The sun., 1896-01-16
CUBANS WILL NOT DOWN.
THEIR LEADER, GOMEZ, rs WITHIN
10 MILES OF HAVANA.
All tho Spanish Troops Cannot Keep Him
west-No Railroads Ruanine In Cuba
Towns. Country Houses. and Crops
Abiaxe-A Third OF the Entire Cane Crop
Burned-The Patriots Say All tho Towns
In Pinar Province Have Surrendered
Their Eastern Columns Arc HurryInG
West, and VIII j ola Gomez Near Havana

In Pinnr Province Have Surrendered
Their Eastern Columns Arc Hurrying
West, and VIII Join Gomez Near Havana
HAVANA, Jan. 15.-Gomez Is fifteen miles
south of here. Martinez Camposs wall of troops
has failed to keep him west. The situation is
moro grave than at any time since the begin
ming of the war.
Thousands Of troops have been thrown into
Havana province, yet the destruction of towns,
residences. and estates continues Many towns
Offering resistance are burned; those surrender
ing are spared. Railroad traffic In tho entire
island Ia paralyzed
The engineers OF the Havana roads have re-
fused to run trains, and tho companies uphold
their action. am informed that the authorl-
ties Of the roads have stopped the trains until
the safety OF property is assured.
Tho town of Bejucal. fifteen miles south. was
captured on Monday. Thirty-five houses,
twenty cars. and the railroad station were
burned. The volunteers surrendered, but the
regulars in the block house held out. Other i'm
portant towns burned in the past week arcs
Gabriel, $500 Inhabitants: Guira. 4. 800; Artem-
sia. Aguacate, and Benavidcs.
The insurgents since the invasion OF the west
ern provinces have succeeded in avoiding a
serious battle. There are skirnishes daily. The
only important engagement was on the 10th.
tackled by Adecoa Thirty-six wounded Span
iards were brought here. The insurgent loss is
unknown.
Probably a third OF the cane crop has been
burned Grinding has almost entirely ceased.
Gomez has issued orders to stop burning cane.
and II the estates attempt grinding he will de-
stroy the buildings and machinery.
Owing to the friendliness OF tine tobacco grow
ers and workers the crop of tobacco has been
spared. The insurgents now burn towns instead
of crops.
The Cubnns claim that all the towns in Pinar
province have surrendered. Gomez and Maceo
have gained many recruits recently. Tho east
ern columns. under jose Maceo. Rab and
Cebreco. are coming west. Ccspedes. Garlic.
and Aguirre have already reached Matanzas
province. 1t is expected u union Of rebel forces
will take place near Havana.
The Government troops pursue the insurgents
from town.
The former nre infantry and the latter mount
ed. 1t is impossible to overtake the insurgents
and force battle.
The censorship is most rigid. The Havana
papers have stopped publishing extras. Cable
grams are scrutinized and much matter elimi-
mated. Martinez Campos remains here and
has no intention Of resgning.
LONDON, Jan. l5.-The Standard tomorrow
will publish a despatch from Madrid saying
that political. military. and financial circles
there entertain the yloomest views regarding
the situation In Cuba.
The press, the despatch says. continues to at
tack the operations now being carried on. and
predicts political crisis and the resignation OF
the Cabinet in n few days.