The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-21
THE MORNING NEWS,
Established 1850. Incorporated 1858.
J. H. ESTILL. President.
WEYLER MAY HAVE BEEN Willy
HE CLAIMS TO HAVE MACEO HELD
FAST WEST OF THE TROCHA.


MaceO said TO Have Sought Refuge
in the MOuntains-GOmez ON the
Other side of the Line-MaceO's
only Chance to Escape Alleged to
he in a Simultaneous Attack.
Havana, April 2O.-Gen. Weyler has sue
ceeded in accomplishing what Martinez
Campos and other captains general have
attempted in vain. He has built trocha
across the island and kept it intact for two
weeks. That the present trOcha is formid-
able, even the insurgents admit but they
profess that it alarms them not at ALL
When Maceo passed through Havana pro-
vince to the west and Weyler stationed TO-
900 men along the twenty-one miles from
Mariel, on the north coast, to Majana on
the south, he cabled to Madrid announcing
that the second in command of the rebel
forces was pinned UP in the western pro-
vince. After stalking his reputa ton on the
absolute impossibllity of Maceo's crossing.
he found that detached parties of from 100
to 200 insurgents were getting through the
line at will. He then brought all the
troops from other parts of the island that
could be spared, leaving the eastern and
middle provinces with forces barely suffi-
cient for garrison duty, and practically
suspended active operations in all but the
western province This concentration
raised the force on the trocha to 2SOOO, and
gave 5000 more for use in flying columns
acting in conjunction with those on the
line The troops were set at work erect
ing forts, digging trenches and building
barricades The work has been pushed
night and day and the best trocha Spain
has ever built in Cuba now confronts
Maceo.
Through the hilly country south from
Mar.el, redoubts have been built for ar
tillery upon every eminence. Between
Guanajay and Artemisia, along the mid
die part of the line, forts and block houses
with earthworks between, have been con-
structed. From Majana to the south coast
through marshy land, broad ditch, back
ed by a stockade with blockhouses at in
tervals, has been resOrted TO. Gen. ArOlus,
who is in command of the troops on the
line, says the insurgents cannot cross
without tremendous losses. The troops
are under arms night and day, but though
they have waited two weeks, Maceo has
not attacked the line
This fact has raised question as to
the value of the line from military stand-
point To maintain its strength. at all
points leaves only a few thousand men
who can be used in aggressive operations.
Maceos own forces, with those OF Ban
dera and Delgado, number ABOUT loW9
men. They have been in the hills around
IechuZa. fifteen miles west of the trocha
for two weeks They have plenty of pro-
visions and have the whole province of
Pinar del Rio, at their backs. They have
some ammunition, how much is not
known. They nearly wiped out or exist
ence the column commanded by Lieut..
Col. Debos, who attempted to drive them
out of the hills, and was himself driven 10
the shores of Cabanas Bay. ,
A second combination of flying columns
has failed to dislodge the insurgents.
Meanwhile the main body of the Spanish
troops holds the trocha.
accented
tion, and has directed Maceo to remain
in Pinar del Rio province. Several large
insurgent columns have been ordered INTO
Havana province from the east. One of
these columns numbering 5000 men, from
Santiago province, has arrived and is
now near Quivican, twenty miles south Of
this city.
Rumor has it that Jose Maceo, brother
of Antonio, is in command, but this is
been relieved of command in the eastern
districts and Gen. CaliXto Garcia, who ar
rived on the Bermuda, has been named
as his successor. In Santa Clara, Serafn
Sanchez, having proved himself incapable
of handling @ large force of men, has
been relegated to second position, RolOm
being given command in the province. Go
mez himself assumed command in Cana
guey, with Rodriguez second and Antonio
Maceo is given command in Pinar del Rio
An official decree making these changes
has been issued. Gomez says he is satisfied
to have Maceo remain in the western prov
ince, as it keeps 25,000 Spaniards stationed
on the line and prevents them from inter-
fering with his operations in other parts
of the island. Gomez is said to be willing
to have the Spanish troops hold the line
until the rainy season sets in, by which
time they will find it a very unhealthy
spot. Reports are already being received
of Spanish soldiers succumbing to the
neat and between tne wounded and the
sick there are fully 1900 now in hospitals
on the island.
The stories about Gomez being at
deaths door himself are eXaggerations. He
a n
keep up some time yet though his age and
the rough campaign through which he has
passed have told upon him.
Collazo, who landed in Matanzas pro-
vince, three weeks ago, and lost a portion
OF his expedition, is now in Havana pro-
vince. The number of insurgents now be-
tween this city and the trocha has aroused
some alarm here, and Gen. Weyler has
been compelled to move troops from Arte-
mesia, on the line, to Rincon, just back of
Havana. Should Maceo decide to cross the
trocha, there are 10000 rebels on this side
"uo couId fendef NaluaDle assistance. Inc
lrocha is built to repel attack from the
west and were simultaneous assaults
made upon it from both sides, its military
value might prove TO be nil. However, so
Iong as it remains \ barrier
and the other 10000 to the east
ward, Cen Weyler accOmplshes some
lhing. He has won no important battle
curing his two months stay, and he has
Ialled TO clear Havana and Pinar del Rio
OF insurgents, as he set out to do but he
mas stopped their movement east and west
through the narrowest part of the island
lie has kept his word in that and I'M
doubtedly saved himself from the ignomi-
nous recall to Spain which was pending a
fortnight ago. Clarke
News has been received here that a Span
+ column under command of Col. Eloa
~hlle marching from San Jose to Valiente
55iedr CienfuegOs, came upon a party of
NV rebels holding strong position and
lacked them The official report of the
basement says the rebels were dis
a6Iged from the position by a brilliant
Clafge with bayonets and machetes and re-
+eIed, leaving eighty-six dead upon the
Heid. The Spanish loss was one killed and
FIX wounded. From other sources Il is
-0lhed and that the losses are exagger-
@.ed and that the losses of the Spanish
~oops are much greater than the govern
Lent admits. The name of the leader of
lHe rebels is not stated
Cen Melquizo reports that his command
~as dispersed parties of rebels near Ja-
ico Province Of Havana. The rebels
zen killed and the troops six wounded
Inc gunboat Ch.centela fired upon a
10y OF rebels who were attacking a boat
lying supplies at Estero. near AIanza-
80 = me men forming part of the boats.
er" ot thirteen were disabled by the
9i tne rebels. IN a further engawemenr