The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-11
THE COMING or WEYLER
He Has an Excellent Opportunity Of Asher.
Ing Undylhg Fame In Spanish History.
A MORE DIFFICULT TASK THAN EVER.

Ihe whole OF Cuba Involved in In.
surreciion-Secd Not Fight in the
Dark ns Canipos Rainy Season
May Prove IL rsandicnp-StrcnE
eniiiK Cubn's Coast Nefcnces
Havana. Feb s, via Tampa. Fla,
Feb 1O.-General Weyler has an op-
portunity to achieve wide fame. He
succeeds Spain's greatest general and
mas more difficult task than the latter
raced when he arrived from Spain
last April. The insurrection has spread
until the whole of Cuba is involved,
ana instead of a disorganized army oper-
attng in the mountains. he has a fairly
well organized force doing service in the
open against the soldiers from Spain
He has many capable generals to carry
out his orders, and an army of regulars
ana volunteers numbering 200 600 men
Forty-siX men-of-war and gunboats pa
troll the coast and guard the harbors
Small f5rts and block houses have been
Duilt at all important towns on lines OF
railroad and barricades have been erec-
ted at hundreds of other places a
tfocha or strong line has been establish
ed across the Island from Havana
10 Batabano. Railroad cars for the
movement of troops have been aT1nor
clad. and the Spanish army now has
methods OF moving bodies Of men. con-
centrating strong forces, and pushing
the war against the enemy which were
lacking in the beginning 1t required
time to make these preparations and
without them work could not be car
ried on against The rebels Now that
the strength of the enemy and his etu-
siIe ways are appreciated by the Span
iSh and his general plan Of opera lions
understood General Weyler need not
nght IN the dark as Campos did for a
Time but may be expected to dispose
ms superior forces in way that will
crush the enemy and put an end to the
army IF liberation. These are the Dossl-
bilitieS.
The short time that rema ins before the
rainy season sets in may prove n handi-
cap, as TO the mysterious way In which
the enemy grows stronger after every
oeieat makes the task Of putting down
uiiiirult. However all loyal Spuniards
look to General Weyler for great things
ana predict their accomplishment.
Americans and others here who desire
peace hope that Weyler will follow the
methods of modern warfare treat pris-
oners properly, prevent wholesale ar
rests OF suspected citizens and give the
enemy chance to care for his wounded
They hope to see the war fought in tho
neid ana not in towns whose citizens have
not risen and hope that Spain will fight
armed men only. and that those who
sympathize with their race. but remain
quiet, Will not be declared traitors and
spies.
Spain is fortifying Havana for any
emergency that may arise. Recently
four coast defense guns OF about sixty
tons each arrived from Spain. They
are now being moved along temporary
tracks to the Santa Clara battery, the
most modern of Havana's fortifications.
This battery is built on Il rocky hill. be-
tween the city and the sea. II Is but one
mile west of Morro Castle. 1t commands
the approach of vessels from the North
and West, while n battery beyond MORO
does similar service toward the east.
Neither of these batteries commands the
land approach or can even point gun
toward the city Itself OF all of Ha-
vana's forts these are the only ones con-
tanning modern guns. The manner in
which they are being strengthened
shows that Spain is preparing for others
than the Insurgents.
When the news of the action of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
United States reached here one Of the
most prominent political leaders here
said to me:
"We are preparing for any emergency.
Tell that 10 the people of the United
States. Go down to La Machina yonr-
self and tell them what guns we arc
unloading and placing In our forts"
This gentleman meant no threat He
believed that the surest way 10 pre-
vent foreign war is to make a show OF
strength. a glance at some of the big
guns around Havana is dsappointine,
If one looks for strength Most of the
guns are half century old some are
still more ancient. For decorative pur-
poses they are equal to those on Castle
William, and some at Forts Wadswurth
and Hamilton, n. 2, harbor. For SER
vice they are pretty worthless. The few
modern guns here w,uld be effective
IT well manned. AS to what the Span
ish gunners would do with them, | can
make no guess. The Chinese had good
guns On their ships and in their forts
but Japan showed that there is more in
men behind guns than In the guns them
selves.
(Signed) J. +. CLARK