Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-12
rNsuneENr MOVEMENTS MYSTERY.
snnpINs from thc Outside.


have caused hAth destruction in the provinc
of Pnar del RIO burning number OF quit
important tgypsS plundevng trains, stores
houses and fensflly doing all the dsmag
possible. FHqu$t collisions between IA
| troops and Il I ifHurgen;s have taken place
and the lattGf sTG reported to have the wors
Of 1t upon fesrIy every occasion. But th
fact remains that they are still in strcnl
force around stayapa and there does not seen
to be any probability Of driving them away.
The announcements that they have beer
hugging the northern coast probably gave
rise to the report that they were expectinl
the landing of an expedition probably from
Ghe United States, with arms. ammunition
and supplies. II this is correct their ex
pectation may have been realized, fer It Is
rumored today that en- important expedition
under General Ci1lto Garcia. the venerable
Cuban leader who recently escaped from
prison in Madrid and was in New York in
November last, landed somewhere on the
north coast, probably In the province Of Pinar
del Rio. on Wednesday last. This. however
| although pretty generally believed has not
! yet been officially confirmed. II General
| Garcia had with him the supplies Of am
munition. etc, awaited by the insurgents, the
| Spanish commanders here claim that further
and more important aggressive action upon
! the part OF the enemy may be expected in
| the near future, although they do not ex-
| pect an immediate attack upon Havana.
| DRAWING TROOPS AWAY.
Referring to the apparently inexplcable
| movements cf the insurgents since they al
| most completely surrounded Havana a Cuban
| who Is generally well informed regarding
| the doings of the insurgent leaders intimated
| this evening that 1t was Just possible that
! the insurgents had passed into Pinar del
| Rio in force with the view of drawing all
| the troops possible after them and that
when the proper moment arrives the insur-
gents would simultaneously countermarch
and move swiftly upon Havana from a num-
ber of different directions. In this city, he
added the friends Of the insurgents would
by that time have completed arrangements
to make demonstration in their favor.
Bombs would be exploded and fires lighted
at given signal in many different portions
or this city and vicinity, and in the confusion
which was certain to follow the insurgents
would according to the program, be able
to enter Havana. AS to Moro castle and its
guns, said the Cuban, that fortress would
be taken care of. and there was little or
nothing to be apprehended from the Spanish
fleet as IL 1t opened fire upon Havana IL
would do more damage to the government
cause than they could do to the insurgents
and the cause of Cuba
The most startling stories are circulated
mere by the friends or agents of the Spanish
government regarding the atrocities said to
have been committed by the Cubans during
their march from Santiago de Cuba to Pinar
del Rio. 1t is claimed they have robbed the
poor and rich alike, maltreated the old and
young Of both sexes, and that nothing has
been sacred to them. The Cubans, however
tiatly deny these reports and say that they
have acted as closely and strictly within
the rules Of warfare as their guerilla tactics
permitted. They admit using dynamite to
blow up railroad bridges and trains conveying
trcop5 or supplies for the Spanish forces and
they do not deny having burned all the plan
tations Of the friends of the government
which 1t was possible for them to apply the
torch to, but they stoutly argue that the
poor and weak, the old and young, and
especially all women. have baen respected
and that IL any acts of violence have been
committed they have been the work CT the
agents of the Spanish government in de-
sire to throw diecredit upon the insurgent
cause. g - 4
CAPTURED AN IMPORTANT TOWN. |
The news reached here this Afternoon that
the advance Of the insurgents und:r the |
elder Nunez had arrived at San Cristoba |
the second town, in importance in the prov
ince of Pinar del Rio and little ever half |
way between this city and Pinar
del Rio, capital of the province |
of that name. Nunez, it appears entered |
San Cristobal en- January g. and met no re- |
slstance, although 1T was understood here |
that the city was defendeds by large force
of Spanish troops Therefore 1t Is presumed
that the Spanish troops were moved away
from San Cristobal in order to take part in
the operations against the insurgents San
Cristobal is the first large town captured by
the insurgents, and it is quite victory fer
them, as it Is on the railroad line between
Plnar del Rio and Havana.
After capturing San Cristobal the insur-
gents burned a railroad train which was upcn
the point of leaving for Havana with a large
number of wealthy people, who. carrying their
most valuable poa,e ssons, were desirous of
seeking refuge in Havana. AS these people
were nearly all known to BE- supporters of |
he government. the insurgents relieved them
Of their valuables. and made a very rich
haul in 50 doing. They als> captured quite
4 large quantity Of ammunition and provi-
sions at San Cristobal, and when last heard
from were making merry in that city, cele-
orating their victory with all kinds of pa
riotic manifestations, feasting and fireworks.
Also. 1t is added. they plundered all the
stores in San Cristobal and thereby secured
much more booty.
The insurgent leaders, Delgado and Socar-
as, are also reported to have captured Bahia
Iindo, another important town in the prov
nee of Pinar del Rio, and practically a sea-
bort town. for it adjons a very fine bay. in
which flibusters can now find safe refuge, |
lnless Spanish warship is promptly sent
here, which Is not unlikely to be the case.
Guira Melena. south Of Havana and not |
ar from Artemesia, is was announced this
fternocn, had received another visitation |
rom the insurgents, who had done much
urgents have burned thirteen railway wag-
ms and have looted the place. 1t was re- {
ortsd this evening that the telegraph line t
etween Havana and Batabano had been cut {
" the insurgents, thus putting an end to +
communication with all points south CT Ha- {
ana, although the government officials g
lain they will be able to send trains through J
vice a day as usual. 8
COUNTERMARCHED FROM MANAGAS
Reports received here are to the effect
hat General Gomez personally only went to
.as Mangas and then countermarched with q
900 followers south to Alquizar and Guira =
fe!ana toward Quivican The rest OF the 4
orce continued to advance westward by San !
hristobel and Candelara General Maceo /,
assed by Cabsnas to Bahai Honda and !
urned the morning train en- route from
Iavana to Battabana. The insurgents COM c
landed by General Maceo then counter 81
larched to the north, moving toward Gen :,
raj Gomez at San Felipe. y
1t is believed the fact that the insurgents 7
ave decided to remain In Matanzas will y
perate to the ,dfsa advantage of the troops and = =
favor Of General Gomez. The plan of the u
paniards at3itheI present time seems to be Il
favor of concentration and combination. but y
ie nature Of the country in Matanzas will .,
ot apparently allow the movement OF large
'rces In PURSUIT. Of a quick, active enemy l.,
18th light flying columns, like those at the .,