The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-18
REBELS BEATING A RETREAT.
THEIR FAsTNEssEs IN PINAR DEL
RIO REPORTED DESERTED.

The stronghoIds Looked Upon as
ImpregnabIe-The Troops Burn
Their Huts and Capture "a Number
of Horses and CattIe-Spanish OIL
GERS Look Upon the Retreat as
Proof of Observation-Disclosures
tration of All the Cuban Forces in
santa Clara Province Expected.
Havana, Dec 1.-THE bulletin issued
nv the government to-day regarding en-
gagements of the troops are unimportant
correspondent at Guanajay reports
that the forces under Maj. Lacosta have
oaptured at Mosquito Beach Spanish de-
serter, who belonged to the Alfonso XIII
battalion. The prisoner says that he was
forced to join Maceos forces in Pinar del
Rio. He repeats the story that Maeeo did
not cross the trocha on land, but went
by sea around the northern end of it. Az
ter landing in the province of Havana,
Maceo met the forces of Lieut. Vasquez,
who was waiting at Mosquito Beach. be-
tween Mariel and Banes. The prisoner
complains that he was i'll treated by the
rebels His story is considered suspicious,
and he will be tried by court martial
The queen regent has sent a 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 Span
ish battalions have penetrated to the
interior of the hills there in places that
s,,,,, IL
els. The insurgents had disappeared, so
the troops burned the huts that had been
occupied by Them A number of horses
and cattle were captured.
The officers commanding in Pinar del
Rio, have no idea of the present locality
of the rebels in that province. Scouting
parties have failed to learn their where
abouts, but the military profess to believe
that their abandonment of almost unas-
sailable positions is proof Of the disorgani-
zation that has followed the death of
Maceo
Indications point to rebel parties having
entered the province of Matanzas. Their
trails show the direction in which they
have gone, and a Spanish column is fol-
lowing in their track. 1t is believed that
a concentration is intended in Santa Clara
province of rebels from the east and west.
The government says it is watching the
movement and so far as can be gathered
from outside sources, it is doing little be-
sides watching to prevent the rebels from
carrying out their plan.
A coIored woman named Francisco Her
rera has been tried by court martial here
on a 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 t-been- made public
The B1aro de la Marina, continues to pub
hsh protests against the stories printed in
the United States regarding the manner
in which Maceo met his death. 1t main
tans that the rebel leader was shot in
open battle. In a leader to-day it says,
with an unconscious reflection on the Span
ish character, that the stories of assassina-
ton reflect more to the discredit of Ma
Geo, in accepting the alleged invitation to
parley than to diminishing the fame, hon
or and chivalry of the Spaniards.
In this sentence the Diaro de la Marina
shows unintentionally that, in its opinion
Maceo did not, in trusting TO a Spanish
flag of truce, show the intelligence expect
ed 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 government is responsible
for not employing the press the same as
the insurgents, adding that if it did so it
would find the newspapers a powerful me-
dium for the defense of the Spanish cause
Key West, Fla, Dec. T.-Passengers by
the Olivette last night report that great
uneasiness is felt in Havana on account
OF the uncertainty of Maceo's death. 1t
Is reported on good authority that Gen.
irats commander of Matanzas province,
mas notified Capt. Gen. Weyler by tele-
gram to cease all demonstrations on ac-
count Of the death Of Maceo, and that Gen.
Bernal of said province had an engage
ment Tuesday week with Maceo, who had
QUO men with him. The Spaniards report
victory, as usual.
Passengers state that the report of Ma
ceos death is well understood in Havana
ana that it was made up by order Of the
nome government to influence the con-
sress of the United States. There was
the widest kind of excitement on the
1ock last night when the facts became
Ahown. The cheers for Cuba libre shook
lhe dock. 1t is also said that there are
private letters in the city confirming the
ABOVE, but it is impossible to get at them
tonight
Ihe cruiser Raleigh returned yesterday
afternoon from her chase after the Three
friends. 1t is reported that she did not
zee anything of her 1t is reported on
sood authority that a small boat landed
II