Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-10
FLATLY DENY SPANISH REPORTS.
Private Adyiccs from Havana DO Not
AlmIt ihni Mncnn L. DenI.

Private Adyiccs from Havana DO Not
Admit that Mncco ls Dead.
Copyright. 1896 by Press Publishing Company
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 9-(New York
World orrespondence-Special Telegram)-
Private Havana advices fatty deny the Span.
ish report that Maceo has been killed The
story was concocted at the palace to counter.
act the bad effect OF Maceo's success in cross.
ing the trocha between two Spanish forts
near Canas without losing man. The
news" as to Maceo given the locll prey
by Major Girujeda himself and to the for
egn correspondent by the press censor con
tains no proof OF authority, was not author
lied by general Of STAFF and did not bear the
customary heading, official"
The inspired government newspaper, La
Union Constitutional, this morning affirmed
nothing OF Its own knowledge, quallned
every statement and editorially referred tc
Maceo's death as current rumor, supremely
important IL true. High officials in Havana
are 10th to admit that Weyler failed with
60, 900 men to accomplish what less than SOC
did. Only yesterday heavy reinforcements
left Artemisa by rail to cooperate with
MelquiZo in the attack on the rebel positions
near San Juan Martinez, where Maceo IL
now believed to be encamped. He was there
Sunday with over 5000 men.
Various residents of Punta Bravo talked
with the World correspondent yesterday, and
they secuted Girujeda's reports. They say
the Spanish troops under Girujeda were
subjected to humiiiating defeat and that
he lost one-thrd of his force The rebels
pursued him to the outskirts of the town.
Neghboring pacincos seen said the insur-
gents were commanded by Sarefn Sanchez,
whom Spanish reports killed last month
in Santa Clara province. adding that If
Maceo were with the party the fact was
kept quiet. The most important Cubans in
Havana, sympathiZing. aiding or abetting
in the revolution. disbelieve the story OF
Macco's death They admit his entry into
Havana province and believe that he forced
the trocha in response to an order from
Gomez to assume command of the operations
in the center and reorganiZe the insurgent
forces in Havana, MantanZas and Santa Clara
provinces.
CUBANS BELIEVE MACEO LIVES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9-Senor de LONE,
the Spanish minister, received cable dis
patch from Havana last night which seems 10
bear out the press report of the death of
Antonio Maceo and young Gomez Owing to
the fact that the cable was sent last night
before the press reports. 1t Is lacking in
many of the details of the latter. 1t says in
substance that after the engagement near
Mariel on Monday two bodies We're found on
the field which from their clothing and
papers found upon them, are taken to be
these OF Maceo and his young companion.
Senor de LONE declined to discuss the
probability of the report, but expects fresh
advices from he government at Havana.
At the Cuban headquarters here no alarm
Is felt at the reported death of the insurgent
General Maceo. Second Secretary Daz-
Albertini, who is the only member of the
junta now in the city, expressed himself
in most positive terms that the story had
no basis of truth and was sent out for the
sole purpose of influencing, and If pos
sible, defeating action by the congress of
the United States.
You will notice." said the secretary
that the story contains very many details
of the finding of the body, the marked linen
and letters from the elder to the younger
Gomez, 1t is really amusing to learn that
Maceo wore silk stockings containing his
initials worked in red silk and that his
linen and that of the younger Gomez have
been found near his body, also marked with
initials Any one who knows these men
knows that they have not seen. much less
worn. linen shirts and silk socks for many a
day. This part of the story is ridiculous
and bears unmistakabe evidence of Spanish
origin. And then the letter to young
Gomez Cuban father in writing to his
child never signs his name as this letter was
signed, NJ. Gomez That is cold
formality that Cuban never employs. He
would have signed Your father
THE whole story is a feeble and trans
parent attempt to delay action by congress
and nothing else. The United States and the
Spaniards will soon learn that Maceo is very
much alive"
CINCINNATI, Dec. "a special to the
Commercial-Tribune from Key West, Fla
says: The Cuban leaders here and at Tampa
deny the reports from the Spanish officers
at Havana of the death of General Maceo
and the son of General Gomez. Although the
reports from Havana are meager, yet enough
has been received to prove that the friends
of the insurgents in the Spanish capital do
not believe the report of Maceo's death. The
palace officials do not confirm the mornings
report by any further details, which leads
Cubans to think that this is only a canard
intended to influence the American congress
now in session. The leaders here have made
diligent inquiry today, but have received
nothing to induce them to believe that Maceo
has been killed.
CLEVELAND, Dec. 9.-Senor de Arrange,
the local Cuban leader. feels confidence that
General Maceo is not dead as reported.
Speaking of the matter today, the Cuban said:
81 have just received telegram from a
member of the junta which states there is
absolutely no ground for the report But
even If Maceo was killed, his death would not
end the revolution. | only wish we had as
good a supply of ammunition as we have of
good men to carry on the war. | believe that
the time for action by this nation will de-
pend great deal on the campaign now being
carried on between Weyler and Maceo Should
Maceo give Weyler a good threshing the
United States government would act quickly.
We expect that congress will pass a joint
resolution recognizing the independence of
Cuha 4"