Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-08
REPORTS MUCH EXAGGERATED.
Havana Said to BE Quiet Despite
RumOrs OF Battles.


RumOrs of Battles.
A dispatch to the New York World from
Havana, dated the 7th. says:
Cable dispatches from New York today
report wildly exaggerated stories Of the
condition of affairs here. The fact is the
city is SO quiet as to give rise to surprise
en- the part Of old, experienced residents.
There has been no anticipation founded
On substantial reasons that the rebels will
change their policy and attempt to occupy
a town which could only be taken after a
real battle. Among the Cuban sympa-
tkizers, of course, there is much individual
expedition which finds no collective ex-
preston.
The Spaniards, especially the merchants
ard trades people, who are suffering from
the obstruction Of trade, feel extreme anx-
iety on account of their business. There
are no banks, and business men are COM
PEELED to carry on their financial matters
without those substantial properties.
Last night the leaders Of the three great
political parties in Cuba met in the Office of
the Diario de la Marina, discussed the sit
uation and went to the Spanish Club, where
they were welcomed by its president He
said in his address that while each party
will continue to respect its principles, all
should act together out of patriotic mo-
tives.
Rafael Montoro, one of the leaders Of the
home rule party, replied, saying that 1t is
the duty of good citizens to sustain Mar
tinez Campos and the government, regard
less of political sentiments.
The event is notable because Montoro
and others never before visited the Span
ish Club officially.
After leaving the line of the Western
railway. in the vicinity of Artemesia, Co
NEE and Maceo took two different columns
ard routes, and moved to Guanajay, the
terminus of a division of the United rail-
way running westward from Havana into
Pinar del Rio. I cannot learn that Guam
ajay, which is a town of 14,000 people, was
entered, but cane to westward of 1t has
been burned.
Guanabal a village north of the United
railway, four miles east of Guanajay, is
reported burned, but this is not positive.
Progress Of the Insurgents.
Word has reached Havana that the
sounds of cannon and musketry had been
heard in the neighborhood of Guanajay. an
important town Of 1900 Inhabitants in
Pirar Del Rio. forty-five miles south of
Havana. 1t is supposed that an engage
rent took place there between the forces
of Gen. SuareZ Valdez and the insurgents,
but the number engaged or the course
which the fortune Of the fight took was not
known last night.
The insurgents have been burning and
destroying up to within eight miles of
Havana The district around the village
OF Calabazar suffered yesterday. Calaba-
Ear is only two miles from Nento, where
the apparatus is located upon which Ha-
vaha depends for its water supply. In the
Calabazar and Hoyo Colorado districts the
cane has been burned in the fields of Maui
lin, CAIRO and Baracoa.
The Correspondence of Madrid states that
the insurgents have attacked Hoyo Colo
RADIO, which is three leagues from Havana.
The Spaniards were outnumbered and sur
rendered. Gen. Campos, it is further stated,
defeated the insurgents near Havana. The
COrreSnnndQOcia further
defeating the insurgents close to Havana,
the Spanish gunboat Ardilla captured four
vessels filled with insurgents trying to es-
cape.
The Forces Led by Zayas.
The insurgent band, commanded by Ia
vas. was reported at different times Mon
day at Caimata, Gayabal, Hoyo and Punta