Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-01-30
TREASON OR BRAG
Seems Prevalent Among Spain's
Officers i'm Cuba.
GIvE-AwAY OF CAMPAIGN PLANS,

As Alleged. by Several Onicers of High
Rank" Whose Names 1t Was Hardly Nee
essay to Say Must BE Kept Secret
How the Castilians Are Going to Bottle
Up the Rebels-A "wall of Men, the
scheme Adopted.
NEW YORK, Jan. 2s,-A special to The
World from Havana says: The plan of
campaign adopted by the commander-in-
chief of the Spanish forces now in Cuba
has been divulged by several officers of
high rank whose names must be kept Sc
eret. General Campos established what
became known as 1.-The wall of men," He
distributed a large number of Spanish
troops in such manner that they prac-
tically formed solid line from coast to
coast His line began in the north about
five miles west of Havana and extended
south 60 the Bay of Matamano At the
time this plan was adopted Gomez had
announced that he would take his COM
mand not only into Havana province, but
that he would walk into Pinar del Rio
and as far west as he possibly could. Cam
pos determined TO prevent Gomez from
carrying out his project. The wall of
men was well to the westward of the
railroad line, between Havana and Bata-
bano.
Crossed and Recrossed the Line.
Gomez and Maceo not only succeeded in
crossing Campos' line, but recrossed it
several times, and Gomez and Maceo sep
areted west of it two weeks ago. Maceo
remained in Pinar del Rio province doing
about as he pleased, while Gomez invaded
Havana province again, and one time
Camped within fifteen miles of the capital
of Cuba. Reports were printed in the
United States that Gomez was at the
gates of Havana, and that it was only a
question of few hours when he would
enter this city, haul down the Span
ish banner, and raise the flag of
the Cuban republic But Gomez
had no intention of attacking
this city. He openly declared that it
would be more than foolish to do so. His
sole object is to keep the Spanish troops
moving hoping to tire them out. If he
can continue his present warfare until
not weather sets in he knows yellow
fever will do the rest. Both Generals
i Marin and Pando are convinced that
while the idea of the wall of men is good
one, the wall of men is in the wrong place
too tar west. 1t was decided, therefore, to
have a strong wall along the railroad.
Thousands of troops are stationed along
that line, and small fortresses have been
erected near each station.
Armored Cars Ordered.
| A large number of armored cars have
been ordered. They are TO be box cars to
be protected by boiler iron. At either end
of the cars will be Hotchkiss revolving
cannon. howitzers or Calling guns. These
cars are TO be placed between the railway
stations. At least 1900 armed troops will
be kept constantly moving over the line.
Maceo and his command, the Spanish gem
erals say, cannot escape. He is looked
upon as an easy mark" Many of his
troops are believed TO be wounded. As he
has no ambulance corps, he is unable to
move them, and he does not want to
leave them to the mercy of the Spanish.
! If Maceo tries to go east he will run up
I against new wall Of men, much
! stronger than Tie one he broke through
some weeks ago. Ii he tries TO escape
/ west, the Spanish generals argue that he
will have to march to the sea, where his
| only shance to get away will be in boats.
! Spanish warships have been stationed all
! along the coast. One fired few days ago
| upon an encampment of insurgents. The
| Spanish commanders fear only Gomez
| Although he is nearly So years old, they
/ recognize in him one of the ablest of fight
/ ing men and an expert tactician.