The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-09
MaceO TriumphS Over
Spanish Commander.
Leads His Forces Beyond
Weyler'S Famous TrOcha.
Report Current That the Cuban
Leader Has Been Killed.

Habana, Dec. 9.-It Is now semi-offi.
cially admitted that Antonio Maceo the
insurgent leader. passed the military
line of Pinar del Rio on Friday last. near
Mariel. the port at Its northern extrem.
ity. He was accompanied by the son OF
Maxine Gomez
There was much excitement here when
II became generally known that Mace0
had crossed the military line with. il IL
understood, a strong force OF insurgents
especially when coupled with the fight.
ing between Spanish troops and insur.
gents close 10 the city. II seems eviden!
that the insurgent commander has moi
only cleverly turned the flank of Captain
General Weyler, but he has succeeded
In getting In his rear ana crossing the
famous military line near the port which
has been used as a base OF supplies for
the Spanish troops in Pinar del Rio.
The Importance OF this movement can.
not be exaggerated. The exact where.
abouts of General weyler is not known,
but he is believed TO be hunting for Maceo
In the mountains I'm the extreme eastern
part OF Pinar del Rio. while the insurgcni
chief has seemingly doubled on bis
tracks. turned the flank OF the Spanish
general and passed In his rear. in the
direction OF this city. crossing the MIL
itary line at viii. and possibly being by
this time in the vicinity Of the capital OF
Cuba. II Maxine Gomez has carried
out the plan attributed TO him, that OF
pushing westward to the support OF
Maceo, a junction OF the two main bodies
OF the insurgent forces may be expected
shortly.
a fn hn lfr0 81
strength Of the insurgent force with
Antonio Maceo in this province. In fact,
II was not until the news was being
passed from person TO person in the
streets that the authorities would give
half-hearted admission OF the truth OF
the report that Maceo had crossed the
military line. This. II is believed. will
alter the whole situation, and important
events may occur within a short time.
There Is no doubt that the insurgents
have recently been increased greatly in
number about the capital The stray
bands OF 20 10 30 bandits. met by tho
Spanish troops have now swollen 10 the
proportions Of forces OF 1000 TO 1000 men.
Only this day week ago bold attack
was made upon Guanahacoa, which is
really q suburb OF this city, and 20 houses
were burned by the insurgents. who also
killed all the men forming the garrison
OF one OF the forts Therefore. II is not
astonishing II people are now anxiously
asking themselves from what quarter
the next attack will be made.
II seer to pc admitted, however that
Maceo Will strike before Weyler can
hurry back from Plnar del Rio. Ii is also
currently repopted that the captain gen.
eral has been wounded in an engage
ment with the insurgents before the lat
ter crossed the military lire, and that he
may not be able TO return here, except
as a prisoner BY the Cubans.
The authorities naturally are doing oil
IN their power to minimize the crossing
OF the trocha by Maceo. and intimate
that he is, IS usual, according TO the
Spaniards. running away from them.
ibis does not alter the fact that the hare
has escaped the hunter. and that tho
hunter may find II difficult to get home.
The friends OF the insurgents here are
overjoyed at the new turn taken in the
campaign. and they are boasting that
both Gomez and Maceo' will soon be
knocking ut the gates OF Habana. To
this the Spanish officials simply say:
wait and see; the end is not yet" but
there is no denying that the supporters
Oh CUSlD mere lOCuy dIt
cres 'allen and discouraged. Even a
defeat at the hands of thegnsurgents, il
IS admitted. would have been better than
the humiliation which the Spanish troops
have suffered In being SO skillfully out
maneuvered by the insurgents.
1t is stated in most positive terms by
tho Spanish authorities that Antonio
Naceo. the great insurgent leader and
tho heart and soul OF the Cuban cause.
has been killed In Habana province,
after having erected the passage OF the
western trocha near NefisI, ct It's north
ern extremity. With the Cuban leader
died the youth Francisco Gomez. son Of
Maxine Gomez. who accompanied the
mulatto general on his passage of the
trocha.
Most explicit details OF the finding Of
the corpses OF the fallen Cubans and OF
the facts relied upon for their Identified
tion are az hand through the report Of
the Spanish commander, Major Ciru3eda
who contested the passage OF the trocha
unsucce ssfully on Dec. CAST Friday
with Maceo. and who sustained another
conflict on Monday with the forces under
the insurgent leader. IL was In re-
connnlssance after the latter engage.
ylent that the Spanierds found the two
corpSes, not separated In death, which
they have identified as those OF Antonio
Maceo and Francisco Gomez.