Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-09
MAcEo HAS CROSSED THE rRocuA.
story Current In Havana before the
Report of His Death.

story Current In Havana before the
Report of His Death.
HAVANA Dec. SIT is now semi-oifcially
admitted that Antonio Maceo, the insurgent
leader. passed the military line of Pinar del
Rio on Friday last near Mariel, the port at
it's northern extremity. He was accompanied
by the son OF Maxine Gomez.
The exact whereabouts of General Wey-
Ter is not known. but he is believed to be
hunting for Maceo in the mountains in the
extreme eastern part OF Pinar del Rio, while
the insurgent chief has seemingly doubled
on his tracks turned the flank OF the Span
ish general and passed in his rear In the
direction of this city, crossing the military
line at will and possibly being by this time
in the vicinity of the capital Of Cuba. II
Maxine Gomez has carried out the plan
attributed to him, that OF pushing westward
to the support OF Maceo, a junction of the
two main bodies of the insurgents may be
expected shortly. Nothing appears to be
known of the strength OF Maceo's force
in this province. In fact it was not until
the. news was being passed from person to
person in the streets that the authorities
would give a half-hearted admission of the
fact that Maceo had crossed the military
line. This, it is believed will alter the
whole situation and important events may
occur within a shCrt time. There Is no
doubt that tho insurgents have recently In
creased in number about the capital The
stray bands of twenty to thirty bandits
met by the Spanish troops have now swollen
TO the proportion of insurgent forces of
20 900 to 10000. 1t seems to be admitted
and believed that Maceo will strike before
Weyler can hurry back from Plnar del Rio.
Indeed, 1t is currently reported that the
captain general has been wounded in an
engagement with the insurgents before the
latter crossed the military line and that
he may not be able to return here except
as a prisoner of the Cubans. The author
ities naturally, are doing all in their power
TO minimize the crossing of the trocha by
Maceo and intimate that he u.s. as usual, ac
cording to the Spanish running away from
them. This does not alter the fact that he
has escaped the hunter and that the hunter
may find difficulty in getting home. The
friends of the insurgents here are overjoyed
at the new turn taken in the campaign and
are boasting that Maceo and Gomez will
soon be knocking at the gates Of Havana.
To this the Spanish officials simply say;
"Wait and see: the time is not yet" But
there is no denying that tho supporters OF
Spain here today are looking much crest
fallen and downcast Even a defeat at the
hands Of the insurgents, II is admitted,
would have been better than the humiliation
which the Spanish troops have suffered in
being so skillfully out-maneuvered by the
Insurgents.
General Fuigera yesterday left the plan
tatlon of Santa Amelia, this province, NOV
ing In the direction of Platano He met
the advance guard OF an insurgent force at
Rio Hendo. opened fire on 1t and later cap
tured the heights OF Morales Anil and Vol
cano where. however the troops met force
of 1000 insurgents awaiting them. The
latter promptly attacked the Spaniards. but
were repulsed by brilliant charge OF the
cavalry of the Spanish, The rout OF the
enemy was completed by charge OF the
Spanish. The insurgents were diSlodged
after thlrty-nine shells had been fired into
their position and siXty-nine men killed.
OF the Spaniards, Lieutenant Colonel Miguel
Aguio Currlon was killed and one lieutenant
and twenty-four privates were wounded.
Major Circujcdo being Informed that n
strong force OF insurgents was near Punta
Brava and hearing the sound of firing in that
direction moved his column toward Zugasti
and Hayo Colorado. where the enemy was
also reported in force. Passing range of
mountains the Spanish commander went In
the direction OF San Pedro and there found
body OF about 1000 insurgents occupying
strong position behind stone walls. Tho
troops dslodged the insurgents, but night
approaching the column returned to Puntl
Brava. The insurgents had forty men
killed and many horses killed. The troops
lost three men and had two lieutenants and
twenty-eight soldiers wounded.
Valencia, an important insurgent leader.
was killed yesterday in the engagement near
San Pedro.
CINCINNATI, Dec. S.-The Commercial
Trbune's special from Key West says: To-
nights news from Havana SAYS Patrols !
are In possession OF the streets and people |
are not allowed 10 assemble anywhere The |
outgoing ship tomorrow will carry 100 per, |
sons banshed 10 Africa. All outgoing YES |
sells are searched TO prevent the escape OF
suspects, All the main forts have been |
reinforced, II is whispered that mines have
been laid in all the main approaches to the |
city. The Havana papers have practically |
no news from the front, as the palace refuses |
TO give out information.
SALT LAKE, Dec. S.-A special to the |
Tribune from Butte, Mont, says club
OF Cuban sympathlzers is being organized J