Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-04
WEYLER'S MEN JOIN CUBANS
Troop of Spanish Soldiers Abandons It's
Post at San Jose de Las Lajas.
RUMoRS OF A VICTORY FOR MACEo
Town of Gunnnbncon, Just Across bay
from Havana, is ShcIIed by In
surPcnts and the Capital
is Badly Scared.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec "A special
to the Citizen from Key West says: News
has been received here that the troops of
The Spanish garrison at San Jose de Las
Lajas, twenty miles southeast of Havana,
abandoned their post and joined the insur-
gents. Many of the citizens accompanied
the troops. and carried ammunition with
them. The news caused great excitement
at the palace, and fresh troops were imme-
diately sent to the post and order was re-
stored. Before the troops arrived anarchy
reigned, and when the troops reached the
city many residents were shot down in the
streets. News from Santiago de Cuba re
ports that the insurgents captured an i'm
portant Spanish convoy of ammunition and
supplies between Bueycito and Manzanillo,
with nearly a million rounds Of cartridges.
No more social or family gatherings Will be
held In Havana unless special orders shall
be secured from the authorities. All OF the
homes of the leading Cuban families are
watched as well as the movements OF for
eign correspondents. Postofiice officials open
letters Unfortunately. outgoing passen-
gers, when suspected, are searched aboard
the ships and steamship officers are closely
watched.
CINCINNATI Dec. IA special to the
Commercial Tribune from Tampa, Fla, says:
From passengers from Havana this even
ing it is learned that rumors are rife in
Havana that a fight has just occurred be
tween the vanguard of Weylers army ana
some of Maceo's men, with large forces
on each side. No details are mentioned
because as the passengers say, the people
in Havana are more than usually reticent,
since it was learned that the Spanish army
did not come off best 1t is believed there
fore that Maceo gained victory. The
palace people seemed more than usually
vigilant and active today, which is signiii-
cant. Two hundred sick and wounded
Spanish soldiers were brought into the city
hospitals today from near Mariel and
San Crlstobal. 1t is reported that Weyler
has lest two railway trains from dynamite
explosions including much needed army sup
plies for his men sent from Havana. Fifty
persons arrested the past week were de-
ported today, but whittier is a mystery,
though Africa is supposed to be their desti-
nation. The rumors ailoat for a proposed
attack on Havana by Gomez seem unfounded.
The best information Obtainable is that scat
tered guerrilla bands are lowering around
Havana suburbs, ten to twenty miles out,
and their encounters are of almost daily oc-
currenCe.
CHICAGO. Dec. "a special to the Trib-
une from Key West Fla, says: adyices re-
ceived from Havana by the steamer Olivette
state that on Tuesday the vanguard of the
army of Gomez camped near Guanabacoa,
which is just across the bay from Havana.
On Wednesday at noon the insurgents began
to lombard Guanabacoa. The roar of the
guns was heard easily in Havana and threw
the loyalists of the capital into panic. Many
houses were fired by the shells from the in
surgents' cannon and the smoke and flames
were visible to the people in Havana The
Spaniards in Havana were greatly alarmed,
as they believed that the bombardment of
Guanabacoa was only preliminary to an
attack upon the metropolis