The herald., 1896-11-30
MACEO 5 SITUATION
GROWS DESPERIF
If Cuban Merchants MaIES
Reports
HIS SOLDIERS ARE HALF MIXED
And His Encampments Look
Like Hospitals
SMALLPOX AND DYSENTERY
Combine to Cause Feeling Of Greso
Fatigue
SMALLPOX AND DYsENTERY
Combine to Cause q Feeling Of Greao
Fatigue
Weyler's Proposed Invasion Brings Dismay
to InsurEent Sympathlzsfs
The Captain General Promised ~
Squelch the Revolution by Christ
mas, but Now Wants About
Week More Time

Associated Press Special Wire
HAVANA, Nov. 29.-Prominent merv
chants of Pinar del Rio affirm that Ans
tonic Maceo's situation Is desperate.
His forces they say, are half naked ana
are compelled to wander continually
without rest. They are badly nourisheds
and many of the whites in his command
have consumption. Maceo's encamp-
ments are said to be like hospitals. Many
of the negroes. 1t is alleged. are pale ana
thin, and fever. dysentery and smallpox
are causing great mortality. Maceofo
men are reported to be in condition of
great fatigue and their enthusiasm p
dying out. 81
The prospect Of Weyler's invasion y
causing dismay to the adherents Of the
cause The chiefs murmur and the hopes
of victory are turned into the certainty
of complete destruction of the forces.
These merchants add that General
Weyler is expected to deal q mortal
blow to the revolution in Pinar del Rlo
by the end of the year.
Several we'll known insurgent leaders
have dynamited a military train rum
ming along the trocha from Jucaro to
Moren, in the western portion ofsPueTto
Z
and the insurgents, tnen attacked an
| iron-plated car in wfi ~ w as the trAtks9
escort of twenty-five men and Jofne'c1N.
An armored engine was sent in pursuit
! of the column. Colonel Arminon arriv-
ing on the scene, the insurgents re~
treated, leaving eight killed and carry
ing away their wounded.
The military escort Of the train had one
officer and eight soldiers wounded and
two killed.
The details of the story of the youth
Youch. who alleges that Maceo Is using
his prisoners like mules, as beasts Of
burden, and that twelve Of the prisoners
were drowned while wading river.
Last night dance was given At tho
theater for the benefit Of the Red Cross
fund. The best society Of Havana waa
present and the large house war obliged
to close it's doors in order to avoid .
catastrophe.
A youth named Youch, who has'been
Maceo's prisoner for thirty five days,
has escaped and come to Havana where
he assures the authorities that he and
300 other persons were tied elbow to ell
bow and made to serve like mules In
Maceo's camp, carrying bags loaded
with cartridges from rear to front It
is impossible to secure any confirmation
of this assertion from any reliable
source.
The intendant has dictated rules to tho
custom house employees designed to pre-
vent the expectation Of any kind OF Leaf
tobacco from any port in the provinces
cipe and Santiago de Cuba.
The insurgent leader, Lopez Coloma,
who first raised the cry of revolt in the
province of Matanzas and who was sem
fenced to death by court martial for the
crimes OF rebellion, homicide and horse
theft, was shot on Thursday. thousands
of people witnessing tine execution.
Private advices from Artemisa, pro.
vince of Pinar del Rio. say that on Nov.
23d Maceo was in camp near Consola.
cion del Norte.
ENGLISH COMMENT.
LONDON. Nov. 29.-The Times' cor.
respondent in Havana dwells at lensth
upon Captain General Weyler's faiii,ro
to cope with the rebellion. He adds: 1T
is said that the present issue of bank
notes is to be withdrawn. and q number
issued. based on the value Of silver,
for the payment of troops. AS thereip
no metallic reserve, it Is safe to predict
that these notes will soon fall to Z pure
ly nominal value"
The Times says, in an editorial on the
above: THE gloomy outlook in Cuba
makes 1t impossible to exclude the pos-
sibility Of some kind of United States
intervention
MILITARY ACTIVITY.
PENSACOLA. Fla, Nov. 2s.-It b
rumored in military circles that the
troops Of the First artillery, now staA
toned at various posts on the gulf and
Atlantic coasts is to be concentrates
here for practice with the modern heavN
guns. which will soon be In position, On
Santa Rosa island. The selection Of =
site for another battery leaves ne doubt
in the minds Of military men that Pens
sacola Is to be heavily fortified Is rap@
| idly as possible, and as the troops need
| practice in the handling Of tbs modern
| guns. this harbor is deemed by militar3
| men to be the best that could be selected
! for the purpose. They have the open
| gulf for target practice, and .at least
| 1000 men can be comfortably Quartere1