Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-18
LOOKS BRIGHTER FOR CUBANS
General Weyler Fails to Meet with the
Anticipated Success,
MACEo MAY ELUDE THE CAPTAIN GENERAL
Insurgents Now Making strong
Counter Demonstration i'm the
Direction of Puerto
Principe.

HAVANA, Nov. 17.-No news, official or
Otherwise, is obtainable here concerning the
movements OF Captain General Weyler and
his army. which is supposed to be In pur-
suit of tho insurgont forces under Antonio
Maceo in the province Of Pinar del Rio. No
nows from Spanish force in the field, as
rule means bad news and the insurgents
are making the most Of the situation by
circulating reports OF Spanish defeat.
In truth, there seems to be ground for the
belief that the captain general has not met
with the success he anticipated, and, while
no is reported to be moving along the north
ern part of Pinar del Rio. Antonio
Macco is said to be south Of him and not
far from the trocha line, which would in
dictate the possibility OF the insurgents turn
ing the Spanish flank and making 1t diff
cult for tho captain general to return to
Havana. This, however Is conjecture, no
news being allowed 10 leak out from the
offices of the headquarters stan In the pal
ace.
From a reliable source 1t Is learned that
MaCeo, hitherto understood to be occupying
positions between Candelara and Artemisa,
had moved south of the former town, going
westward toward the mountains OF Guane.
Another rumor has 1t that he us pushing a
strong force through the swamps south OF
the trocha. Both reports are given Tor
what they are worth.
On the other hand, it is no longer denied
that the insurgents have captured the two
quito important towns of Cascorro and Quay
mara in Puerto Principe. as minated some
time ago In these dispatches in spite OF
denals to the contrary, and there Is nc
doubt that an army OF about 10000 is adj
Vancing upon the city Of Puerto Principe
capital OF the province of that name.
The captain general was expected to ar
rive at Candelarla and the Spanish officials
here attribute the alleged retrOgr1de move
ment OF the Insurgents under Maceo to this
move upon the part OF the Spanish com
mander. Tho latter's arrival at Candclaria
has not yet been announced and there Is nc
denying that feeling OF considerable anXi-
ETY. can be noticed at the Spanish hcadquar-
tiers here.
Since the departure of the captain gen.
'eral for the front a number of officers have
been on duty night and day at the palace
os II awaiting important news, which as
yet has failed to reach them.
MOVING ON PUERTO PRINCIPE.
The exact whereabouts OF Maxine Gomez
Is also apparently unknown here, the move
mcnts against Puerto Principe being con
Quoted by CaliXto Garcia, according TO re
port and the insurgents friends here init
mate that Gomez is certain to be heard
from shortly, as he must create a diversion
Ms near as possible to Havana in order t.
mcnts to the captain general, who, as 1t Is
IS receiving from Havana every man who
can be spared from active duty about the
Notifications.
The city of Puerto Principe Is being
placed in the strongest possible state of
defense. General Castellanos, the Spanish
commander who was announced to have de
feated the insurgents In several engagements
and to have relieved CascOrro and Quay
mara, In Puerto Principe. is understood to
be retreating as quickly as his troops can
move upon the city OF Puerto Principe, IN
order to take part in its defense, The in
surgcnts operating against that city have
destroyed a large number of bridges on
the railroads running from Nuevlas to Cas-
zorro Guaymara and Guamarillo. This wac
done In order TO prevent the passage OF the
Spanish force over that road TO attack them
in the rear The Nuevil's railroad also runs
by another route to Puerto Principe and
the latter place Is connected with the sea
southwark by another line Of railroad run
ming to tho port of Santa Cruz. The insur-
gents It is said intend to cut off both these
lines of communication with the coast before
regularly investing the city OF Puerto Prin-
clpe II they are successful In these move
ments IL will only be question Of time as
to when Puerto Principe viii be starved
out or compelled to surrender ny being de
prlved OF its water supply.
II is further stated that the insurgents
have occupied the town OF san Miguel on
the road to Puerto Principe in addition to
Cascorro and Guaymara, and the span
iards claim that the enemy afterwards
burned The town to the ground, which ir
itself is an admission that the place has
been captured.
IA IT requires several days for news from
Puerto Principe to reach Havana II is quite
possible that by this time the insurgents
have approached very near TO the city OF
Puerto Principe.