Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-21
GENERAL WEYLER'S SUCCESS
He Has Built a Trocha Across
the Island.
KEPTINTACT1 RTWOWEEkS
II Has Saved Hi ' rom Being Recalled to
Spf SSo Disgrace.
@"'90 AND = z ARE NOW SEPARATED
Thirty ThOl - d spaniards Are Required
to Keep 8 I'M Apart-Fifteen Thou.
sands spaniards Arc Now in
Hospitals.
KEPTINTACTE TWOWEEKS
mAcfO AND z ARE NOW SEPARATED

havana, April 20.-General Weyler ba.
| succeeded In accomplishing what Martj-
| hlz Campos and other captain-generals
nave attempted In vain. He has built a
trocha across the island and kent II in
tact for two weeks. That the present
trocha is formidable even the insurgents
admit but they profess that 1t alarms
them not at all. When Maceo passed
through Havana province to the west and
Weyler stationed 10000 men along the
twenty-one miles from Mariel on the
north coast, to Majana, on the south he
caoled to Madrid announcing that the
second in command of the rebel forces
was penned up in the western province
After stalking his reputation on the ab-
solute impossiblity of Maceo's crossing
ne round that detached parties of from
l0O to 200 insurgents were getting through
the line a will, He then brought all the
troops from other parts of the island that
couio pe spared leaving the eastern and
hluoie provinces with forces barely suffi-
cient for garrison duty, and practically
suspending active operations in all but
the western province. This concentra-
ton raised the forces on the trocha TO
ZS,ooo and gave 5000 more for use in fly
ing columns acting in conjunction with
those on the line. The troops were set at
WORK erecting forts, digging trenches and
Dullolng barricades. The work has been
pushed night and day, and the best
trocha spain has ever built In Cuba now
country south from Marel redoubts have
country south from Marlel redouts hava
peen built for artillery upon every emil
hence. Between Guiana Jay and Artemisa
along the middle part of the line forts and
oiock houses with earth works, have
oeen constructed. From Majana to the
ftlar roIx
broad ditch, backed with stockade. with
block houses at intervals, has been re-
sorted to.
General Arolus, who Is In command of
the troops on the line, says the insurgents
cannot cross without tremendous losses.
The troops are under arms night ana
DAY, but though they have waited two
weeks Maceo-has not attacked the line
rms fact had question as to the value
OF the line from the military standpoint
70 maintain its strength at all points
ieaVes only few thousand men who can
be used in aggressive opera tions. Ma
Geo 8 own FORCES, with those of Bantlera
ana Delgado number about $4,000 men.
Ihey have been drilling around Lechusa.
Hlteen miles west of the trocha, for two
weeks. They have plenty of provisions
and have the whole province of Pinar deI
R1o at their backs. They have some am
munition-how much Is not known. They
nearly wiped out of existence the column
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel De
DOS. who attempted to drive them out
oL tne nils ana was himself driven to the
snores or CabanaS bay. second conn
bination of flying columns has failed to
dlsiodge the insurgents Meanwhile the
main body of Spanish troops holds the
trocha NV
Maxine Gomez has accepted the situ-
alton and has directed Maceo to remain
in Pinar del Rio province. Several large
insurgent columns have been ordered into
Havana province from the east One of
these columns, numbering 5000 men. from
Santiago province, has arrived and ia
now near Quivican, twenty miles south
of this city.
Rumor has 1t that Jose Maceo. brother
OF Antonio, is In command, but this is
not positively known. 1t Is stated that
he has been relieved of command In the
eastern districts, and Gen. Calixto Gar
cia, who arrived on the Bermuda. has
been named as his successor.
In Santa Clara, Serafn Sanchez who
has proved himself incapable of handlina
a large force of men, has been relegated
to second position, Roloff being given
command in the province. Gomez HIM
self assumed command in Camaguey and
Antonio Maceo is given command in
Pinar del Rio An official decree making
these changes has been issued. Gomez
says he Is satisfied to have Maceo remain
in the western province, as 1t keeps 25, 900
PPhiiihiuS StdtioHSu OH tle line. tiOnleZ
Is said to be willing to have the Spanish
troops hold the line until the rainy sea-
son sets in. by which time they will find
1t very unhealthy spot. Reports are
already being received of Spaniards sue
cumbing to the heat. and between the
wounded and the sick there are fully
$1,000 now in hospitals on the island
The stories about Gomez being at
deaths door are exaggerat!ons. He is
still in command and apparently able to
keep up some life, though his age and
the rough campaign through which he
has passed have told upon him.
General Weyler has won no important
battle during his two months stay, and
he has failed to clear Havana and Pinar
del Rio Of insurgents, as he set up to do;
but he has stopped their movement east
and west through the narrowest part of
the island. He has kept his word in
that, and undoubtedly saved himself
from the ignominious recall to Spain,
which was pending fortnight ago
CLARK.