The record-union., 1896-12-18
Belief That They Are Concentrating in
Santa Clara Province.
Great Uneasiness at Havana on Ac=
count of the Uncertainty of rlaCeO's
Death-Said That the Report OF
the Killing of the Insurgent Gem
eral Was Given Out by Spanish
Officials in Order to Influence the
Congress of the United States.

HAVANA, Dec. 1.-THE bulletin is
sued by the Government to-day regard
ing engagements of the troops is unim-
portant. A correspondent at GuanaJa
reports that the forces under Major La
Costa have captured at Mosquito Beach
a Spanish deserter who belonged to the
Alfonso Thirteenth Battalion. The pris-
oner says that he was forced to join
Maceo's forces in Pinar del Rio. He
repeats the story that Maceo did not
cross the trocha on land, but went by
sea around the northern end of it. After
landing in the province of Havana, Ma
Geo met the forces of Lieutenant Vas
quez, who was waiting at Mosquito
Beach, between Mariel and Banes The
prisoner complains that he was i'll
treated by the rebels. His story is con-
sidered suspicious, and he will be tried
by court-martial.
The Queen Regent has sent dispatch
to Captain General Weyler compliment
ing him upon the result of his campaign
against the insurgents.
AdviceS from the province of Pinar
del Rio are to the effect that several
Spanish battalions have been sent to
the interior of the hills in places that
We're considered impregnable by the
rebels The insurgents had disappeared,
SO the troops burned the huts that had
been occupied by them. A number of
horses and cattle We're captured.
The officers commanding in Pinar del
Rio have no idea of the present locality
of the rebels in that province Scouting
abouts, but the military profess to be-
heve their abandonment Of almost I'M
assailable districts is proof of the dis
organization that followed the death
of Maceo.
Indications point to rebel parties hav-
ing entered the province of Matanzas.
Their trails show the direction in
which they had gone, and a Spanish
column is following in their track. 1t
is believed that a concentration is in
tended in Santa Clara province of rebels
from east to west. The Government
says it is watching the movements, and
SO far as can be gathered from outside
sources it is doing little besides watch
ing to prevent the rebels from carrying
out their plan.
A colored woman named Francisco
Herrara has been tried by court-mar-
tial here on charge of rebellion. The
prosecutor asked that she be sentenced
to death. The sentence of the court
martial, if it has been passed, has not
been made public.
The 'Diario de la Marina" continues
to publish protests against the stories
printed in the United States regarding
the manner in which Maceo met his
death. II maintains that the rebel
leader was shot in open battle In a
leader it says, with an unconscious re-
Election upon Spanish character, that
the stories of assassination reflect more
to the .discredit of Maceo in accepting
the alleged invitation to parley than TO
diminishing the fame, honor and chiv-
airy of the Spaniards.
In this sentence the "Diario de Ia Ma
rina" shows unintentionally that, in its
opinion, Maceo did not in trusting to a
Spanish flag of truce, show the intelli-
gence expected of him.
La Lucha'' bitterly comments upon
the news received from the United
States, and claims that the American
sympathy for the rebels is due to a
subsidized press. 1t says that the Gov
ernment is responsible for not employ
ing the press the same as the insurgents.
adding that if it did so it would find
the newspapers a powerful medium for
the defense of the Spanish cause.
IS MACEO STILL ALIVE?
KEY WEST (F1a.). Dec. 11-Passen-
gers by the Olivette last night report
great uneasiness is felt in Havana on
account of the uncertainty of Maceo's
death. 1t is reported on good authority
that General Pratz. commander of
Matanzas province, has notified General
Weyler by telegram to cease all demon
strations on account of the death Of
Maceo, and that General Bernal of said
province had an engagement Tuesday
week with Maceo, who had 5000 men
with him. The Spaniards report a VIC
tory as usual
Passengers state that the report of
Maceo's death is well understood in
Havana, and that it was made up by
order of the home Government to influ-
ence the Congress of the United States
There was the widest kind Of excite
ment on the dock last night when this
statement was made.
The cruiser Raleigh returned yester-
day afternoon from her chase after the
Three Friends. 1t is reported that they
did not see anything of her 1t is re-
ported on good authority that small
party landed at this port from the
Three Friends about 4 O'Clock
WE ARE WELL PREPARED FOR
WAR
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 1.-THE announce