The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-28

Havana. Nov. 27.-so many eontradic-
torv statements have been attributed e
Camain-13eneral weyier since his return
from the province Of Pinar Del Rio, that
the correspondent here Of the Associated
Press vas instructed 70 ask the Spanish
commander for full. official and author
ized statement on the subject Therefore,
fast previous to the departure Of General
Weyser fer Pinar del RIO, the correspond
en4 elie8 al the Palace, where he was
coul eosslg received hy the General wllr
was asked 10 supplement the exclusive
interview with the correspondent Of la
I.ueha III Artemsa, which was cabled to
the Associated Press on Tuesday after
noon. and which contained his first public
utterances since his return from conduct
ing the operations against Antonio
Maceo. This, the General agreed to do.
The correspondent obtained the inter
view last evening by informing the
Caplain-General that the Associated
1EbsS WAS dnAlDAS DIlQAG AA9 ACthA - ~
the field to place before the public in the
United States his official views Of the
Cuban situation, adding: 1T is under
stood that you have returned from
pinar del Rio highly contented with the
result Of your recent operations and il
is asserted that you believe Pinar de-
Rio will soon be pacified."
In reply the Captain General said: II
am hot only contented but am entirely
satisfied with the result of my military
plans there / went over all the north
.ern hills and occupied the insurgent posi-
tions without any serious resistance upon
the part Of the enemy Cacara Jicara
and Rubi, which the insurgents claimed
were iinpregnable, were occupied by our
troops after dislodging the enemy. At
Rubi he offered the greater resistance,
but yielded after a few hours lighting.
We found no trace of Maceo's people
after that, although all the other points
were reconnoitred by small detachments
from cur columns. The southerly points
were also reconnoitred and the positions
where the rebels had encamped are now
in possession of our troops. There re-
mains still TO be reconnoitred the ranges
of hills in the eastern part of the province.
Maceo has nothing left for him to do but
to scatter his followers into small par
ties insorder to enable them to escape our
columns which are now hunting for
then, since they offer no resistance, and
refuse to accept meeting with our troops
who are chasing them in all directions
Does your excellency expect soon to
crush the insurrection in the province Of
Pinar del Rio and bring about its pacih-
cation within q short time Z.
Il am confident of shortly paclfylng
Pinar del Rio" replied the Captain Gen
eral, since all the stragetic points are
in my hands, and because of the constant
activity of our trops in all directions
which completely hinders the escape
of the small groups Of insurgents who are
now fleeing before them in disorder"
DO you think the condition Of the pro-
yinces of Havana, Matanzas and Santa
Clara hampers or favors the suppression
Of the insurrectionY'
."These three provinces are more easily
subdued, from the nature of the ground.
They have no hills like the province Of
Pinar del Rio and the facility for the
movement of large bodies of troops are
therefore greater, besides the rebel bands
in those provinces are less numerous and
lack the elements and conditions Of those
in the province of Pinar del Rio The
leaders of the rebels in those three pro-
yinces also lack the Importance possessed
by Maceo. Those who had any prestige
have been killed"
1T is asserted" said the correspondent,
sthat Maceo lost many of the leading
men who were with him, besides those
who joined him after the invasion OF
Pinar del Rio"