Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-01-01
CAMPOS IN J. BOX.
The Spanish General Evidently Out
Unanswered by the
CubanS.

Havana, Dee. 27.-The excitement
which has prevailed here since the in
surgent army under Gomez and Maceo
entered the province of Matanzas con-
tinues today and is heightened by the
eagernesS of the news from the front.
The Spanish authorities insist that the
insurgents are in retreat, but Gen. Mar
tinez de Campos is here and the work of
terrifying Havana and it's vicinity con-
tinues without an hours interruption in
any direction.
According to the official advices Maceo
is at the plantation of Ohlnpo near the
town Of CimarrOnes, q little way north
Of Jovellanos, the town from which
Campos retreated from Limonare. CHM
arrones is about 45 kilometers from the
City of Matanzas, capital of the province
of that name.
Quintin Bandera is said to be with
his column at Dumidero, about twenty
kilometers from Mantanzas and only
little way from Limonare, where, ac-
cording to the official announcements,
Campos defeated the insurgents at Co.
liseo But Sumidero is nearer to Man
tanzas than Coliseo, which would not
seem to confirm the story that Bandera's
column was defeated.
Maxine Gomez still. according to the
official advices, is at the farm of Cieryo,
in the district of Jaguey Grande and in
the direction of the grand cienaga
occidental de Zapata, an immense
stretch of swamp land into which
he could retreat to the south
ward if necessary and possibly avoid
pursuit on the part of Spanish troops.
1t will thus be seen that the three Gu
ban columns are accounted for, one to the
north at Sumidero, under Bandera; one
in the center at Cimarrones, under Ma
Geo, and one to the south near Jaguey
Grande, under Gomez, all in the province
of Matanzas and all to the westward Of
Colon.
The exact position of the Spanish col
umns being concentrated to meet the
insurgents Ito pursue them, according to
the Spanish officials) is not known; but
the last reports received had it that the
Spaniards were concentrating at Union
de Reyes. But Smmidero where the
Bandera column is located, is we'll to the
northWard and only a little eastward of
Union de Reyes, and Bandera would thus
have no difficulty III pressing onward to-
wards Havana northward of Union de
Reyes and south of the city of MatanZaS.
Bandera would also be able to attack
in the rear the troops sent to engage Ma
Geo at CimarrOneS, or he might join
forces with Maceo and the two inSurgent
columns might join together and move
upon any force sent to attack Gomez in
the Jaquey Grande district.
Consequently it is difficult to see how
the Spanish commander figures out his
statement that the Spanish troops Oc-
cupy the most advantageous positions
in the province of Matanzas. To the
observer of the movements of the oD-
posing forces it would appear that Co
mez, to the south. Maceo in the center
and Bandera 20 the north and furthest
west really form half circle around the
Spanish forces and completely command
that portion of the island. Then again,
admitting that Union de Reyes is the
Spanish headquarters for the operations
against the insurgents in the Province
of Matanzas. it would appear that the
SpaniardS cannot move in q body upon
either of the Cuban columns without be-
ing attacked in the rear and upon both
TANKS by the CubanS. The only opera
tions possible to them, supposing Union
de Reyes to be their rallying point, is
to divide into three columns to move
simultaneously upon the Cuban columns.
Therefore it will be noticed that the
tactics followed by Gomez throughout
the campaign successfully prevail even
at the present moment He has hitherto
been able to avoid a pitched battle with
the Spanish troops, and wnAAe leading
them to concentrate at various points
he has managed to slip by the Spanish
forces although the Spaniards have over
half dozen times believed that they
had his whole force before them and
that they would be able to deliver a
crushing blow. 1t is therefore reasonable
to believe that if Bandera pushes on
westward from Sumidero, he will turn
the left flank of the Spaniards at Union
de Reyes and that the latter must send
a column in pursuit thus weakening
their main body. Then again supposing
that Maceo moves forward from Cimar-
roncs on the same line as Bandera, the
Spanish commander at Union de Reyes
must send another column to meet him.
This would leave but ore-third of the
Spanish forces at Union de Reyes and
Gomez from Jaguey Grande would not
have much difficulty, judging from his
previous successes, in pushing westward,
southwark and a little to the rear of the
two other Cuban columns.
1t is announced that the insurgents
have burned the canefelds of the planta-
tions of Dolores Maria, Santa Maria,
San Joaquin Socorro, Santa Filomena,
Santa Catalina, Indistria and Infante at
La Guina, and Macurijes, also known as
Corral False, half way between Union
de Reyes and Jaguey Grande 1t is
said that this destruction of property
was caused while the insurgents were
retreating upon Jaguey Grande. But
Sumidero, where the Bandera column of
insurgents is said to be located, is away
to the northward and westward, nearer
to Havana, than these burned planta-
tons.
The insurgents have also burned
the village of Pedroso, and in
the district of Guantanamo they
have destroyed the canefelds of
the plantations of Soledad las Carras,
Santa Cecilia, Romelia, Santa Isabella Of
the colonies, San Antonio, San Carlos,
Esperanza, Santa Rosa, Conluente, San
Miguel Santa Maria, San IIdefonso,
Santa Fe, San Luis, San Sebastian, San
ia Ana del BatiIlo, in all over 1900
acres.
At Matanzas every precaution has
been made to resist an attack upon the
part of the insurgents and as this is an
official announcement it would seem to
confirm the impression which prevails
among the friends of the Cubans that the
report that Gomez, Maceo and Bandera
are in retreat is not quite correct. Three
hox +oI hnf no