The Portland daily press., 1896-01-06
ON TO HAVANA.
Insurgent Scouts in Sight of the Cubar
Capital

Havana, January 4.-Unless all indica-
tions are dcceiving, the end of the Cuban
insurreotion is approaching.
The result, it.would seem, must be in
favor of the insurgent armies under
MaxioIn Gomez, Antonio Maceo and
Quintin and Bonedra, for they area near
ing the city from three different diree-
tions.
The fact, so frequently denied in official
circles during the past two weeks. is now
generally admitted even in official circles,
although all sorts OF lame explanations OF
the triumphant advance of thelCubanshre
put forth IN the hope of calming public
excitement. But no amount of expIana.
tion Will alter the fact that the insurgent
cavalry scouts are believed to have been
sighted from here this morning.
AS these advance bodies of the Cubans
were at Tapaste, IL miles from Guanabco,
practically suburb of this city, last
night, it is only reasonable to presume
that the report that the Cubans have been
sighted from the lines defending Havana
is correct.
It is no longer cry of "On to Ha-
vana - from the Cubans. They are here,
slowly, but surely, surrounding this cap
ital, after triumphant march from the
eastern end of Santiago de Cuba to the
capital OF this island, in spite OF all the
best troops OF Spain could do in their
efforts to prevent them. Step by step the
captain general, Martinez de eCampos,
has been driven back before the advance
of the victorious army. until here prepar-
ations are being completed on botn sides
for the final and decisive struggle. Gen.
OujptiO RaDQnra and his enInmn 0f in
surgent troops camped last night at San
Jose de Las LaJas, q very. short distance
from Tapaste, and his forces are now said
to be moving OH Guiana baco, OF in its
vicinity, in order to take up the position
assigned to them, the siege of Havana. An
other report OF the ultimate destination
of Gen. Bandera has it that he will try to
pass by Mt. Bejucal to Rincon and from
there to Santiago de las Vegas, to cut the
railroads leading into Havana; but, in
any case, it is admitted that he will push
onward toward this city and his camp
fires, if lighted, should be visible to-
night from the Spanish outposts around
the city.
In fact it is claimed that Bandera will
camp this evening at the Venti farm,
within rifle shot Of the outposts of the
Spaniards.
The main body Of the second insurgent
ed this morning to be at Duran, moving
in the direction of Guira Molena, at the
bend of tho railroad leading from the
province of Pinar del Rio into Havana.
Other portions Of Gomez column, by far
the strongest, and now said TO number
5000 men, were sighted today at Guivican
and San Felipe. only slightly to the east
ward and northward of 6 uira Melena
The third insurgent column under Gen.
Antonio Maceo was announced this
morning to have passed Ceiba. Mocha,
with Gomez, when last heard from, and
should now be in the vicinity of San
Antonio Vegas, o. between there and
Nazareno.
All three columns have been continuing
the work of destruction, burning cane
fields and plundoring the houses Of the
better class as they pushed EDWARDS The
province Nombre de Dias, Julie La Gia,
Meroedites and other plantations in the
Guines district through which the insur-
gents have just passed have been COM
pIetely wiped out by the torches of the
enemy.