The herald., 1896-01-25
The Insurgent Leader a Victim
of Consumption
HARASSED BY THE SPANISH
He Gets No Rest by Day Nor by
Night
The Insurgents Reported to Be in Want Of
Ammunition and Provisions and
in Desperate Straits

Wy tile ASSOCldteu FeSSs D-EOT bOiuo pdSt
reports have been in circulation here con-
cerning the physical condition of General
Maximo Gomez, commander-in-chief of
the insurgent forces. One story has as
serted that he was suffering from wounds
and that he was seriously ill with fever. 1t
appears from information derived from
trustworthy sources that neither of these
reports is correct, but it is positively as
serted that the insurgent chief is very
sick man. 1t is stated upon the authority
cited that the doctors in attendance upon
General Gomez recently held a consulta-
ton and diagnosed his case as being an ad-
vanced case of consumption, complicated
with fever. 1t is further stated that the
physicians have come to the conclusion
that Gomez can only live abont two
months longer. These statements have
caused considerable alarm among the in
surgents and their friends, as, even though
his condition may be exaggerated to some
degree, it is believed the main facts are
correctly stated.
Besides, according to the reports from
the front, he is being sharply pushed by the
Spanish troops and is getting little or no
rest now, day or night. The effect is that.
his movements can now be marked by a
trail of tired out or lame horses which the
insurgents leave behind them. The opinion
is expressed here that the insurgents are in
desperate straights and that for Gomez
now everything depends on the safe ar
rival in the province of Havana of the
second army of insurgents under Generals
Jose Maceo and Rabi.
Gomez yesterday for a time appeared
half inclined to risk decisive engagement
with the Spanish troops. He was biv-
ouacked at the village of Plazolle, not far
from Quinvican, south OF the city. Colonel
Galvis, in command of the Spanish troops
at Quinvcan, gathered together all the
government troops available and moved
with a strong column upon the enemy.
The latter, contrary to custom, awaited
the approach of the Spaniards, but after
half an hours fighting, during which a
| number were killed and wounded on both
sides, Gomez suddenly divided his forces
into two columns and commenced to re-
treat. One of the insurgent columns re-
treated southwark to the Lagia district,
and the other toward Batebano.
! Colonel Linarer pushed on after Gomez IS
forces and mad q skirmish with the enemy Is
rear guard. When last heard of General
Linares' column was closely pressing after
the enemy, and Colonel Galvis, having
been reinforced by troops under Colonel
Aldecoa, three columns were started in
pursuit of Gomez's forces. News received
| from the front at an early hour this morn
ing showed that Gomez apparently reunit-
ed his forces last night but broke camp this
morning when informed of the approach of
the Spanish infantry.
The forced night march, however, had
told terribly on the Spanish infantry ana
the mounted insurgents OF Gomez had no
difficulty in getting away. The Spaniards
had also effected junction with Colonels
Linares' and Aldecoa's forces as soon as
the scouts brought word that the two bands
of insurgents had united, and this strong
, force moved in southerly direction soon
after breakfast this morning in pursuit of
the insurgents. A prisoner, severely
wounded, who was captured by the troops,
reported that the horses and men of the in
| surgents are becoming exhausted from
| long marches, and that the insurgents are
also short of ammunition and provisions.
A dispatch received from Cienfuegos
says that Major Alonzo, with $50 men of
the Aava battalion, has been engaged for
three hours at Las Jas. in the Cienfuegos
! district, with strong force of insurgents
| and that the insurgents left twelve xii led
| and fifteen wounded on the field and re-
| tired, taking with them many others
wounded. Only few Spanish soldiers
were wounded.
| The authorities now have to face a
serious problem here. The prices of all
kinds of provisions are going up rapidly
| every day. In spite of this the people are
| flocking into Havana from the country dis
tricts and other provinces, and in many
cases the refugees are people who have
lost almost everything they possessed and
a very great number of them here and
| elsewhere are dependent upon charity.
| The cost of the war has been enormous
and the drain created by provisioning the
army has been very great. Consequently
this extra expense which the authorities
will have to meet in some manner or other,
| is causing them great deal of anxiety.
However, there is Il large ard ever increas-
ing exodus of planters and others from
this city, hundreds leaving by every ship
bound for the United States, Jamaica,
Hayti or South American ports.
The increase of crime in all the provinces
| is said to be enormous.
Business is almost at standstill and
commerce is practically thing of the
| past. The work of strengthening and in
oreasing the defences of Havana continues
without interruption. A number of addi-
| tional small forts have been built at Ha-
vana and the authorities claim there is abb
| soutely no danger if a sudden attack by
| the insurgents should be made.
In spite of this assurance. however, a
| feeling of gloom and depression prevails
here. There is no longer any talk of set
| Ting the insurrection by crushing blow,
| and although the advent OF General Wey-
Ter is looked forward to as likely to be the
signal for more active operations against
the insurgents, the feeling grows that the
struggle is most eXhausting one for all
concerned, and that much blood and treas
ure must be expended by Spain if the in.
surrecton is to be quelled by force OF
arms. Under these circumstances it is not
astonishing that feeling in favor of some
| compromise arrangement is steadily grow
ing, and all eyes are turned toward the
| United States as likely to be the great fac
| tor in bringing peace and prosperity once
| moro to unhappy Cuba.
The military authorities are drawing all
the troops possible from the eastern part
| of Cuba, as that par. of the island, espe-
cially the province of Santiago de Cuba. is
! rapidly resuming a peaceful aspect, not
| withstanding the fact that nearly all the
/ insurgents have moved westward.
CAMPOs' HEMovAL
NEW York, Jan. 24.-A special from
Havana to the World. after reviewing in
detail the intrigues in Cuba to bring about
| the recall of General Campos, says:
General Campos refused to resign and
placed himself in the hands of the Spanish