New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-14
ADVANCES WHILE PURSUED
REPORT THAT MACEO RENTERS HA-
vANA CONFIRMED.
We 70 SAID TO HAVE A LARGE FORCE WITH HIM
NINE IMPORTANT TOWNS LAID IN RUINS
NO MORE GRINDING IN THE PROV
1NcEs OF MATANZAs AND HA-
yANA-THE INSURGENTS
NEED MUNITIONS

BADLY.
Havana. March 1s-Gomez, the rebel commander
in-chef WIS reported to be near Joveilahos' PRIV
,nco o, Matanzas. yesterday. That Maceo has re-
.sa ,ha r-o,,,rce Of Havana is confirmed. He Is
satd .o have a strong force bat has refused an en-
ragement With the combined columns OF Nlcuna'
Burnal Inclan, Prats. Tcrt MoNha anu Ai'"''~'
4 battalion is now in active pursuit Oh MN .
Havana March H. via Tampa fia N'"'ot %
All q, the 1900 additional troops sent from SPAN
since the middle Of February have arrived and beeh
eou,,ned for service Most of them are now In the
Geld Some six thousand are being held In Havana
and its outskirts as precau'ion against us'u'o
ances in the city. There are suHciehl 'oiu"'
here 10 repel any attack the insurgents can MAKE
with their lack of cannon and scarcity OF ammuh'-
ton Tie new troops were better than the average
con, fran, Soain and should give good account OF
themselves in the field. A portion of them was sent
10 General Pando Ia Santa Clara, ana large lorce
has becn started for Plnar del Rio, where the rep
els have had things almost all their own way Tor
month
Nine important towns have been laid in ruins, TO-
b,cco houser have been burned. and large portion
OF the great tobacco districts Is waste Inc CON
ccntration Of troops IL Havana Province IN the eN-
pectatlor of dealing an effective blow to Gomez ana
Macoo left other provinces without siihc'eht pro
lection.
The two rebel cheftains managed 10 avoid a
pitched battle although the most elaborate prepar-
atoms were made to force them to fight or sur
render. Gomez has been In Matanzas province about
two weeks and Maceo has also been there with
their two columns aggregating some l2Ooc men, ana
the column OF Lacre and Others they hav" effective
" prevented owners Of sugar estates from obeylng
the order OF General Weyler to begin grinding Cane
has been burned from end OF the province TO the
other but buildings and machinery have not been
harmed. so far be learned. The outlook FOR
any grinding in the provinces Of Matanzas ana
Havana Is not bright. In addition 10 burning cane.
many railroad culverts and bridges have been totally
destroyed. dynamite being used in some cases
Half a dozen columns of troops are having daily
skrmshes with the guards or outposts OF
Gomez and Maceo by the time sufficient force OF
Government troops Is brought up TO make an effec-
tive attack the Insurgents. being all mounted. have
moved on. They apparently have sufficient ammuni-
ton for these skrmishes: but have not enough TO
sources that the insurgents frequently 20 into a
fight with from six To eight rounds per man. After
a few volleys they are obliged to retire unless the
Spaniaris waver. they generally do unless In
force At any sign CT weakness the Cubans ride
down them like many demons. yelling al
Machete. Al Machete." When the Spanish say in
their official reports that they received the first
charge OF the enemy with the troops In the form OF
squares ana the second charge In circular groups IT
Is pretty plain what happened.
The insurgents arc gaining new recruits daily. but
only AZ slow rate owing TO the difficulty In OBJ
tanning There Is question that II rifles and
ammunition were landed In any quantity there would
be many more men In the field and hot fights would
follow imrne iiately