The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-12

HAVANA, Feb. 1.-THE greatest
activity was displayed in military
circles today. The festivities in honor
of the ARRIVAL here Of General Weyler,
the new captain general who landed
yesterday from the steamship Alfonso
XIII, ere ended and another chapter in
the history of Cuba has been opened.
AT the captain-generals headquar-
tiers, the reports which he sent for
upon his arrival yesterday telling Of
the number of men available for active
service, the number of sick, the guam
tity of ammunition and supplies IN
possession of each column or detach-
ment, the state Of the country roads,
railroads and telegraph lines and the
probable location and strength of the
enemy were being collected and tabu-
lated by q number Of clerks. The
captain-general intended 70 have the
whole situation mapped cut clearly be-
fore any movement Of Importance Is
undertaken.
It is understood that steps are being
taken to organize large
CAVALRY BRIGADE
for immediate service. Considerable
difficulty is being experienced in Sc
curing the necessary animals, a great
number of them having been corralled
by the enemy. But it is expected tha s,t
the efforts of the captain general Will
result in strongly reinforcing the
mounted infantry now at the olspcsal
of the Spanish commanders.
Orders were issued this morning from
the headuarters to make a considerable
increase of armored railroad cars Tor
the use of the troops. THESE cars nave
been Of great assistance to the Span
iards in protecting conveyers Of pro
Visions passing through parts of the
country infested with insurgent bands.
Pilot engines, also protected, are sent
ahead in order to guard against the eX-
plosion Of dynamite along the road,
and then comes
THE MILITARY TRAIN
itself. Sometimes there are two of
these arnored cars attached to one
train. One armored car IS placed i'm
rneaiately after the engine and the
other brings up the rear. Both are
filed with troops and are protected
with boiler from in most cases, al
though this has been found to be IN
sucfhient protection, as IN nearly an
cases fnsurgent bullents passed through
+he cars. Therefore recently the arrnor
plate has been increased in thickness.
But there is room for considerable i'm
provement even now
For instance, news was received here
this morning that the insurgents had
succeeded In derailing pilot engine
between Coliseo and Sumidero. The
work was
DONE so EFFECTIVELY
+ba+ +ba military train with It's aTTnored
car was under the fire of the insurgents
very soon afterwards, but, thanks to
the gallant defense of the military de-
tachment defending it, the train was
rescued.
DR.. Jode Maceo and nine other per
sons who have been in prison for some
time past at Puerto Padre on the
charge of couspfring against the gov
eminent, have been ordered TO be
transported TO the Spanish prisons In
Africa They have made every effort
possible to obtain their release. claim
ing that nothing has been proved
against them, but in obedience to
superior orders they will shortly be
embarked for Africa.
The insurgents are reported to have
appeared in force although divided
UP into small bands, in the vicinity OF
Cuira Melena- which they attacked
M6lEIlSy WHICH IL 1DOQl dOe
south Of this city, has frequently OF
late been the scene of insurgent opera.
tons Upon this occasion the enemy
made a strong attack upon the town
which was defended by small force
of volunteers and civil guards. The
latter, how ever had assumed good
positions behind walls, breastworlzs and
I'm the most advantageoUsly situated
houses. Valentine Mendez, the in.
surgent chief who led the attack upor
Guira Melena was among the killed.
A detachment of insurgents surprised
q number of volunteers in g planta-
ton near San Marcos de Macurijes
province of Pinar del Rio. The vol
unteers. who are said to have number
ed twenty men, defended themselves
calamity against superior numbers, but
the insurgents charged upon them
WITH MACHETES
and cut down and killed nine of the
Spaniar6s. Upon the arrival of rein
forcements for the volunteers the In
surgents retreated in their customary
manner
General Maxine Gomez. the insur.
gent commander-in-chief, camped lasi
night at the plantation of Bregua, near
San Antonio de Las Vegas, about Il
miles south of this city and a littlt
north Of Bejucal. He is said to have
g large force with him and to have
been considerably reinforced recently
from the province of Matanzas.