The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-01-04
MAKING BOlD STRIDES.
Mastery Military Movements Of
the Cuban insurgents,
GETTING STILL CLOSER TO HAVANA

A Flank Movement by General Lacret's
Cavalry Arouses the OHicials of the Cuban
Metropolis to Renewed Efforts for the
Defense of the City.
HAVANA, Jan. 4-The authorities con
fess the grave condition of affairs by pro
claiming martial law for the provinces of
Havana and Pinar del Rio. Maximo Go
mez has declared his purpose to penetrate
into the province Of Pinar del Rio. AL
though his forces have not yet reached the
borders Of that province, the action of the
authorities is understood to Indicate that
they have no hopes Of preventing him from
carrying out his threat.
1t is not only the organized armed force
of the advancing insurgents that they find
themselves compelled to prepare against.
In fact there is little apprehension that
this force could effect much success in an
assault upon this city, great as is the dam
age that they have wrought in the coun-
try But the irresistible progress of the
insurgent army from one end of the island
to the other has served immensely to in
crease the boldness of the sympathizers,
who have hitherto remained passive non
combatants. If these We're to see the oc-
casion for successful stroke there is no
doubt that great accessions to the insur
gent forces would be gained throughout
the province of Havana and Pinar del Rio,
and there are grave fears that an uprising
would occur in the city of Havana itself.
1t is not by any means to be considered
that the apparent lack of hope of checking
the new advance shown by the authorities
has led to the cessation of efforts to pre-
vent the ad vance. The Spanish forces
swarm on all sides of the advancing in,
surgents. From time to time they are
massed at what is considered a salient
point in the advance with the hope OF
bringing about a pitched battle which the
Spanish military leaders feel certain would
result in cutting the insurgents to pieces
But the unrivaled skill and generalship
shown by Gomez and his leutenants in
avoiding such traps and in carrying his
army past the most elaborately planned
barriers of the Spanish have served to
greatly discourage the leaders on that
side The elusive antagonist seems never
to be within their reach, and yet always
/ inficting the most serious damage upon
their territory.
1t is believed that large band of the in
surgents is still trying to force its way
/ into Havana by way of the mountains
| about Ell Cuanamon, which is on the Dor
/ der in the southern part of the province
| of Havana, going thence south of San
1 Nicolas. A small force of insurgents, ac-
/ cording to official reports, has already ap-
peared in the district of San Nicolas,
which adioins Guines on the east.
Reports have been received here to the
effect that the insurgent forces moving
westward from the southern portion OF
the province of Havana, have now passed
Helena, about fifty kilometers from Ha-
vana. The northern insurgent army has
been reported at Aguacate, about seventy
kilometers from this city.
As already cabled. it is believed that the
southern army of the insurgents intends
to make an attempt to effect a junction
with the division in the province of Pinar
del Rio, to the westward of Havana.
Additional information just received
shows that the insurgents are still burn
ing extensive cane fields The village of
Zulueta, in the district of Caibarien, has
also been burned, and the railroad bridge
over the Hanabana river was destroyed.
The advance guard of the insurgent cav
airy, under General Lacret, was at the
latest accounts at Lapaste, which is only
eighteen miles from Guanabacoa, the lat
ter being but suburb of Havana, five
miles from the city, where bathing beach
freuuented by the citizens of Havana is
located General Lacret, with his cavalry,
seems to be but scouting party in ad-
vance of the insurgent wing commanded
by Quintin Bandera.
Nothing definite is known of the
strength in number of Bandera's COM
mand, but the news Of the near approach
of the insurgents has caused the utmost
anxiety among the authorities. and
every preparation is being hastily made to
have the city's defenses in readiness to re-
l mel an attack 10 urpVeQt damage being