The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-09
MACEO's MOVEMENTS.
Story Told Before His Death Wa.
Reported

1A VANA, Dec. SIT is now semi
oinclaHy admitted that Antonio Maceo
the lnSurgent leader, passed the l,oiIi
tary line of Pinar del Rio on FRIDAY
last near Mariel, the port at its north
efn extremity. He was accompa MED
oy the son OF Maxine Gomez. There
was much excitement here when If he.
came generally known that Maceo had
crossed the military line with it is
understood, strong force of insl1r
gents, especially when coupled with tha
nght1ng between Spanish troops and
insurgents close to this city. It seems
evident that the insurgent Commander
mas not only cleverly turned the flank
OF capt. Gen. Weyler, but has succeed :
ed In getting in his rear and crossing
the FAMOUS military line near the mort
which has been used as a base Of s1n-
plles Tor the Spanish troops in Pinar
Gel Rio. The Importance of this move
ment cannot be exaggerated
The exact whereabouts of Gen. View
Ter is not known, but he is believed TO
pc hunting for Maceo in the noun
tains in the extreme eastern par1 of
Plnar del Rio, while the insurgent chief
has seemingly doubled on his tracks
turned the flank of the Spanish gen
eral and passed in his rear in the direc-
ton of this city, crossing the military
nhe at viii and probably being by this
cuba. If Maxine Gomez has carried
out the plan attributed to him, that of
pushing westward to the support of
Maceo, junction of the two main
bodies Of the insurgent forces may be
expected shortly.
Nothing appears to be known of the
strength of the insurgent force with
Antonio Maceo in this province. In
fact, it was not until the news was be-
ing passed from person to person in
the streets that the authorities would
give a half-hearted admission of the
truth Of the report that Maceo had
crossed the military line. This. it is be-
heved, will alter the whole situation,
and important events may occur within
a short time. There Is no doubt that
the insurgents have recently increased
in number about this capital The
stray bands of twenty to thirty ban
dts met by the Spanish troops have
now swollen to the proportion of in
surgent forces of 10000 to 100000 1t
seems to be admitted and believed that
Maceo will strike before Weyler can
hurry back from Pinar del Rio. In
deed, it is currently reported that the
captain general has been wounded in
an engagement with the insurgents be-
fore the latter crossed the military line
and that he may not be able to return
here except as prisoner of the
Cubans
The authorities, naturally, are doing
all In their power to minimize the
crossing of the trocha by Maceo and in
innate that he is, as usual, according
to the Spanish, running away from
them. This does not alter the fact that
he has escaped the hunter and that the
hunter may find difficulty in. getting
home.
The friends of the insurgents here are
overjoyed at the new turn taken In the
campaign and are boasting that Maceo
and Gomez will soon be knocking at
the gates Of Havana. To this, the
Spanish officials simply say: "Wait
and see; the time is not YETI But
there is no denying that the supporters
of Spain here today are looking much
crestfallen and discouraged. Even
defeat at the hands Of the insurgents, it
is admitted, would have been better
than the humiliation which the Spanish
troops have suffered in being so skill
fully out maneuvered by the insur-
gents.