of the situation
there.
When asked whether the insurgents