Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-05
TO PROTECT AMERICANS
5000 Troops Held in Readiness to Suppress
 Disorder.

Havana, via Key West, Fla, March 4.-The government is holding 5000 troops quartered in the forts of the city in readi- ness to suppress disorder and demonstra- tions against Americans here. Extra po- lice guards are placed convenient to the American consulate. The only manifes- tations of hostile feeling yet were few shouts of Death to Uncle Sam" while the new troops were landing Tuesday and misses around the cab in which the Americans were driving in a side street. There are some apprehensions, but no alarm among residents. There is great confidence in the ability of Weyler to preserve order. As an indication of the feeling, Wilson proprietor of an Ameri- can book store, who happens to be an Englishman, removed the sign in front Of his store Monday night, preferring not to invite an attack. The better treatment of Americans here than at Barcelona or Madrid is largely due to the fact that the populace there is Spanish and here Gu bans The students here, both Spanish and Cuban, are friendly to the states Cuban property holders and merchants, also many Spanish, whose market is in the states, are more pleased than other wise by the action of congress interven" ton. Such hostility as is shown is con- fined to the office-holding class and others receiving bounty. The Cubans here were jubilant when the news of the prompt ac- tion of the house was received. The main body of the insurgents, Instead of coming eastward, as expected, returned to Ha- yana province in great numbers, leaving a large force of troops moving east to head them off. Gomez remains in the center of Matanzas province burning cane on many estates where prepara- tions were being made to resume grind ing in obedience to Weyler's orders.
 Maceo with largely augmented force has re-entered Havana province and re- sumed burning cane wherever prepara- tions to grind are under way. So far as can be learned there is no wanton de- struction, but they are simply carrying out the order sued by Gomez two months ago. Maceo has with him the parties of Masso, Maestro, Nunez. Alvarez, Rod riguez, Collazo, Rabi and others from the east, in addition to Cactillo, Miro, Diaz, Aguirre and others These forces now hem the city of Havana in. Allethe tee- graph and railroad lines are cut within ten miles. The poles are removed and rails carried away. MIX. .Jfrut and vege- tables are scarce in Havana. The same conditions prevail in Matanzas and Santa Clara The insurgents seem to increase in numbers, obtain ammunition and con- tinue depredations in spite of all the troops can do.
 stations and railroads destroyed, cane burned and towns attacked is growing larger.
 The troops had six encounters in Ha- vana province Monday One was at Las Guacimas, between Managua and Hava- na. so close to the city that relief for the wounded was sent from the suburb of Jesus del Monte. The official report is silent about the loss. am informed one officer and eight soldiers were killed and seventy wounded on the Spanish side- The insurgent loss was two dead and ten x,nnn6cd The recent QnQaRernauts wprf.
 
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