St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-05

city from three different directions
The above facts, SO frequently denied
during the past two weeks, are now
generally admitted even in official cir
cles, although all sorts of lame eX-
cuSes for the triumphant advance of
the CubanS are put forth in the hope
of calming public excitement. But no
amount of explanation will alter the
fact that the insurgent cavalry scouts
were sighted from here this morning.
1t is no longer a cry of "On to Ha-
vana" with the Cubans. They are
here, slowly but surely surrounding
this capital, in spite of the efforts of
the best troops of Spain. Step by
step Gen. Campos has been driven
back by the advance of the victorious
army, until now preparations are be-
ing completed for the final and de-
cisive struggle. Gen. Bandera and his
column camped last night at San Jose
de las Lakes, a short distance from
Tapaste, and his forces are said to
be moving on Guanabaco or it's vicin-
ity in order to take up the position
assigned to them for a siege of Ha-
vana. 1t was claimed that Bandera
would camp this evening at the Vento
farm, within a rifle shot of the out
posts of the Spaniards. There is no
denying that Havana is, to all intents
and purposes, invested by the insur
gents. Their columns are pressing un-
checked around the city. Government
officials are blaming the different
Spanish generals for the present condi-
tion of affairs, utterly regardless of
the fact that 1t was Campos' plan of
| campaign, the wild scattering of his
| forces all over the island, which is
mainly responsible for this crisis.
| Spanish soldiers, in spite Of all denials,
have deserted in considerable numbers,
and have in many. instances shown
sympathy with the insurgent cause.
Stories are afloat here of a wholesale
republican propaganda at work among
the soldiers from Spain, and it is
claimed that it will yet bear astonish-
| ing fruit.
FLOCKING TO HAVANA
Well-to-do people from the districts
around Havana are focking into the
city. The price of provisions has al
ready begun to go up alarminsly; in
the streets the hustle and hustle of
the military is visible. Every man or
! boy who can be placed under arms has
| been called upon to shoulder a rifle,
and the warships have landed every
man and gun available for the defense
of the city. Late this afternoon it was
reported that Campos had sent a spe-
cial messenger to the insurgents with
the object of bringing about confer
ence of their leaders. The authorities
ridiculed the idea, claiming that the
enemy consisted Of only a 'few flying
bands of rebels" and that the Spanish
columns pressing on after them had
caught the rebels in q trap from which
their only escape was death or uncondi-
tional surrender"
This afternoon it became known that
| the body Of insurgents which had been
at San Felipe had pushed on through
! Quivacan and moved westward on Ga
briel and Salud, burning all the fields
as they passed. Saiud is west of Ha-
vana, end little further on is the last
railroad line in that direction leading
into the city To reach Salud the in
surgents have already crossed two
lines of railroad leading into this city,
and after crossing the third they will
have extended the half-moon forna-
tion of their forces about this city and
will have cut off communication by
rail with the province of Pinar del Rio,
and as they are now threatening to
| cut off communication with the prov
ince of Matanzas, through the force
they are advancing from Tapaste, it