Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-09
HAVANA MAY 4 BE ATTACKED
Future of the Insurgents Seems Particularly
Bright.
More Than Likely That They Wlll
. Take ADVANTAGE. Of the Weakness
: ~ Of the Capital's Defenses.


With the change OF administration near
at hand. the question naturally arises as to
whether Mr.. Mckinley will take any steps
to put an end to the bloody struggle which
has been going on for SO long in the
wretched Island Of Cuba. There was no
uncertain ring to the republican platform
adopted in st. Louis, and the least the new
President can do when he takes the presi-
Dental chair will be to bring the matter
before Congress
Only little less interesting is the ques-
ton what the Cubans are doing to help
themselves For some months they have
remained practically inactive, this idleness
being largely the result Of the rainy sea-
son. They have also been seriously ham,
pered by the scarcity Of horses. for with
out horses they cannot move with celer-
lty sufncient to circumvent mounted forces
such as the Spaniards have.
Arrangements have now been made. says
an apparently well-informed writer In the
New York Herald, to land between four
thousand and five thousand horses in the
Vueita Aba1o district at an early day. and
an equal number will be landed in the Vi
cinity of Cape Maisi. Then the patriots
Will begin their old scheme of marches and
countermarches. and their quick attacks
on the Spanish positions.
Inc purchase Of these horses will practi-
cally drain the Cuban treasury, but If they
can be safely landed the wornout soldiers
will welcome them with far more satisfac-
ton than they would welcome guns and
ammunition. 1t is not likely that ten thou
sand horses would last the Cubans over a
season at most Unacclimated horses are
inevitably stricken with a fever-a sort of
equine yellow fever, in fact-which carries
them Off in great numbers.
Wdnln two months, however, 1t is ex-
pected that the Cubans will make a decided
move In the direction Of Havana province
Maceo has already demonstrated that he
can cross the trocha when and where he
pleases. and as soon Gomez gets his
horses ne Will move westward from Puerto
Principe.
WIN they attack Havana? Most GER
tainly, If the Spaniards do not beat them
PACK before they reach that city. Not that
tney would have any chance Of capturing
the place. Such thing without siege guns
would be practically impossible. But an
hours dash through the streets Of Cuba's
capital and possible dynamite attack on
m me pa'ace OF the governor general is by no
the Cuban junta says that such a thing
VIII happen within the next three months
II would be serious thing, indeed, II Ha-
vana, the last stronghold of the Spaniards
IN this hemisphere, should be attacked by
the Cubans
Defenses of the City.
AS for the Spaniards themselves. tfey
would not hesitate to lombard their own
city in their efforts to Dust the Cubans
From the Moro Castle the Cubanas and
the Punta there would come a steady rain
OF shot and she'll. 1t is doubtful how
ever, II such a bombardment would do
much damage to the invading forces. Ha-
vana streets are SO narrow and the houses
are so strongly made that hitting an in
Vader would be work of art
AT present the Guardia Civil in Havana
which corresponds somewhat with our mill
tia. numbers about 5000. These soldiers
could De relied upon to repel a Cuban in
fantry attack with far greater certainty
than the forts, because the Cubans would
not be foolish enough to attack the city
by daylight.
If the insurgents contemplate an attack
on Havana during the present winter the
very best they can expect will be to make
destructive dash into the city at night
by way of the Calzada del Cerro, work
their way swiftly up into the Gale de la
Reina and out toward Vedado without a
pause.
1t is daring scheme and If accomplished
will only be another proof of the utter
impotency of the Spanish forces.
They will never see Havana" say the
Spanish officials. such thing Is impos-
sible. We have too many soldiers"
1t does not seem impossible, however to
capable nCn-combatants who have studied
the situation carefully. although such an
There not a hundred regular Spanish
soldiers in Havana. and all the defensive
fighting would have to be done by the 5000
men of the Guardia Civil.
The Spanish are supposed to have 150326
soldiers scattered about at various points
on the island. There Is no doubt that this
number of men has actually landed On the
island, with the purpose of fighting for
Spain. but it is doubtful If more than 49,
900 can be accounted for at the present
time.
There is no doubt, according to the best
obtainable authority, that the Spanish Off
Gals in Cuba are drawing money on the
basis Of las, 600 men. but this proves moth
ing. Spain lost nearly 100000 men in the
last war, but this she would never admit.
1t was known simply because the men
never returned to their homes in SPAIN
Against the probable 115OOO soldiers which
Spain now has in Cuba, the insurgents
have about 10000 men.
1t is easy to be seen that, with a coali-
ton of the forces Of three or four leaders
a rapid march on Havana would be ex-
tremely possible. But will they do it? No
body knows.