The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-12-11
WEYLER OUTGENERALED.
General Maceo Crossed the Trocha and
Got Near Havana.

General Maceo Crossed the Trocha and
Got Near Havana.
HAvANH. Dec 9.-It is now semi-offi
cially admitted that Antonio Maceo.
the iusurgent leader, passed the mill
tarv line of PInar del Rio on Friday
last, near Mariel, the port at its north
eru extremity He was accompanied
by the son of Maximo Gomez.
There was much excitement here
when 1t became generally known that
Maceo had crossed the military line
with, it is understood. strong force of
insurgents especially when coupled
with the fighting between Spanish
troops aud Insurgents close to this city
1t seems evident that the insurgent
commander has not only cleverly turned
the flank of Captain General Weyler.
but has succeeded in getting in his rear
and crossing the famous military line
near the port which has been used as IA
base of supplies for the Spanish troops
in Pinar del Rio. The importance of
this movement cannot be exaggerated.
The exact whereabouts of General
Weyler is not known, but he Is be
Iieved TO be hunting for Maceo in the
mountains in the extreme eastern part
OF Pinar del Rio while the iusurgeut
chief has seemingly doubled on his
tracks turned the flank of the Spanish
general and passed in his rear in the di.
rectiOn of this city, crossing the mill.
tary line at will, and possibly being by
this time III the vicinity of the capital
of Cuba. If 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 bod
les of the iusurgent forces may be ex-
pected shortly
Nothing appears TO be known of the
strength of the insurgent force with
Antonio Maceo in this province. In
fact, 1t was not until the news was
being passed from person to person in
the streets that the authorities would
give a half-hearted admission of the
truth of the report that Maceo had
crossed the military line. This was be
lieved, will alter the whole situation
and important events may occur within
a short time. There Is no doubt that
the insurgents have recently Increased
in number about the capital. The stray
bands of 20 or 30 bandits met by the
Spanish troops have now swollen to the
proportions of iusurgent forces as %, 900
to 40, 900 men.
1t seems to he admitted and believed
that MaccO will strike before Weyler
can hurry back from Pinar del Rio. In
deed, 1t Is apparently currently reported
that the captain general has been
wounded in an engagement with the
insurgents before the latter crossed ths.
military line. and that he may not he
able To return here. except Il prisoner
Df the Cubans.
The authorities. naturally, are doing
all in their power to minimize the cross
ing of the trocha by Macco, and init
mate that he is, as usual according to
the Spanish, running away from them
This docs not alter the fact that he has
escaped the hunter and that the hunter
may find difficulty in getting home.
The friends of the insurgents here
are overloved at the new turn taken in
the campaign and arc boaSting that
Macco and Gomez will soon be knock
ing at the gates of Havana To this
the Spanish officials simply say wait
aud sec, the time is not yet"
But there is no denying that the sup
porters of Spain here are looking much
crestfallen and discouraged Even IA
defeat at the hands of the insurgents,
1t is admitted would have been better
than the humiliation which the Spanish
troops have suffered in being so skill
fully outmannuVrpd by the inSurpents