Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-04
SPANS WALL OF MEN
II Doesn't Seem to Be Much Of an CD
STAGE to the CubanS
GOMEZ CROSSES IT At WILL.
He Is Now East of IL, and Macec
West, and Marin's Present Object
Is to Keep the Two Arart-spsnish
Barbarity.
Barbarity.

has had no serious difficulty in doing 70,
although the wall of men is the strongest
one ever thrown across the island by
Spain. Troops have been drawn from all
parts Of the island to make IL invulner-
able. and several thousand volunteers
have been added to the force OF regulars
along the line. over 1900 cavalry have
fantrymen, and several batteries OF ar
tlllery are stationed on the line.
With all these preparations and the
building OF block-houses OF wood and
stone the throwing up OF earthworks, and
the Transforming Of railroad stations.
churches. and dwellings into forts, the
daring rough-rIders Of Gomez push
through the line. leaving a few dead and
wounded Spaniards to mark their passage.
Each time the line is crossed the au-
thorities at the Palace, who sft the news
that Is published here or cabled direct,
crossing, and state in official reports that
Gomez was driven away.
After the rebel chief had gone west over
the line an official report OF an encounter
with him near Guanajay revealed his
whereabouts. He was officially reported
TO be in Pinar del Rio Thursday, thus
giving General Chalena a serious time on
tie line south of Beiucal. IL Is two DAYS
since that report OF the encounter has
been given out. 1t Is pretty well known
that General Canella and go men would
have been wiped out by Gomez had not
II -
rived. There is some excuse for the delay
in preparing a report that will make a
Spanish victory out OF a desperate de-
fensive encounter against overwhelming
numbers.
Not one report Of an engagement has
been made which did not close with the
statement that the Spaniards occupied
their enemiesi positions, dispersed them,
and were still pursuing them. Hardly a
day passes without a Spanish report or a
battle in which forty or nfty Spanlards
defeat four or five times their number,
capturing their horses. camp utensils, old
hats, alarm-clocks, or a pair or sus-
penders.
WHAT EVERYBODY KNOWS
The whole world knows that the Cubans,
starting their rebellion with handful
of men, In the mountains In the extreme
east. have extended 1t over the entire
island. and with 10000 regulars sent
over from Spain, and 5000 volunteers re-
crulted on the island, the government
has been powerless 10 check the spread
of the revolution. The hospitals are fuil
of wounded soldiers, thousands nave died
on the field, and yet the Spanish losses IN
the official reports amount TO ncthing
Twice each day the government issues
10
foreign correspondents. The press HANDS
them out. All news published here or
cabled abroad must conform 10 these re-
uorts. Similar reports are cabled 10 the
SPANISH Ministers at Washington Lon
don. and Paris.
Martinez Campos said that these reports
were ludcrous, every press censor WIN
has held the post has said they are ao-
surb. no intelligent American has any
faith I'm them. bur the correspondents are
compelled to send these misleading re-
ports or give up the use of the cables
General Marin Is now at Qulvscan'
eighteen miles south OF Habana. ne
missed his great opportunity OF pennlng
both Gomez and Maceo In Pinar uei no
province by starting one day too late
Now he has Gomez on one side OF the
line and Maceo on the other, ana Will
try to prevent their meeting.
While practically all the Spanish forces
which can be spared from guarding the
cities are concentrated about the strate-
gic-line in an effort to maintain It's I'M
pregnability, the various bands OF lnsur-
gents roam at will In all the provinces OF
Cuba. In Santiago there are frequent en-
counters, and all grinding OF cane has
been stopped The same Is true OF Santa
Clara and Puerto Principe.
At Matanzas the whole interior OF the
province is alive with rebels. Lacret mas
united a dozen small bands, and mas
nearly 1000 men under him. They have
had daily encounters with Spanish troops
aud continue gaining In strength.
MACEO RETURNING.
In Pinar del Rio. Maceo Is returning 10
the Habana border, after a triumphant
campaign. and has turned away thou
sands who wished 10 join his army. The
few Spanish troops IN the province have
succeeded In holding the capital city ana
Coloma. its port, but every other town
has been entered and occupied by Maceo.
In Habana province Spain has over 25,-
900 troops, and holds one railroad-line-
the one now converted into the "trocha,"
due south from this city. Every town
on Il Is occupied by a strong force. and
every train has several carloads OF troops.
The western railroad is practically aban-
doned beyond Salud, which is fifteen
miles from here; the Guanajay road Is
abandoned beyond San Antonio, about
seventeen miles from here. and the Ma
tanzas road operates only about eighteen
miles to the eastward.
The road from San Felpe cas-. to
Guines ard Union has been IN the
hands OF the enemy for days. The at
49, - h. rar
.ure of the engineer and fireman, and
the turning loose Of the engine at full
speed backward toward the train that
was following II. The men are still in
the hands Of the enemy.
OF the four lines Of railway which con-
verge at Matanzas. not one Is running.
General Marin has sent five engineers
from this city by rail 70 Batabano. where
they are 10 take steamer TO Cienfuegos
and cross overland on horseback, es-
corted by troops, 10 Jovelanos, I'm the
centre OF Matanzas province. There they
are to man five trains of cars, which have
been tied up FOR weeks. These cars are
to be loaded with 1850 newly-formed
cavalry. and an attempt viii be made
10 bring the outfit 10 this city That win
give the railroad here additional ears TO
replace those which have been burned,
and the government will obtain an addi-
tional force of cavalry to operate along
the trocha.
tSiened) j. FRANK CLARK.
TORTURE BY STANDARDS,
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, January 18th.
via TAMPA. FLA. February ga hor-
ri5le crime was perpetrated on the
estate OF the Juragua lron-Mining Com
pany. on the 20th instant. Three Spanish
ooftfara armed s.tfh Guns laff fha vtflafra
firmeza 20 ask aims. ana were met b.
u parry OF rebels. who killed the soldiers
with maehetes. taking their guns and
ammunition. AS soon as this was known
the chief Of the Spanish forces OF tna1
place ordered the imprisonment OF all
the Cubans working In the Juragua
mines The order was obeyed, but OF the