The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18
STRENGTH OF INSURGENTS
An Estimate Of the Number Of Men
in the Cuban Army.
OVER $4,000 IN THE FIELD
How the Troops Are Distributed Effect
i've Work Done by Small Bands.
Lack OF Arms the Principal
Draw ba ck-- Other War News.

Havana. March IL, via Tampa. Fla.
March 1.-THE present strength of the
insurgent army Is close to $4,000 men.
Cubans themselves estimate the num-
ber OF men in the field as high as 80. 900
men, but even IL unarmed camp follow
ers, men In charge of provision trains,
hospitals and camps were counted II Is
doubtful IL that number could be found
actually in service. There are thou
sands of Cubans who would willingly
cast their lot with the patriot army, but
lack of arms and ammunition prevents.
The insurgent forces operate as rule
in zones or districts, and are organized
on military lines. The columns of Go
meZ, Macco, Lacret and Banderas are,
however limited to no one province,
but pass from one TO another under
direct orders of Gomez. The command
er-in-chief Is now in Matanzas. and the
others have re-invaded Havana prov
ince. The following Is a statement of
the strength and location of the forces
of the principal Cuban leaders:
Maximo Gomez, in NIatanzas 5000;
Antonio Maceo. Miro Zayas others in
Havana 5000: Serafim Sanchez, In San
ia Clara 1000: Jose Maceo Rojas. Rod
riquez. in Havana 5000; Masso, at Var
eZ, Cistillo. Mestro, Nunez in Havana
5000; Delgado Bermudez. Sanchez.
others Pinar Del Rio $500; Mayia Ro-
derigueZ. others. Camaguy l,5O0: Reyes.
BeniteZ. Varia. Wilson, Mendieta, San
tiago 1000; Isa fael Cardenas In Matan-
zas 500: Verona. Ruporto Sanchez.
others Pinar Del Rio 500; Olivia. Others
in Pinar Del Rio 600; Clotilde Garcia,
i'm Matan2as 600: Garlic. Joaquin Gar
cia. others in Santiago Goo; Roloff. Pan
cho Perez. in Santa Clara 50O Mirabel,
Ferrer Veita, in Santa Clara 500; Rego,
SiXtoo. Rogue. Palao Sanchez, In Santa
Clara 800; Cortuna, Vidal, Juan Bravo,
in Santa Clara 400: Juan Toledo. FL
1ngiesitO. in Santa Clara 400; Matagas.
In MatanZas 400: Robau. Cebreco. Ruen.
Planas. in Santiago 400: Borroto. Len
cho, Sardinas, Eduardo Garcia. In Mat
anzas 400; Aulot, Morton. Dimas. Mar
tinez. SoroloTgo, In Matanzas 400; VII
lanneoa, Acosta, Aguiiar Others in Ha-
vana 800: Munoa Chapotin. Socorro.
Limo Perez, in Santa Clara 700; total,
~ 800. -
THE DISTRIBUTION.
The distribution according to prov
inces is.
Havana, 16. 800: Matanzas. 5000: San
ia Clara $3.50; Santiago. o.3W; Plnar
Del Rio, $500: Camaguy, 2,lOO; total.
4aS00.
In addition to the above there are m
Vulnerable local bands OF from 10 men
10 40 on even 100 These do not FORM
part of the fighting force and should not
be counted as part of the army. Their
chief functions are TO carry out the or
der of Gomez prohibiting the grinding
of cane. the movement Of troops and
supplies by rail, the shipment OF provi-
sions to cities, the suppression OF
"plateados" who rob, burn and commit
other crimes These small bands serve
as recruiting agencies. and when they
grow too large for local operation they
are attached to any of the army col
umns OF the army proper fully two
thirds are well mounted and about haif
are well armed. The others are armed
with shotguns, revolvefs or only with
the machete. Some of Maceo's men
have old style muzzle loading guns and
lead Is so scarce that telegraph wire
chopped into short lengths Is used for
the charge. Spanish surgeons have on
several occasions reported soldiers
wounded with bits of wire. The in
surgents have a few pieces OF mountain
cannon, captured from government
troops. There are perhaps dozen oi
these guns which have been used with
disastrous aCect against the small
wooden fo~ts which the Spanish troops
have erected at various points. The
Cuban army Of liberation" as 1t Is
called. has grown to its present size in
the face of almost lnsurmountable diff
culties.
OUTNUMBERED BY SPAIN.
From the beginning 1t has been out
numbered by the army OF Spain in the
ratio of never less than 4 to |. 1t has
escaped annihilation in many encoun-
ters when ammunition ran out. 1t has
lived on forage. been almost constantly
under fire, and IL tn day u reckless.
daredevil army with but one idea in
view. and that is to free Cuba. W hat
comes after is not given d thought.
1t is reported that Antonio Maceo. the
second in command of the rebel forces.
is near Candelaria, in the province of
Pinar Del Rio.
At meeting of the reformist party
here II was decided to take no part in
the election of members of the cortes.
II being held impossible for the party
TO do SO because OF the disturbance
caused by the war. This decision was
cabled to Madrid. Replies have been
received from the leaders there, COM
mending the action of the party. de-
claring that the elections in Cuba will
only be simulated and advising that
the reformists only take part in cleo