Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-04
ACTIVE ARMY OPERATIONS.
More Tales of Horror Than Battles
Foughf-Insurgents Calming.

UABANA. April 3, via TAMPA, FLA,
Army operations have been pushed with
yigor for the past month. General wey-
hls orders have been peremptory, ana
many general has incurred his dlsplea-
sure by hardness In the prosecution OK
the enemy.
has been to completely tire out large
part OF the army in the field. The insur-
gents have been kept moving; their camps
have been destroyed, and dozen OF their
hospitals have been burned during the
month that has just passed, but the
government has not forced a single battle
upon the rebels. The only serious en-
gagements have been those In which the
insurgents. having the advantage OK posi-
There have been many rearguard
skirmishes, which appeared by reports to
be in favor of SPANS troops, which. Upon
investigation. proved like some OF the bat
ties fought by Don Quixote. Quite
number OF them have been found to be
masscres Of unarmed citizens. and there
have been more tales OF horrors com
United than battles fought In this Island
one hundreth part of the stories that
reach here OF the operations of the
columns of Generals Melgulso and Bernal
and of Colonies Molina, Tort, ,Seguera,
and others are true, the reason why Gene
raj Weyler cancelled all passes peld by
correspondents is plain.
Numerous estates report excuses COM
mitted by detached bodies OF Spanish
there Is no longer talk of grinding sugar
this year. The talk now Is to preserve
the lives OF employees and prevent wan
ton destruction by the troops.
The insurgents have gained more IN the
past month than In any two that have
preceded 1t. Weyler's decree compelling
the people to abandon their homes In
the interior has driven many men into
- hAW n. ,tn trts va
adopted toward suspects In cities and
towns have also increased tie number
OF recruits from families OF the better
class In cities. The landing Of four i'm
and cartridges to the patriot army. Their
hopes were never brighter. The rains
are not far off. The limited time re.
naming for military operations this
spring makes Il plain that Spain cannot
crush the rebellion before the wet season
sets In, and the serious problem OF caring
for the lives OF her soldiers Iresentj itself.
A Spanish officer informs me that the
losses Of the army through ftvers and
other sicknesses have been 12,e0o since
September, and over 20. 900 during the year
ending March LIST. The recent statistics
made public by The spanish Consul-Gsne-
the total losses as 3S77. ~ which 316 were
killed. is palpably absurd. There have
been single battles In watch the Spanish
losses amounted TO more than that given
for the entire year. Generals Alcedoa and
MADAM have been sent back to Spain.
making nine generals who have not
proved satisfactory to General Weyler.
General o Brien Is also booked to return,
and General Pando. commander OF the
First Army Corps, has been retired for
allowing Gomez to enter Santa Clara
without fighting a battle. General Suarez
Valdez is also on the list. He Is in
command Of Pinar del Rio, and besides
failing to suppress the rebellion in lis
section, he sent an impertinelt message
to Weyler by helilograph. Weyler says
he can get more active work out OF solo-
rAs than from generals. and the exodus
continues. There is much dissatisfaction
among officers OF higher grades. ard this
pleasant. He has been In a highly rtr-
stormy interviews between him and his
men he has sent for have taken place.
His troubles with the politicians ere just
beginning. He has assured the home
government that elections can be held I'm
Cuba. and now he has two parties--the
Reformists and the Autonomists-refusIne
to take part, leaving the Constitutional
Tor Conservative Spanish) party alone In
the field Rumors that Weyler viii, be
recalled are persistent, but apparently the
time is not ripe for his enemies to over
throw him.
Since De LONE cabled that the United
States will not recognize the belliyerency
of the Cubans. General Weyler has be-
gun open executions OF prisoners OF war.
Three have been shot at Cabanas prison
In a week, and more are doomed TO the
same fate.