The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-17
IMPORTANT DEyEI OPMENTs ARR,
EXPECTED IN THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS.
WEYLER'S RANK AT STAKE.
TORY OR RETURN 70
SPAIN.
POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES
1t Hinges on the Result of the Cam
paign in the Province of
Pinar del Rio.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-It is
learned here on authority that
the Spanish government has given
Gen. Weyler to understand that
he must push his operations
against the insurgents aggres-
sively and vigorously Unless he soon
achieves a decisive victory over the
Cubans, it is believed he will be re-
called. Gen. Weyler, it is understood.
is aware of the alternative, and his
present campaign in Pinar del Rio is
expected to result in an engagement
that will pat new aspect on the
Cuban situation one way or the other.
The campaign therefore has become to
him a personal matter, and with the
knowledge that his prestige and rank
are at stake, the Havana cables are be-
ing watched with interest for news of
more important battles than the Skin
mishes and guerilla fighting than thus
far have come by way of them.
Gen. Weyler has all the troops that
he can use. There are over 200, 900 Span
ish soldiers in Cuba, and the force I'M
der the captain general in his present
operations in the field in person is over
$4,000 men. Maceo, against whom he is
now operating, has under him, it is
estimated, about 1000. Spain having
fulfilled all of Gen. Weylers wishes as
to troops now expects results from
him. Consul General Lee has &C
quainted the administration with these
facts and the president is at present
simply awaiting events and will shape
his course by the developments.
1t is the hope Of Gen. Weyler that
he will be able to score a decided vic
tory before the assembling of con-
gress, Dec. T. Spain fears adverse &C
ton by that body soon after it meets,
and has urged Gen. Weyler to demon
strate his ability 70 crush the rebel
lion within the next two weeks, if pos
sible
In view of the fact that Spain is now
making a strong and almost supreme
effort to subdue her insurgent colony,
and that crisis apparently is at hand,
the president will delay writing that
part of his forthcoming message on
the Cuban situation until the last mo-
ment before the meeting of congress.
The position the administration will
take with reference to Cuba in this
message of the chief magistrate will
be largely determined by the news re-
ceived before Dec. T. Should the news
be favorable to the Spanish army, 1t Is
probable that the president will con-
tinue to pursue his policy of non-inter-
ference. Should it, on the other hand
IL
gent cause, and especially if 1t should
happen that Weyler were defeated, Mr.
Cleveland, it is believed, would no lon
ger hesitate to recommend the recog-
milton of their rights as belligerents or
some other action equally undesirable
to Spain.
What action would follow a simply
negative result of the campaign, that
is a fruitless chase after the insurgents
by Gen. Weyler, is less clear. Prob
ably the administrations course would
be Influenced in some measure, at
least, by what representations Spain
made as to the policy it would pursue
and the instructions given her new
captain general in the event that
Weyler were summoned home. There
fore it is felt here that the most i'm
portant Cuban news may be expected
to come from Cuba, and not from
Washington.
Gen. FitZhugh Lee, consul general TO
Cuba. called at the state department
today, and was with Secretary Olney
for half an hour. So far as could be
learned, there was no special signifi-
canoe to the visit, beyond a further
general discussion Of the situation in
Cuba. Reports continued to come
from the acting consul general at Ha-
vana, and several of these were
looked over, and later taken by Gen.
Lee for fuller perusal. The consul
general had not called at the White
House up to noon and hardly expected
to go there today. Mr.. Cleveland is
busily engaged in writing his annual
message, and few callers see him. 1t
is understood that Gen. Lees call had
nothing to do with any new develop
ment in the SpaniSh-C Cuban situation,
but was rather a discussion of the
situation, viewed from his five months
residence on the island. He will be
here several days, returning then to
Virginia. before going to Havana.
The state department had received no
reports up to o'clock today as to the
reported serious engagement outside of
Havana. In connection with Gen. Lees
call on Secretary Olney today, it is said
that the consul general before return
ing to Havana will pay visit to West
Point to see his son there, and that
unless present plans are changed, Mrs.
Lee will accompany him on his return
to Havana. The latter fact is taken to
indicate that the general does not re-
gard the Havana situation as perilous
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