The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-25
wEYLER TALKS OF HIS WORK.
CLAIMS TO HAVE CUT MACEO OFF
FROM SUPPLIES.

The Cuban Force Under MaceO Es-
timated at 5000 Men by the Cap
min General-Intends to Crush the
rebellion in Pinar del Rio Before
healing With 1t EIsewhere-His
Return to the Front Probable.
havana. Nov. 24.-The report circulated
~, the New York World to the effect that
tbe men captured on the American fli-
mastering schooner Competitor had been
retried by court martial, despite a pro-
,est filed by Consul General Lee prior
n his departure from Havana, is abso-
,utelv without a word of truth. Only the
preliminary examinations of the prisoners
nm their second trial, as ordered by the
sunreme military and naval tribunal In
Madrid, have as yet occurred, as was
reported at the time by the Southern AS
sociated Press. 1t is not known when the
trials will take place.
Every effort has been made to learn
the true reasons for the return last night
10 Havana of Capt. Gen. Weyler from the
orovince of Pinar del Rio. All that is
known is that he came here on gun
boat from Nariel, accompanied by only one
adutant. The rest of his staff came by
rail from Artemisa.
Gen. Weyler has made no official declar-
alton concerning the condition of affairs
in the province of Pinar del Rio. In an
Interview had with him just before he left
Pinar del Rio he said he was satisfied
with his campaign. He had crossed to
the south and had expected to meet Ma
Geo to give him combat. He had, how
ever. met only small bands of rebels,
who disappeared when the Spanish troops
came near to them.
When questioned concerning the where
abouts of Maceo, Gen. Weyler said: Il
do not know where he is. 1t is certain
that l did not meet him in either the
Mills or dells of Pinar del Rio. Despite their
reputed bravado, the rebels always flee
on the approach of troops"
Gen Weyler added that the supplies Of
cattle that had been obtained by the in.
surgents are disappearing, the troops cap
turing and destroying all that they saw,
The military combinations planned by him
had resulted as he had expected. All
these combinations were not finished; but
there would be much less to do at the end
of the year.
The press comments on the return of
the captain general are very guarded, as
is natural under the strict censorship ex-
ercised here. 1t is rumored that he will
soon return to the field. One report has
1t that the chief reason for his return to
Havana was pressing government busi-
ness, which demanded his personal atten-
tion. However nothing really definite is
known and events In the near future are
anxiously awaited. Some dissatisfaction
Is quietly expressed even by the loyalists
that Gen. Weyler, after his long prepara-
tons 10 intiict a crushing blow on Maceo,
should now come back to the capital with
out even catching sight of the main body
Of the rebels The rebel sympathizers are
jubilant, believing that Gen. Weyler's re-
turn sgnaliZes the abandonment of his
personal leadership of the campaign.
New York. Nov. 24-The sympathizers
with the Cuban cause in this city were
very jubilant to-day over the news that
Capt Gen. Weyler had returned to Ha-
Vana. Several reasons are given for the
generals action in Withdrawing from the
held, one of them being that Marquis
Ahumada, who took charge of affairs in
havana, during the absence of Gen Wey
Ter, did not properly conduct the war.
The Cubans all agree that Gen. Weyler's
campaign in Pinar del Rio has been
failure. Senior Estrada Palma, presiden.
porter to-day, said: II think Gen. Wey-
Ter has disgraced himself by leaving the
held' for, although he had over eNree
tlmes the number of men at his COM
mand that Maceo has in Pinar del Rio.
ne mas not accomplished his avowed pur-
pose TO crush the revolutionists.
Inc information has come to me-" he
continued, that the insurgent forces I'M
ger Gen. Calixto Garcia have besieged
Luerto Principe, the fourth largest city
III the island, which they now practically
control and this has, believe, had some.
tnlhs to do with his return, for he Is
needed in Havana to direct the entire
movements of the Spanish army"
Madrid Nov. PA dispatch to the I'm
parcial from Havana says that in an in
uerVlew, Gen. Weyler stated that he had
returned from the province of Pinar del
mo- owing to the necessity of settling the
question OF the new issue of notes by the
spanish bank and other urgent matters.
AFTER these were settled, he would be
ieauy to return to the field
ne added that he did not believe that
IIaceo mad more than 5000 men. and that
TTese were scattered in remote positions
,t 1ne OBJECT of the recent Spanish opera
upHs mad been the occupation of the hills
,I, iu passes and the cutting off of the sup
aa'e9 , OF the insurgents. The few insur-
1HTnts Ha IN the provinces of Las Villas and
,rola n,aYana were easily kept in check. There
VA W more rebels in Camaguey than in Las
,,,.ds ana Havana, but the Spaniards had
n.lie 70 lose there. Moreover, the OBJ
80 OF the insurgents In gathering there
~ iI'7 81, ul De 10 distract attention from Maceo
,r mar del Rio At any rate he would
baes esn me rebellion in the latter province
wbere ueallng with the insurgents else