The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-22
CUBANS FULL OF COURAGE.
THE MAIN ARMY STILL IN THE
PROVINCE OF HAVANA.

The Recent Fighting Done Within a
Few Miles of Havana-Three Rail-
road stations Not Many Miles Out
Burned-Between 1000 and 5000
Men Left by NIaceO 10 Carry On Op-
eratiOns in the Province OF Pinar
Del Rio.
Havana, Feb. 19, via Tampa, Fla. Feb
a.-Insurgent bands under the direction
Of Gomez and Maceo are operating all
over Havana province. Sunday there was
fighting in the outskirts of Mariana, six
miles west Of this city. About the same
time three stations were burned east of
the city, the nearest one, Minas. being
only nine miles distant. The wires are
cut on the Matanzas railroad.
Trains were until recently operated half
way between Havana and Matanzas,
stopping at Juruco, but are now able to
go only to San Miguel, where the station
has been burned. The Western railroad
runs only to Rincon, the wires beyond
being cut as fast as repaired No trains
have run TO Guines in weeks. The only
line operated with anything like regular
ity is that to Batabano, along the trocha
or strong line. That bristles with forts
and is alive with soldiers.
The only encounter between the troops
and insurgents within a week was rear
guard skirmish Saturday as Maceo cross
ed the strong line and was pursued by
Col. Segura's column of mounted men.
Gomez and Maceo met in the town of
San Antonio las Vegas, which was occu-
pied by Gomez's men. The town is about
four miles east of the strong line, and is
near the center of the Havana province.
Monday Gen. Linares had a rear guard
skirmish with the joint bands
Just what plans the insurgents have
for future operations are not known. Ma
Geo left between 1900 and 5000 men in
Pinar del Rio province. They are the
men who rose to join his forces while
he was there, and following the usual in
surgent tactics, men familiar with each
zone are left to continue operations there.
In Santiago, Camugart and Santa Clara
small encounters with rebel bands are of
daily occurrence In Santa Clara a large
body of insurgents under Finches is
moving west, presumably to join Gomez.
They gave the government troops day S
battle at Palo-Piero, and moved on west.
A week later they were met by another
detachment of troops near Placetas. They
were again defeated, according to OFF,
cial reports, but they are still moving
west.
Capt. Gen. Weyler tells me he has no
present intention of taking the field. As
a matter of fact. the commander-in-chief
can direct the military operations better
from the palace in Havana than from any
other place. He is practically in the
field, for this province is the center OF
| operations. 1t is only thirty-five miles
| wide and about forty miles long. He re-
| ceives reports by telegraph of all move
ments of troops and of every. .Rncounter.
in i'i by tie telephone 3 Hesf aFs tRe opera
| tons TO Havana.
Gen. Weyler is on duty all day and late
\ 4rH ~ afrrha IL
| energy, quick to think and quick TO act
| He is small in stature and thin. He prob
| ably will not weigh 125 pounds His face
expresses determination, resolution, self
| reliance and confidence in himself. He is
most affable and courteous. l have met
| four captain generals-Calleja, Campos,
Marin and Weyler. The last named is the
most unassuming, and the most consid-
crate in his treatment of all with whom
] he comes in contact. He is a man of few
words, but he speaks to the point ALWAYS
| He realizes, L think, better than either
| Marin or Campos, the grave situation in
/ Cuba, and knows he has a most difficult
task before him. He is confident of sue
| cess in the end, but is too wise to act
precipitately, or without first putting the
| forces at his command in a better condi-
| ton than be found them upon his ar
! rival. His proclamation shows that he
appreciates the extent of the rebellion
and the number of silent as well as active
| foes he has to deal with. He has adopted
| the unusual methods to deal with the en-
emy, but the situation is unusual and ordi-
nary methods have not restored peace and
| quiet to Cuba. J. Frank Clarke.
Havana, Feb. 2i.-No official confirma-
ton has been received here of the rumor
in circulation yesterday that the insurgent
| leader, Antonio Maceo, had died from
| wounds received in the battle fought near
| Catalina on Wednesday.
| AdViceS received here from Jiguani con-
| firm the report of the death of the well
| known rebel chief Jose Rabi. His death
| is said to have resulted from tetanus
| caused by a wound received in a recent
! battle.
The rumor of the death of Maceo rests
| entirely upon a report made by the Span
| ish commander at the town of San Nico-
las. He says that peasant told him that
| rebels he had met informed him that
| Maceo was dead. The value of reports
| received in this manner is gelf-evident
! There is absolutely no confirmation of the
report, and it is not credited even in Off
| cial circles.
| Col. Hernandez reports that after his
| second attack upon the forces of Maceo
and Gomez on Wednesday last, he con-
| tinued his march and found that the re-
! bells. after retreating, had taken up a
| strong position, which they made a strong
| effort to hold The Spanish troops made
| three bayonet charges and finally routed
! the enemy. The troops then entered the
| town OF Catalina, to which the rebels had
| set fire on their retreat. The troops pre-
vented the destruction of the place, al
| though several houses were completely
| destroyed. The Spanish loss was fifteen
| wounded. Nine other soldiers were slight
! ly injured. The exact rebel loss could
considerable. The troops are pushing the
| rebels in the direction of Las VapaS