The herald., 1896-11-02
'WEYLER's FAMOUS TRocHA
viii Be Forced as Soon as Macceo Gets
Ready
Insurrent Forces Increasing in Number
and Well Provided With Artillery.
Consul Lee Sails for Home
A,.,,,. "a press snecial Wire

cent events in the island of CUBA. one
latter in particular with late occurrences
In Pinar del Rio gives very hopelui
view of the present Cuban SITUATION.
This letter says that Antonio Maeco
has not attempted to reach havana
province and that although he MADE
an attack on the city of Artemisa, whlcn
was partially destroyed, he did not en-
deavor to force a passage of the famous
trocha. On the other hand it is stated
in the communication. which Is 1rorh
Captain De Gardo. who recently was
in this city. and who is an officer OF Gen.
Maceo's staff, that the rebel army III
Pinar del Rio province is not deslrous
of making war in Havana and MatanZas
at this time. Both of these provinces
are comparatively low and hat ana the
effect of the copious rains upon the SOIL
Is still detrimental to the proper nano-
ling of an army.
The letter reads:
To be with the Cuban army in P1nar
del Rio does not mean that one is en-
tirely cut off from communication with
the outside world. The main system OIL
the republic is not in operation IN thls
province, but the carriers of our COM
manders reach Havana as regularly as
do trains at the Grand Central station
Of New York
Among the accounts that furnished US
with the most amusement was that pup
lished in the Diaro de la Marina, con :
+, cerning an attack upon Artemisa a 1ew
days ago. hear that the same account
was sent to the United States and pup
ished as authentic news. Still, after
my visit to New York, Philadelphia and
Washington / feel that the readers OF
American papers have learned TO ois-
Germ the difference between Spanish and
Cuban news. At Artemisa the hgnt
was well carried on, and some of our
haevy guns were used to splendid ad :
vantage. We did not attempt to pass
the trocha, for it was not part OF Gen.
Maceos program.
Artemisa was quite strongly entrench-
cd and over 1000 men were garrisoned
. there. Maceo did not attack with his
entire force, but desired to give practice
to the artillery. The enemy was amaz-
ed. am sure, for during nearly two
hours time there was no response from
the town.
Gen. Maceo personally directed the at
tack We retired in good order about
midnight, after the artillery of the en-
emy had shelled our position. do not
know the enemy's loss, but our killed
numbered eighty. We left no dead on
the field, but carried all the bodies
away. Among the killed was Major
Perez, whom you know. and who has
been one of our best officers. Maceo's
force does not now amount to so much
cavalry, but it has been increased over
$500 since the arrival of the two eXpedi-
tions.
LEE COMING HOME
HAVANA, Nov. Limited States
Consul General Lee and his secretary,
Mr.. Jones, sailed for New York today,
on board the steamship Vigilancia. The
steamship was accompanied out of the
harbor by the steam launch Zildo, hav-
ing on board United States Vice-Consul
General Joseph A. Springer. DR.. Bur-
CESS and Charles Todd, employees of the
consulate and other friends of General
Lee. and representatives of American
newspapers.
While the Havana papers many of
which were received by steamer last
night, continue to maintain silence in
regard to Maceos movements since his
brilliant attack on Artemisa ten days
ago, it is still insisted by active par
tisans here in direct communication
with the leaders in Cuba, that he un-
Questionably crossed the military tro-
cha at that point during the lombard
ment of the town, and with a small
following has since marched through
the entire province of Havana, and is
now at Colon, central point in Ma
tanzas province. 1t is also alleged that
his mission there is to concentrate and
assume command of the forces of Ri
cardo, Trujillo Rojas and other minor
rebel leaders who have operating in that
vicinity with between four and five
thousand we'll armed men. Notwith-
standing the persistence of this report,
the other Cubans here, apparently as
well informed, expressed doubt that Ma
Geo has left the province of Pinar del
Rio, which movement, they say, would
imply defeat by the superior forces
sent against him by Captain General
Weyler. The explanation. however, il,
offered that no abandonment of terri
tory has been made, as General Luis
Rivera, veteran of the last war, has
been left in command of the insurgent
forces in Pinar del Rio, while Maceo
has gone eastward in obedience to or
ders from his superiors to operate with
Maximo Gomez in the latter's new cam
paign of invasion.
Gomez has not been heard from since
his attack on the town of Cascorro.
The ominous silence of Gomez is sale
to presage the planning of a series O
important attacks on the principal citie.
In Havana and Matanzas provinces
his apparent inactivity having beer
caused only by a desire to await the ar
rival of all the new reinforcements from
Spain and their distribution throughou
the island. Now that they are garrison
ed his projected campaign of invasion
will be inAugurated at once. it is con
fdently rep0rted.
THE SIEGE OF HAVANA.
NEW YORK, Nov. IA dispatch
to the Herald from Key West, Fla.
says: A prominent Cuban resident OF
this city said to your correspondent tha
without assuming the role of a prophet
the Herald could positively announce
that the city of Havana would be he.
sieged by Maximo Gomez within the