Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
AGAIN IN HAVANA
Captain General Weyler Returns From
Pinar del Rio.
his CAMPAIGN IN THAT PROVINCE
Ineffective Attack Upon the Cuban
insurgents.
MACEO'S GUERRILLA TACTICS


Captain General Weyler returned to Ha-
vana last evening on board the cruiser
Legazpi from Mariel His return was a
complete SURPRISE as he had asserted In
an interview with the correspondent Of FL
Liberal of Madrid Saturday that he ex-
pected to remain to conduct active opera
lions in Pinar del Rio province for fifteen
or twenty days longer, adding: Wait I'M
til Christmas. BY that date We shall have
dealt mortal blow to the revolution"
Exploring trains left Artem!sa Sunday
night and yesterday morning for Candle
leria and San Cristobal in order to prepare
for the arrival a Artemisa of Captain Cen
eral Weyler. Artemisa is in the province
of Pinar del Rio near the border of the
province of Havana. At o'clock In the
morning Artem:sa and its vicinity was in
a state of considerable excitement, for it
became known that the captain general
was at Mangas. five miles distant.
Gen. Arolas. accompanied by his staff
and an escort of cavalry, started soon af-
terward for Mangas. and at $50 news was
received at Artenlisa that the cruiser Lee
gazpi had arrived at Mariel. the port at
the northern extremity of the military line
across the province of Pinar del Rio, with
instructions to her commander to place
the vessel at the disposal Of the captain
general.
At 9 o'clock Gen. Weyler entered Arte-
misa with the columns commanded by
Gems. Aguilar and ArolaS. 1t was seen
that the captain general was considerably
sunburned. He wore a field uniform, with
a Panama hat. and rode a black horse.
The captain general was received by the
town authorities, crowds of people and
bands of music. Trumpet salutes were
sounded and bells E.ere rung in his honor.
He went to the house of a prominent citi-
zen, whose large garden enabled the Span
ish commander to receive there the staff
officers and others, and transmit orders in
various directions. There he also trans
acted considerable business with his chief
of staff.
After visiting the military hospital and
breakfastins the captain general started
for Mariel.
Cubans Are Jubilnnt.
A dispatch to the New York World from
Jacksonville. Fla, says: A cipher cable
gram from Havana to a Cuban leader here
says that Gen. Weyler has been forced to
return to Havana and that the city is in
great confusion WeyIer gives no excuse,
II is said. except that il Is too hot and I'M
healthy to do any fighting. J: is openly as
serted in Havana that Wayler became
frightened because Maceo had set a price
upon mis- head or his capture. Weylers
scouts informed him that Maceo might
make an attempt on Havana and the Span
ish general retreated in not haste 10 the
safety of his palace. 1t is also stated in
the cablegram that WeyIer's recall IS as
sured now. as the Spanish government is
lhcensed against him for his dilatOry tao
tics. Cubans here are jubilan., for they
think this will have a favorable effect uron
Congress.
Gen. Weyler's Short Campaign.
After many months of command In Cuba
Cen Wav1ar fpa 1l1yd Tod t,l~o
in person against his chief antagonist,
Gen. Antonio Maceo.
Accompanied by his staff, Gen. Weyler,
November 8. embarked on the Legazpe a.
Havana for the port of Mariel, the north
ern terminus Of the trocha, where he ar
rived the following morning at daybreak
SIX thousand troops, under Gen. Sanchez
Echavarrta, were drawn up to receive him.
His forces consisted of six battalions of
infantry, 40 cavalry, six pieces Of light
mountain artillery and his private body
guard-the famous troopers of Col Pinto
The column was formed into brigades the
vanguard commanded by Gen. Aguilar, the
center by Gen. Weyler and the rear by
Gen Echavarria. BY a preconcerted plan
the Spaniards were to make a combined
attack on the Cuban position in the Rubi
hills.
AT the same time that Gen. Weyler left
Mariel another large column under Cen
Gonzalez Munez, started from Cabanas. to
cut on any possible retreat of the Cubans
Another column, under Gen. Echague was
stationed at Cayajabo. to the southeast Of
Rubi, while still another column under
Col Segura, had entered the hills from the
south.
Early in the morning of November IL the
Spaniards started from their camps to
close in on Maceo. Gen. EchaRue. from
Caya1aba, was the first to enter into &C
ton. meeting the insurgents under Vidal
Ducasse near Rosario. For three hours the
night was kept up, resulting in the Cubans
leaving their positions to fall back to the
south or Rubi to sustain Gen. Maceo's rear
which was threatened by the column of
Col. Segura-
Gems. Weyler and AguiIar had in the
meanwhile commenced the attack from the
north, but he did not succeed in entering
these hills. Gen. Munoz was met by Perico
Diaz. and held In check all day. During
the night Gen. Maceo and his forces broke
camp and retrested toward Valparaiso. In
Rubi and Gen. Weyler passed through to
Rosario
Maceo, after resting in Valparaiso, en-
tered the hills by the San Bias road and
favorite encampment Of his, as 1t is one
of the most secure in the hills
Gen. Weyler. when he found that Maceo
had given him the slip. advanced along the
thinking that no insurgents would be
found In that direction. As he cautiously
picked his way through the forest paths
of the Ruhi hills his flank was constantly
harassed by Cuban sharpshooters from
their secure hiding places on the top of
the hills.
General Munoz. following Maceo's trail.
entered the hills at the same place, but the
Cubans refused a battle at this point
Maceo. retreating from Brujo at the ap-
proach of Munoz. has probably taken the
read to San Diego de Tapia or Sabanilla
where he is certain the Spaniards will not
attempt to penetrate. These hills are little
known to the Spanish guides, as they were
seldom travelled before the war, and are
wilder and covered by a denser under
growth than the eastern section.
Geo. B. Rea says In an exhaustive article
in the New York Herald: There can he
but little doubt that Gen. Weyler's cam.
pa'gn has failed. 1t is hardly possible that
he can succeed in either driving Maceo ont
Of Pinar del Rio or in inf1icting q severe
defeat upon him."
Not Cast Down.
Gen. Weyler says that his columns have