The record-union., 1896-11-17
Meaning Of the Present Active Cam
paign in Pinar del Rio.
SenOr De Castro of the Cuban Revo-
Iutionary Party at New York Pre-
diets That Spain Will Try to Pre-
Cipitate War With the United
Overthrow of the Present Govern
ment.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16. 1t is
learned on authority that the Spanish
Government has given General Weyler
to understand that he must push oper-
sively and vigorously.
Unless he soon achieves a decisive
victory over the Cubans it is believed
he will be recalled.
Weyler it is understood, is aware Of
the alternative, and the present cam
paign in Pinar del Rio is expected to
result in an engagement that will put
new aspect on the Cuban situation
one way or the other.
Weyler has all the troops he can use
There are over 100000 Spanish troops
in Cuba, and the force under the Cap
tain General in the present operations
is over $4,000. MaceO, against whom he
is now operating, has under him, it is
estimated, about 1000 men. Spain,
having fulfilled all of Weylers wishes
as to troops, expects results.
Consul-General Lee has acquainted
the Administration with these facts,
and the President is simply awaiting
developments.
1t is the hope of Weyler to be able to
score a decided victory before the as
sembling of Congress, December 7th
Spain fears adverse action by that body
and has urged General Weyler to dem
onstrate his ability to crush the rebel
lion within two weeks if possible
In view of the fact that Spain is now
making almost supreme effort to sub
due her insurgent colony and that
crisis is apparently at hand, the Pres-
dent will delay writing that part of his
Forthcoming message on the Cuban sit
uation until the last moment before the
meeting of Congress.
The position the Administration will
take with reference to Cuba in this
message will be largely determined by
the news received before December 7th
Should this be favorable to the success
of the Spanish army it is probable that
the President would continue to pursue
his policy Of non-interference; should it
be distinctly favorable to the insurgent
cause. especially should Weyler be de-
feated, Mr.. Cleveland might no longer
hesitate to recommend the recognition
of their rights as belligerents or some
other action equally undesirable to
Spain. What action would follow a
simple negative result of the campaign
that is fruitless chase after the in
surgents by Weyler is less clear.
Probably the Administrations course
would be Influenced, in some measure
by the Representations Spain made as
to the policy it would pursue and the
instructions given her new Captain
General, in the event that WeyIer is
summoned home.
General F'itZhugh Lee, Consul Cen
eral to Cuba, called at the State De-
partment to-day and was with Secre-
tary Olney half an hour. So far as could
be learned there was no special signifi-
canoe in the visit beyond a further gem
eral discussion of the situation. The
Consul-General had not called at the
White House up to noon and was hard
ly expected to go there to-day. Mr..
Cleveland is engaged on his annual
message and few callers see him.
CRISIS NEAR AT HAND.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16.-The Cubans in
this city are greatly excited over the
campaign which General Weyler is
waglng against General Maceo, and all
think that a crisis in the revolution has
arrived, and That should General Wey-
ler suffer defeat and be compelled to
return to Havana the war would be
soon terminated.
About the probability of a war be-
tween Spain and the United States,
Senior Julie de Castro of the Cuban
revolutionary party said to-day to a re-
porter of the United Associated Presses:
i think that Spain will try to precipi-
tate a war with this country. because
her own Government at home is threat
ened. If Spain loses Cuba without the
intervention of the United States it is
certain that the Carlisits in Spain will
rise, and as they number about 1000 :
600, the result would be the overthrow
of the present Government and the sue
cession to the throne of Don Carlos, who
is now in Paris waiting for just such a
move. The Spanish Government real
ICES this danger, and the only way to
avoid the difficulty is to engage in a
war with this country, which would
give them an excuse for losing the is
land. as they surely must in such
war;
WEYLER'S MOVEMENTS.
HAVANA, Nov. 16-No definite
news regarding the movements of Cen
eral Weyler, who is operating against
the rebels under Maceo in the Province
of Pinar del Rio. has been received.
The last reports stated that he had
penetrated the Rubi Hills under a har-
assing fire from the insurgents but
since then nothing has been heard from
him, and there is considerable anxiety
among the loyalists here. Rumors of
engagements are current here, but none
of them are trustworthy. Official re-
ports were received to-day giving ac-
counts Of skirmishes between the troops
and rebels In all the provinces except
Pinar del Rio.
The gunboat Magallenes, which has
arrived here, brings information that