The record-union., 1896-03-18

HAVANA, March IA (via Tampa.
Florida, March O.-Correspondence of
the United Press-The present strength
of the insurgent army is close to 43,000.
Cubans themselves estimate the num-
Der of men in the field as high as Co.
000, but even if unarmed camp-follow-
ers, men in charge of provision trains,
hospitals and camps were counted it is
doubtful if that number could be found
actually in service. There are thou
sands of Cubans who would willingly
cast their lot with the patriotic army,
but lack of arms and ammunition pre-
vents.
The insurgent forces operate as a
rule in zones or districts and are organ
lied on military lines. The columns
of Gomez, Maceo, Lacret and Banderas
are, however, limited to no one pro-
vince, but pass from one to another
under direct orders of Gomez. The
Communicating Chief is now in Matan-
zas, and the others have reinvaded Ha-
vana Province.
The following is a statement of the
strength and location of the forces of
the principal leaders: Maximo Gomez,
in Matanzas, 5000; Antonio Maceo,
Miro Zalis and others, in Havana, 5000;
Sanchez, in Santa Clara, 1000; Jose
Maceo, Rojas and Rodriguez, in Santi-
ago, $500; Lacret, in Havana, 5000;
Quintin Banderas, in Havana, 5000;
Masso Alvarez, Castillo, Mestro and
Nunez, in Havana, 5000; Delgado,
Bermudez, Sanchez and others, in Pinar
del Rio, $500; Aguirre, Hernandez and
Palacios, in Havana, $500; Mayia,
Rodriguez and others, in Camaguey,
l 800; Reyes, Benitez, Vasa, Wilson and
Mendicita, in Santiago, 1000; Rafael
and Cardenas, in MatanZas, 500; We
rona RupertO Sanchez and others, in
Pinar del Rio, S00 Olivia and others, in
Pinar del Rio, 600; Garlic, Joaquin,
Garcia and others, in Santiago 600;
Rolof, Pancho and Perez, in Santa
Clara, 800; Mirabel, Ferrez and Veita,
in Santa Clara, 500; Rego, Sixto, Rogue,
Palao and Sanchez, in Santa Clara,
500; Cortuna, Vidal and Juan Bravo, in
Santa Clara, 400; Juan Toledo and Ell
Inglesito, in Santa Clara, 400; Matagas,
in Matanzas, 400; Robau, Cebreco
Ruen and Planas, in Santiago, 400;
Borroto, Lancho, Sardinas and Edu-
Mosjon, Dimas, Martinez and Soro-
longo, in Matanzas, 400; Villancoa,
Acosta, Aguilar and others, in Havana,
800; Munez, Chapotin, Sosorro and Limo
Perez, in Santa Clara, 200; total ~, 800
The distribution, according to Pro-
vinces, is: Havana, 16,S00; Matanzas,
5000; Santa Clara, $780, Santiago
$500; Pinar del Rio, $500; Camaguey,
2,100; total. 1880.
In addition to the above there are in
Vulnerable local bands CT from fifteen
men to fifty or even 100. These dopnot
form part of the lighting force, and
should not be counted as part of the
army. Their chief functions are to
carry out the orders of Gomez prohibit
ing the grinding of cane, the movements
of troops and supplies by rail, the ship
ment of provisions to cities, the sup
preston of 'Plateados," who rob, burn
and commit other crimes. These small
bands serve as recruiting agencies, and
when they grow too large for local oper-
alton they are attached to one of the
army's columns.
OF the army proper fully two-thirds
are we'll mounted, and above half are
with shotguns, revolvers or machetes.
Some of Maceo's men have old-style
Misunderstanding guns, and lead is so
scarce that the telegraph wires chopped
into short lengths is used for the charge.
The Spanish surgeons have on several
occasions reported soldiers wounded
with bits of wire.
The insurgents have a few pieces of
mountain cannon captured from Gov
ernment troops. There are perhaps a
dozen of these guns which have been
used with disastrous effect against the
small wooden forts which the Spanish
troops have erected at various points.
The Cuban army of liberation, as it is
called, has grown TO its present size in
the face of almost insurmountable diff
culties. From the beginning it has been
outnumbered by the army of Spain in
never less than to 1. 1t has escaped
humiliation in many encounters when
ammunition ran out. 1t has lived on
forage, been almost constantly under
fire, and is to-day a reckless, dare devil
army, with but one idea in view, and
that is to free Cuba. What comes after
is not given a 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 a meeting of the Reformist party
here it was decided to take no part in
the election of members of the Cortes.
it 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 commencing the
action of the party, declaring that the
elections in Cuba will only be stimu-
lated, and advising that the Reformfsts
only take part in elections when the
provinces are paciffed
J. FRANK CLARK.
DEVASTATION WROUGHT.
HAVANA, March IA (via Tampa.
Fla, March 1D.-Some idea of the de-
vastation wrought by the war in Cuba
may be gathered from the following list
of towns which have been DESTROYED in
the four western provinces: BeniucaI.
Jaruco, Wajay, Melena, Del Sur. Bal
Hca, LIE Catalina, San Nicholas. Nueya
Paz, in Havana Province: Cabanas.
Caijabos, Palacios, Paso Real, San Di-
ego de los Banos, Whales, San Juan
Martinez, Montezuelo, Los Arroyos. Gu
ane. Bahia Honda, San Diego Nunez,
Quiebra, Hach. in Pinar del Rio; Ma