The herald., 1896-01-15
HAVANA IS BELEAGORED
By Insurgents, Whose Numbers
Grow Daily Greater
THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL
The RevOIationists Are Acting With All
Deliberati0n
HE SITUATION is CRITICAL
Gomez Pian Is Not to Attack, but to
Cut OFF Supplies From the
City of Havana
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
HAVANA, Jan. 14.-Conirmation has
been received from the eastern provinces
that the leaders Rabi, Jose Maceo, Rivero
and others at the head of strong forces OF
insurgents from the province of Puerto
Principe, believed to be much better armed
than any previous forces and to have been
reinforced by tilibustering expeditions con-
tanning numbers of Americans, are moving
eastward, apparently with the intention of
reinforcing the insurgents now operating
in the neighborhood of Havana. Those in
surgent forces are said to have moved into
the Remedies district and to have moved
in northwesterly direction from Sancti
Spiritus to Remedies and from there on
westward.
The captain-general has been forced to
meet this move by sending back toward
Santa Clara several columns of troops
which were on their way through the
province OF Matapzas to reinforce his
forces in this vicinity. The insurgents, 1t
is believed, will thus be able to continue
for sometime longer their almost I'M
checked operations, and if the Spanish
generals are not able to prevent junction
of all the insurgent forces now in this
vicinity the situation will become more
critical.
Several insurgent bands, numbering
from 100 to 300 men, are reported to have
gathered in the province of Colon and
Matanzas and all of these will help to swell
the Maceo forces.
The insurrection is increasing in inn
portance every day.
Practically the whole interior of the
island, from east to west, with the eXcep-
ton OF the large towns, is in the possession
of the insurgents, who have burned every
thing combustible and have levied tribute
right and left, under the very noses OF the
Spanish commanders, and cutting down
the revenue of the Spanish government
from Cuban sources about 80 per cent.
The insurgents are not acting hastily in
any way. They have plenty of time before
them and intend to make the most OF it.
They have a central government estab-
lished at Hermosa, in the province of
Puerto Principe; their forces are organized
in excellent military style; they have reg
ular army workshops, hospitals, in addi-
ton to the field hospitals; depots of pro-
visions and ammunition, etc; Their
cavalry is vastly superior both in
number and quality to that of the Span
iards, and the military experts assert that
the importation of 5000 or 1000 Spanish
cavalry from Spain will in no way affect
stand the climate.
The weak point of the Cuban army is it's
artillery. They have only few guns of
tho old-fashioned type, and few modern
rapid firing guns.
This afternoon it was stated that Gem
eral Maceo has plundered the village of
San Diego de Nunez, quite an important
place, little to the eastward and SOUTH
ward of Bahia Honda, the port recently
captured by the insurgents on the northern
coast of Cuba and in the province of Pinar
del Rio.
Later, report was received that the rail-
road station and bridge at Govea have been
burned by the insurgents, the bridge being
partially destroyed. Govea is on the rail-
road south of Havana and south of Reju-
cal. In its immediate neighborhood an
engagement is said 10 have taken place
this afternoon between General Linares
and the insurgents.
Is CAMPOs CRAZY?
Boston, Jan. 14.-Startling information
has been received from Havana by a
prominent Cuban tobacco dealer here,
whose interests in the island forbid using
his name. "There is general opinion
says the letter. "both among insurgents
and Spaniards that General Campos has
become demented. His actions, not only
in the direction of the campaign, but his
private and ordinary doings are such as to
give good grounds for this belief
''Gomez has no idea of attacking Ha-
vana, but bis plan is to cut Off The city IS
supplies. There is no doubt that fully
half of the city and populace are Cuban
sympathizers. Americans are thoroughly
detested by The Spaniards. The situation
is serious. a great deal of American prop
| erty has been destroyed and terrible atroci-
ties will be committed upon Americans
The United States needs a warship or two
in Havana harbor."
CONCERN iNG RECOGNITION
CLEVELAND, Jan. 14.-Mr Herbert W.
Wolcott, chairman of the executive com.
mittee of the Cuban-American league, has
received the following self-explanatory
letter from Senator Sherman at Washing
ton:
MY Dear Sir-Your note of the 9TH inst
enclosing clippings showing action of the
Ohio legislature, is received. The subject
of the recognition of the insurgent Cubans
as belligerents is now under careful con-
sidcration by the committee of which am
chairman. You mey be sure that when
ever the conditions will justify it such a
recognition will be made by congress or
the president. Yours very truly,
"JoHN SHERMAN"
The Canadian Crisis