The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-11
The Genius of Gomez.
Weyler Outwitted by the Gu
ban Commander.

TWO QaYS IepOII VI uoCtot'0 o"SoS0
rnent was awaited with interest. AS no
correspondents are now permitted to ac-
co:o pany the troops, just what occurred
is nos clear From all | can learn, |
believe that Gomez pushed Que side nf
the triangle back, while Maceo pushed
back the other, and the Insurgents
passed out the opening The fighting
that occurred was not serious. for with
about 10 900 on the insurgeot side and
double the number of Spanish troops.
the losses ali told we're less than 100.
When i, was learned that the rebels
bad gone east into Matanzas, the troops
followed Other columns we're sent by
rail to head them off on the line Into
Santa Clara There we're no engage
inents of importance there, for when the
troops had all been started east, 1t was
learned that both rebel leaders we're GO
ing west They had sent their wound
ed over the line Into Santa Clara aod
we're unincum bered for future opera
tions.
Gomez counsermarched to the middle
Of Matauzas province, where he stopped
to see hat the estates should not obey
Weyler's order to grind caoa. These
found to be preparing had their cane
burned. Maceo returned TO Habana
province. He brought with b!u his
omn column of about 5000 ueo and
as many more belonging to the columns
from the Criept which have beeu nov
ing west for aoou: month. These
forces. added to those which remained
10 this province, make the Si'aa'l""
motc serious here 'han at auy time
The outposts Of The enemy are within
10 miles of the city. The governmen:
holds nearly every railroad town. al
though moss of these towns have been
entered and partially burned down
Ooly by the use Of forts are the troops
able TO exchange shots with portion of
the Invading rarty, other de'achmeot-
search stores for arms, ammunition and
other supplies and Sc, FIRE to buildings
owed by Spaniards. As rule, prop
erty Of Cubans who sympathize with
the rebellion, also that of Americans,
is spared. though in some instances
whole towns are given to the torch.
Outside fortified towns in this province
are many small towns which have been
occupied by local bands Of insurgents
for weeks. The Cubans melt away
upon the approach of large column
of Spanish troops. but reappear as the
Spanish leave.
Railroads are operated in this man-
DER: As telegraph wires are down most
Of the time, aud there is no telling
what is ahead of the train, an e8p'or-
ing engine with one armored car ad-
vances cautiously along the line The
engineer watches for missing rails aud
sawed ties, while the troops watch for
insurgents. The rate Of progress is
about five miles an hour The train
follows closely. also with one or more
armored cars, and a stroog guard.
When rails are found missing others
are laid unless there is an attack. The
train to Bataba is sent out two days
a week. Although it ruos along the
strong line across the islandS and has
block houses within rifle range of each
other, the train seldom reaches it's destI-
nation 10 Que day. On the return
t,ip. rails which have just been laid are
missing and others have to be substi-
tuted. The western railway into Pinar
del Rio has rot run further that 10
miles from this city iu six weeks No
trains have gone to Guanajsy 10 a
month. Trains to Matapzas seldom
get through. Nearly every station on
the line has been destroyed.
Iu other provinces affairs are about
the same. The operations of the
insurgents are directed against
railroads which are employed
for moving government troops
and against planters whose crops fur.
nish Spain with the revenues of war.
Incidentally much other property is
destroyed ard people ere made home
less aud destlture Prowliug bands of
robbers and iucendiaries follow move
ments of both columns of both armies
aud commit ousrages. The insurgents
hang these men aud the Spaniards shoot
them, whenever they are caught and con,
victed Every war has its horrors. and
this one is not excepted The blame for
the depredations committed does not Ill
belong to the Cuban side, however.
Spanish columns which have been forag-
ing for supplies have been accused of
wauton destruction in many places.
The prospect Of any kind OF sugar
crop is less encouraging than ever. Co.
mez has apparently the power to pre-
vent grinding except on estates very
close to cities. and where large forces