New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
GOMEZ CAN'T BE STOPPED
HE DAsHEs THROUGH TIE SPANISH LINES
AT HIS WILL
Twice IN WEEK HE PENETRATEs THE FoR-
MIDAn1.r WALL OF TROOPS ACROSS THE ISL
AND LEAVING DEAD AND WOUNDED
sPANIARDs BEHIND TrM-GENERAL
CANEIIAR'S FORCE SAVED
FROM ASSIMILATION BY
THE TIMELY ARRIVAL
OF REINFORCEMENTS.

OF REGNFORCFMENTS.
Havana Feb !. via Tampa Fla. Feb 9-fomez
has crossed the strategic line between Havana ana
Ratarano twice within a week He had no serious
difficulty either time although the wall OF men Is
the stronges, one ever thrown across the island by
Spain Troops have been drawn from all parts or
the island T. make It invulnerahle. and scvcra
thousand volunteers have been added - the force
of regulars along the limo Over fifteen hundred
cavalry have recently beer formed 10y mounting IN
fanirymen. and several batteries Of artillery are
stationed on the line. With all these preparations
and the building of blockhOuscs Of wood and stone.
the throwing up of earthworks and the transforming
OF ra aroad stations churches and dwellings INTO
forts the daring rough-riders OF Gomez push
through the lines. leaving at each dash Few dead
and wounded Spanlards 10 mark their passage
Every time the line is crossed the authorities at
the palace who sift all news published here or
cabed direct eliminate all reference to the crossing
and state In official reports that Gomez was driven
away. After the rebel chief had gone west over the
line an official report of encounter with him near
Guanafay revealed his position: ne was officially re-
ported 10 be In Pnar del Rio Thursday. but was
giving a serious time TO General CaneHar on inc
line south OF BejucaL 1t Is two days since ihai
fight and no official report OF the encounter has been
given 1t IS pretty well understood that General
Canelar and 500 men would have been wiped out by
Gomez and his 1900 men had not Colonel Ga!vis
come the rescue with rein:orcenenis
The hospitals are ful. OF wounded soidiers thou
sands have died tn ned. despite IN" 4Igh. losses
given In the Spanish reports. Twice each day The
Government issues official reports 10 the local pa
pers and to the foreign correspondents The press
censor hands them out. and ali news published mere
or cabled abroad must conform - these reports
Similar reports are cabed to the Spanish Ministers
at Washington. London and Iar.s.
Martinez Campos sal. that these reports were lu-
dcrous. Every press censor who has heid the
,,,st has said thai they absurd. 40 intelligent
American has any Isith IN them. but the CORE
spondenta are compelled TO send these m.seadns
reports or give up the of the cables
General Marin Is at cuivicai. eighteen miles
south Of Havana. He missed hs great opportunity
OF pcnning both Gomez IND Macco IN Pinar de,
Rio Province BY starting day late. Now he has
Gomez on one SIDE the line and Maceo on the
other and VIII Try tC prevent their meeting.
While practically all the SpanisA. forces wh!c1
can be spared from guarding the cities are con-
centratei about the strategic line In an effort to
maintain its imp.e gnabty, the various bands OF
Insurgents roam at Will In a.. the provinces OF
cuba. In Santiago there are frequent "hcouIt"is =,
same il ;rt- OF Santa Clara and Puerto Principe.
/ In Matauzas the whO.- Interior Of tnc province -
aiive vita rebcs. Tacret has united I dozen small
bands and ha5 nearly two thousand In"h uhH'i
him. They havr had daily encounters VITA spanish
trnOps and continue gaining IN strength
/ In P!nar del Rio MaceO Is returning to the iia-
vana border after triunphd! canpaig1. ana mas
turned away thousands VINO " shea 10 JON MS
army The few Spanish troops in the province
have succeeded IL. holding the capital city ana
| Coloma It's port, but every other town has been
entered and occupied by Maceo In Havana Prov
/ ince.