The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-15
WEYLER'S PLANS FOR WAR.
THE COMMANDERS FAVORED BY
CAMPOS TO TAKE BACK SEAT.

The TrOcha Not TO BE n Main ReIi-
ance Under the New Regime-A
Strong Force of Troops TO BE Con-
centrated at BejucaI Under Gen.
Bazan-A Strong Force to De Sent
to Pinar Del Rio.
Havana, Feb. u, via Tampa, Fla, Feb.
H-Gen. Weyler, after going over the sit
uatiOn with Gen. Marin before the lat
ter's departure for Puerto Rico, held con-
sultations with Gems. Ochando. Pando,
Valdez, Bazan and Marquis D'Ahumada
and arranged a plan of operations. Radical
changes from the former plan of crushing
the enemy were agreed upon. The stroEg
line, or trocha, between Havana and Ba-
tanbano is only TO be maintained for the
convenience of moving troops and OBJ
serving the passage Of the enemy. 1t is
not TO be relied upon to block his move
ment east or west. Instead of troops
scattered along the line strong force is
to be concentrated at Bejucal, a central
point, and trains held in readiness to
move the troops north or south. Gen. Ba-
zan will probably be given command of
Bejucal. He has been stopping at the
Hotel Inglaterra several month, Gen.
Campos having deprived him of command
as the result of alleged harsh treatment
of suspects while in charge in Guantan-
amo Gen. Bazan, who is a fighting man
in the field and a courteous gentleman in
social life, will undoubtedly be heard
from. He is a great friend of Gen. v =
Ter. Many of Gen. Campos's friends com
manding columns will be replaced by 9TH
ers close to Gen. Weyler, and in touch
with his methods.
A strong force will be sent to Pinar
del Rio, where there are a few troops
at present. One column will go by steam
er to the south coast and land at ColOma,
the principal port of the province. They
will march to the capital city, where the
troops are now entrenched with barri-
cades across the streets, small stone block
houses commanding the approaches. The
garrison will be relieved. The column
will then act in concert with another col
umn entering the province from the east,
and endeaVOr to crush the insurgents,
who now occupy nearly the entire interior
of the province, using the towns as base
of supplies and quarters for the wounded,
even having local government, collecunB
taxes which are due, appropriating govern
ment money and destroying the property
of loyal Spaniards. The campaign in the
western province is to be conducted with
all the energy for which Gen. Weyler is
Another strong force is to be thrown
into Matanzas province, where the rebels
have been carrying things with high
hand since Laceret was Joined by the
rebel bands from the eastern provinces
In Camaguay and Santiago provinces
operations will be CONTINUED on former
lines, as no large forces are available for
| an aggressive campaign, but increased
activity in the arrest Of suspects in cities
and towns will be begun under Gen. Wey-
ler's proclamation regarding persons who
express sympathy or extend aid to the
insurgents This is true also in other
provinces Gen. Weylers order that such
prisoners must be placed at his disposal
is said by Cuban's to mean return to the
practices of the old war. The official or
der cancelling the passes permitting cor
respondents to travel about freely and
accompanying Spanish columns is also
said to indicate severe measures about to
be inaugurated.
Many stories of shooting prisoners of
war and killing innCcentS reach here. Most
of them, upon Investigation, prove untrue.
In several instances notably at Saban-
lila, Candelaria and Paso Real, there is
strong evidence from other than Cuban
sources tending to prove the truth of the
stories of massacres. Some time ago an
order was issued TO the commanders of
the army columns authorizing them to pro-
ceed against prisoners captured without
turning them over 10 the higher duthori-
ties. Under this even petty officers hold
the power of executing prisoners If tncon-
Venient or impossible to convey them to
the headquarters of the division command
er. The insurgents are regarded as ban
dts, outlaws and felons and treated as
such. Recognition of the belligerency by
a strong nation may possibly alter this
condition or may intensity it..
Key West Fla, Feb. 14.-Senor Estrada
Palma arrived in this city this evening on
the steamer Olivette from Tampa. He was
met just this side of the bar by the tug
George w. Childs, and reception commit
tee composed of tine most prominent Gu
bans in the city. An informal reception
was held at san Carlos hall Immediately
after his landing. There will be a grand
mass meeting held at the San Carlos Mon
day night, at which Mr.. Palma is expected
to speak.
Madrid, Feb. 1.-THE correspondent of
the impartial telegraphs from Havana
that Gen. Weyler viii shortly publish two
strongly framed DEGREES extending mill
tary jurisdiction to mere knowledge of
certain offenses and delegating judicial
functions to military officers. The cores
pondent expresses the belief that as soon
as life becomes impossible to them in
the country districts the neutrals and
towards will be guarded in the towns.
MAY BE FILTBUsTERING.