The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-27
WEYLER BUILT IT
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE
FAaOUs "TROOHA."

Barbed Wire, With Cactus on the Side
Furnhh Another section-Forts Ever
Half Nile or Lsss-Eut 1t Doesn't Troch
Worth Cent Cubaus Run Throush !
just for the Fun of the Thing.
| New York, Nov 2S.-The Herald's Gu
| ba correspondent gives the folio wins
description Of the famous ''trocha." es
taolished by Captain General Weyle
! across the island:
| The trocha, or military line running
( from Muriel to Majana, in Pinar de
Rio Province, was built by General Wey'
| ler to keep Maceo from recrossing into
Havana Province. Gen. Weyler's plan
for this winters campaign, as generally
understood by the insurgents, is to forcs
them from the hills by superior number:
and drive them toward the trocha, where
the large permanent Spanish garrsoni
will combine 20 force Maceo to a decisive
battle, in which Gen. Weyler expects
to be victorious.
Much has already been written abou.
the construction Of this trocha, but it is
significant fact that all correspond
ents have limited their descriptions to
the works and fortifications near Arte-
misa or Guanajay. Gen. Weyler readily
grants permission to correspondents &c
visit ard inspect these places, feeling
sure that their impression will be favor
able to his pet creation. The fortifica-
tons near these large towns are the
strongest and best constructed on the
line, and the criticism is generally favor
able.
But let a correspondent ask permission
TO he shown the whole length of the line
through the country and into the swamps
and the answer viii be negative.
Although / cannot speak with author
ity on the subject of the trocha in or near
the towns mentioned, with the other
parts l am quite familiar, having ac-
compapied Maj. Barrios and Lieut.. Col.
Federico Nunez in their expeditions
along the line. and finally crossed it.
CACTUS AND BARB WIRE.
the trocha is an admirably construct
ed efd!r as an obstacle to a cavalry
charge. Between Artemisa and Guiana
jay trench has been dug at various
places and heavy barb wire fences run
the whole length. Coils of loose barb
wire are strewn on the ground to the
front of the trench in many places, and
cactus, carbon and other thorny plants
are scattered around. The first Is in
tended to entangle the cavalry, and the
tnorns, it is hoped, will act as an obsta-
Gle to the shoeless Cuban infantry.
To the west of the trocha at various
points are advance or outpost forts,
which are expected to give timely warn
irg 20 the main force of any rebels at
tempting the passage
II the Cubans succeed in passing these
fcrts in safety the barbed wire entangle-
ments, fences and ditch are relied on to
check their advance until the Spanish
forces can be assembled. At the same
time they will be subjected to the direct
fire CT the main line forts, distant one
from, the other about 800 yards, each gar
risoped by about 100 rihemen. Several
Of the forts have rapid-fre guns and g.
inch rifles.
WEAK SPOTS IN THE LINE.
There are several extremely weak spots
in this trocha, known to the Cuban
scouts, who cross and recross it very
often. The passage between the forts,
however, is hazardous, yet the Cubans
think little of the danger they run.
l might give one example of the dar-
ing of two Cuban scouts who crossed by
running the gountlet of Spanish sentries.
When challenged by sentinel one dark
night, instead Of answering they spur
red their horses and rode straight from
him. The sentinel opened fire and so
did his companions, who came running
to his aid, but the shower of bullets only
served to increase the speed of the two
horsemen and in five minutes they had
ridden through tn lines and gained the
woods On the other side, where they were
safe from pursuit. One Of the scouts
was brother of Col. Perico Delgado,
and carried important dispatches for Gen
eral Gomez. This is the only instance
l know Of in which the line has been
crossed by cavalrymen.
The sentinels have orders to fire, with
out challenging, on any one approaching
the line during the night.
The Spanish forces operating near the
line and Using the forts as a base of op-
Grafton are divided into three sections,
commanded by Gen. Aroias. with head
quarters at Guanajay or Manil and the
southern a, the sugar estate, Neptune.
The town of Mangas. which was burn
ed by insurgents, situated about three
miles to the west Of the line, is being re-
built and fortified to serve as headquar-
ters for the columns operating in this
district under Gen. Gasco.
The line from Artemisa south to the
entrance of the Majana swamp is excep-
tionally strong, having as the line four
sugar estates. on which have been built
forts. The Waterloo, Neptune and Mar
avilla estates are the three strongest
links in this chain. Between the first
two places Maceo suffered considerable
loss Ly running intosa Spanish ambus-
cade Cn his last return to Pinar del Rio
Province
The Ma:ana swamp commences at the
sugar factory Maravilla and extends as
far as the south coast, distant about six
mics. During the old slave regime in
Cuoa several canals were dug 10 facil-
itate the drainage of these lands. The
main ditch was about II feet deep and
i fee; wide, but after its construction
little attention was given il, SO that when
General Weyler decided 10 use it as a
part o fhis line. large numbers of work
men had 70 be employed in cleaning it.
The forest and dense underbrush were
also cut down. leaving an opening, vary
ing from 100 to 500 pards wide. A plat
form OF palm boards feet wide was
built through the swamp. following the
eastern bank of the big ditch.
BLOCKHOUSES.
Forts or blockhouses were erected
about every 500 or 500 yards. They are
very elaborate affairs built OF logs cut
in the neighboring woods and covered
outside with dressed lumber A narrow
opening runs around the fort 20 psr1ni.
firing, and a few feet above is an open
Ing about feet in height 10 allow a free
Of air within 4 galvanized
zinc roof covers the yellow painted forts
and this is surmounted by small sentry
box. which also serves as a ventilator
Files we're driven 10 give solid foundz-