The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
Having Laid Waste the Rich Province
of Havana, They Are Now Devas-
tating Pinar Del Rio.
CAMPOS IN CLOSE QUARTERS
WHOLE ISLAND, EXCEPT THE CAP
ITAL, IN POSSESSION OF PATRIOTS.
GOmex's Army Gathering Strength ns
1t Progresses, and Possibly Prepar-
ing for an Attack on the City.


been in hourly apprehension of an attack
by the insurgent army or part OF it, Yes
terday the bands commanded by Nunez and
Bermudez were seen at Managua, village
not more than twelve miles from Havana.
1t must not be supposed that the city is
open to the advance of the insurgents or
that there are none within its borders TO
offer resistance. There has been no overt
act of defiance of the authorities within the
city and there have been numerous volun-
tary offers to bear arms in defense of the
city-thousands of them, the authorities
say. But there has been comfortable
conviction in the minds of the residents
OF Havana from the beginning of the in
surrection that they were in no real danger
Of molestation from the insurgents. Many
hundreds of non-combatant inhabitants of
the island have come to Havana to await
the passing of TIE storm. Still more have
sent their families here as a safe refuge.
This class Of population is in a state of
utter CONSERVATION and dismay, and spreads
an infectious spirit OF panic through all
other circles.
The authorities no longer make the slight
est concealment of the serious view they
take of the situation. and there are some
who do not hesitate to rail at the Spanish
generals and the troops and make bitter
criticism of them. There has been great
fear that the light and water supply Of
the city would be cut off by sudden raid
of the insurgent forces. The idea of the
city being left in total darkness for the un-
seen working of plots and seditions is itself
enough to work panic in the nervous con-
dition of the public mind. Special prepara-
tions for the defense of the works that
supply these have been made and artillery
has been Placed to command them against
all probable sources of attack. All POSSIBLE
recruits have been enlisted for the defense
of the city and the available ground about
the city has been filled with batteries of ar
tillery. which are manned night and day.
CAMPOSS GORDON BROKEN.
The Spanish authorities have maintained
a Gordon of military forces running from
Havana to the town Of Batabano, on the
south coast, since the invasion of MatanZas
province by the insurgents, beyond which
they hoped to prevent the advance of the
destroying columns of their enemies. This
cordcn has proved no more effective than
did the line of La Trocha, which was laid
to keep the insurgents out of Santa Clara
province. This line was broken yesterday
by the forces under Gomez and the main
body of the insurgents to-day passed into
the province of Pinar del Rio, and are now
overrunning that province with fire and the
sword. The passage was effected near Bata-
bano. at Poso Rendo, and Gomez burned the
village of Gabriel on the way and partially
destroyed the town of Guirda de Melena
and Of Alquizar. The work of destruction in
Havana province has been complete as
was that in Matanzas, and the sugar lands
Of Pinar del Rio are fast being put into the
same desolate condition.
The proclamation of Gen. Campos to the
effect that all horses in the island are to
be held subject to requisition by the Span
ish authorities has little effect beyond its
force as a confession that the Spanish
forces are badly handicapped by the lack
OF mounted troops, and are practically help
less against the cavalry forces of the in
su~gents. In effect, the whole island OF
Cuba, outside of the city Of Havana, is
now in the hands o. the insurgents. They
have not annhilated the Spanish forces,
nor have they routed the whole army in
any single pitched battle. Yet the situation
is completely in their hands, and so COM
pletely have they outgeneraled the Span
iards that, to all appearances, Martinez
Campos's army might as we'll be in Spain
for any check it puts on the movements to
and fro OF Maxirno Gomezs army. The
latter's progress has been accompanied
with continued accessions to his forces by
volunteers, and he has captured enough
horses, rifles and artillery to add immense
lv to the effective strength Of his men. He
has practically carried his base of opera
tions with him, and has usually counter
marched over a wholly different route
from that of his advance. apparently count
ling with confidence on living upon the
country as he went.
There is little doubt really felt here that
he will get as much or more sympathy in
Pinar de Rio than he did in Santa Clara
and Matanzas, and the general fear here
is now that, after sweeping over Pinar de-
Rio. he will come upon Havana from the
west, cooperating in an attack with the
forces Of the insurgents which have beer
advance of Gomez beyond Batanabo has
cut the line of telegraph and cable com
munication with the eastern part of the
island. upon which Campos principally re.
lied for directing his forces in Santiago de
Cuba, Puerto Principe and Santa Clara.
Details are meager of the movements o
Gomez in Pinar del Rio to-day, and it Is
not known whether he is proceeding to the
westward portion of the province or ha:
turned northward toward Havana.