Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-08
EXCITEMENT IN CUBA.
Reports That the Blockade Runner Ber
muda Has Landed Her Men.

Havana. May There is tremen-
dous excitement throughout Cuba over
the rumor that the Bermuda has landed
her men and arms on the north coast
somewhere east of Cardenas. 1t Is
said that while the cruiser Reina Mer-
cedes waited for an insurgent expedi-
ton at Hole in the Wall, between Mas
sau and Abaco, the Bermuda took the
outside course and escaped. She was
pursued by Spanish man-of-war, but
was too fast to be caught
Gen. Weyler insists that the rebel
works at Carcarajicara must be taken
at any cost and fresh troops have been
sent to Honda Bay. The captain gen
eral is beginning to appreciate the fact
that his vaunted trocha is bringing MS
military reputation into ridicule Gen.
Maceo ignores it, and refuses to attack
il for the simple reason that he desirei
to remain in Pinar del Rio and control
the province.
The military situation in the island
is this: Maceo commands in the west,
Garcia in the East and Gomez in the
middle, the authority over all. Gomez
is in a position to go to the support OF
either his Eastern or Western gener-
ais. or have them come to him.
The United States government insists
that the Americans captured on tho
Competitor expedition shall be tried
according to the treaty and protocol,
which provides that American citizens
if taken even with arms in hand and
subject TO military court, are entitled
to be defended by counsel and have
fair trial. The general of marine ar
rived in Havana to-day and the trial
of the prisoners will be begun imme-
diately unless the United States can Sc
cure delay. They have had no chance
TO see lawyers or to prepare defense.
Consel General Williams has acted with
great vigor.
An order was issued by General Co
mez to Col. Jose Agniore, which reads:
you will proceed Immediately TO de-
stroy all towns and villages within your
Jurisdiction. Leave nothing undestroy-
ed. Do not fail TO commence executing
this order instantly upon receipt of
this authority"
The order was received in camp at
Los Palos on April 20, and Col Aguirre
at once gave notice to the people of the
towns in his jurisdiction that the order
would be carried out to the letter.
Guanabaco is not yet destroyed Ag-
uirre being too busy in other directions,
but its turn is expected any day. 1t
means that Gomez wants clear patch
across the province of Havana for his
westward march. If there is no town
or village TO guard there will be no SOL
ders to oppose his progress. His men
will have rest from fighting, and will
be reinforced by troops of insurgents
who are now roaming aimlessly over
the province. Gomez wants a large
force under his active command He
now has in the neighborhood of $4,000
picked men, and will pick up 1900
more before he reaches his objective
point What Gomez proposes to do
daily becomes a greater mystery. Some
think he is going to the relief of Ma
Geo. Others think that Maceo is draw
ing the Spanish troops into the trocha
in order to give Gomez an opportunity
to attack the city of Havana.
Nearly every available Spanish coll
umn is now at the trocha, and Havana
city could almost be destroyed by the
soldiers. Never was there a better op-
portunity for the insurgents to strike
at the capital of Cuba. If Gomez should
appear in the outskirts of Havana, the
city would be an easy prey. If his OBJ
ject is to attack Havana, that would be
the master stroke of the war, and if
the city fell into his hands it would
probably sound the death knell of Span
ish rule in this island. Two-thirds of
the population of Havana hope that is
the mmander-in-chief's intention.
Thousands of young men in the city
would rise up in arms against the Span
ish at the first sound of the insurgents
guns in the outskirts of Havana.