Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-11-11

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l v1Ila e8lAlGS are the three StTOukeSt I1Uu
In this chain. Between the. first tw
| places Maceo suffered considerable los
| by running Into Spanish ambuscade o
his last return to Pinar del Rio province
! The Matana swamp commenced at tn
sugar factory Maravilla and extends q
far as the south coast. distant about 81
miles. During the old slave regime 4
Cuba several canals were dug to facilitat
the drainage of these lands. The mai
ditch was about u feet deep and Il zee
wide, but after Its construction little III
tention was given i. so that when Gen
eral Weyler decided to use VI as part o
his line. large numbers OF workmen ha,
to be employed In cleaning it. The fores
and dense underbrush were also cut down
500 yards wide. A platform OF pain
boards eight feet wide was built through
the swamp. following the eastern banI
of the big ditch.
Forts or blockhouses were erecte,
about every 500 or 800 yards. They ar,
very elaborate affairs built Of logs cut II
the neighboring woods and covered out
side with dressed lumber. A narrow
opening runs around the fort to permi
firing, and "A few feet above is an open
ing about three feet in height to allow {
free circulation of air within. gaIvan
lzed zinc roof covers the yellow painte,
forts. and this is surmOunted by a smal
sentry box. which also serves as Il venti.
iator. Piles were driven to give a solid
foundation for the buildings. Each fo.,
mas a garrison OF about 100 men. com.
Inanded by sub-lieutenant, whose dGty
1t Is to patrol the platform. The Spanish
soldiers never leave the forts or bria ye To
explore the swamp, and any person :,ccn
near the line Is considered an insurgent
ana fired on.
+, Life In this swamp is dreaded by the
stationed there find their way TO the hos
piials. suffering from colds dysentery,
malaria or the dreaded yellow fever. The
sehiineis are supposed to exercise great
vigilance. but the Cubans cross here al
their pleasure.
Passing the trocha in the swamp is not
SO dangerous as IL is disagreeable. The
Insurgents are generally from one to four
days IN crossing. and have 10 wade
through mud. slime and water up to
their waists for more than Il miles. a
mis-step causes them TO sink up to the
neck. Arriving near the platform, an op-
portunity Is waited for, and then "A Quick
lash Is made while the sentinel is al the
minute is consumed In swimming the
Jitch and jumping over or diving under
he bridge. Little fear Of being hit by a
yniiet Is entertained by the Cubans. as
ne Spaniards are famed for bad shooting
The jungle on the other side once reached
! here Is no fear of pursuit as the Span
iards will not hazard chase through the
swamp.
Major Raul Marti. the first Cuban to
cross the line with dispatches from Co
lnez 10 Maceo had trying time. Twice
nc was attacked by the alligators that
.niest the southern part of the swamp.
and could only defend himself with his
inachete, as the report of a rifle would
nave disclosed his presence TO the enemy
ne sentries were very yigilant and he
md his three companions were compelled
70 wade through the water with only
iisir neads out, until they arrived at the
ridge; AS the unsuspecting sentry
'idssed they pounced on him and ran
aim through with machete from behind
ana the poor fellow dropped without a
ound. The Cubans then noiselessly made
Major SainZ who crossed with IN man
eft such large trail behind and made
sucn noise in crossing that the Span
ARDS We're al last convinced that il was
! comparatively easy matter to cross A
Tort was Immediately built at the point
where Sainz crossed. The day that the
tort was completed |. with is compan-
lad been two days inside the swamp
"'thout food, and slept with half our
bodies under water. The crossing was
made with a great deal of noise and al
though We could hear the soldiers talk
Dg and singing inside the fort. we were
aot discovered The sentinel had prob
ably stepped inside to take a drink OF COT
fee and enjoy the music
brigadier Quintin Bandera. with % men
thu i three women. crossed in the same
place about 10 days later. This being the
soon became generally known throughout |
cuba and created much unfavorable |
iomment among conservative Spaniards. |
,ount. but received an answer to the ef |
.ect that the trocha was not built to keep
Insurgents from stealing across but for |
Il tempt to force the line
from Guanajay to Marie the line fol- |
oWs the high road and has several strong |
llaceS. notably the estates Las Canas |
tnd Iomaslto. The bay of Mariel is pa |
rolled by a gunboat and several small |
police boats. with the object of preventing
crossing at this point.
Gunpoats are also permanently sta
iDntu near The aSt eyframitiaS Of laJ
Inc. '"e
The macadamized road from Mariel to |
nd Mangas is patrolled by several sec
ions of light cavalry. The railroad is !
also protected by forts one kilometer
part on e either side of Artemisa for a
ilrs transformed into rolling forts are al |
ways on hand at Artemisa to send out |
II a moments notice. The principal out |
post forts to the west of the trocha are
situated at Cayajabos where a military
'upply depot has been established at the |
pa estates Jabaco, Jobo, San Juan de |
also extend westward along the edge of |
ihe swamp to prevent the rebels from
ntering. Large Spanish columns are To- |
tled 10 the east of the trocha in the va
,icceed in forcing his way between the |
'orts, he would be met and the original |
plan carried out of forcing him IN . da |
rlsive engagement.
The trocha: considered from an insur- |
gent point of view. is a farce and indi |
fectiy helps them by keeping about Il O09
zen from active service in the field.
once stated in the Herald that Ma
go object in returning to Pinar del Rio
vas to hold the province for the Cuba ns
and prevent the sugar crop from being !
gathered. The mountainous country in
me province enables Maceo to hold to his
plan. and the trocha prevents any dis
Cubans from returning to the
asst in any considerable body The Span-
larqs speak of him as being in pig pen. |
heard IT. but the pen is so large that II
= almost impossible to corner him.
IT Maceo has crossed the trocha with
'niy small escort. then the whole Dlan
u General Weyler's campaign will be
changed. as the presence of General Nn
Neo IN any place seems to have more i'm
Il any other insurgent chief. '''''