The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-13
A VERY LOUD NOISE
Scared Havana Into n Belief That the
"RebeIs'' Were Coming.

"RebeIs' Were Coming.
HAVANA, Jan. 13--Quite a commotion
was caused in certain circles here last
night by the report that the insurgents
were approaching Havana. The news
spread with great rapidity and there
was considerable relief among the
Spanish authorities when it was
discovered that the alarming report grew
out of the explosion of an immense tor
pedo in the village of Vedado near this
city.
There was very little news from the
front this morning and it was all of an
unimportant character.
Dispatches from Santiago do Cuba tell
of a skirmish there in which the insur-
gents left seven killed and that the
troops captured nine prisoners.
From Matanzas there was dispatch
announcing another skirmish be-
tween the insurgents and the
Spanish troops during which the
former had eight killed in additian to
their leader, Rogue Rodrigues. The in
surgents are also said to have retired
carrying with them thirty-two wounded.
New YORK, Jan. ia dispatch to
the World from Havana, Cuba, says:
General Maxine Gomez sends the
following to the World: My purpose
in entering the three western provinces
was to place them in active rebellion
against the Spanish authority and to
prevent the making of sugar during the
present year. In both objects / have
been successful
81 moved my army from Camaguey
with the assistance of my able Iieuten-
ants, and my progress to Pinar Del Rio
has virtually been uninterrupted. l
moved over atanzas and when the
greater portion of the cane was destroyed
l carried on the same work in portions
of Havana. The destruction OF cane in
Pinar Del Rio ended the principal object
of nv prearranged plans.
Everywhere the people have well
coined our army. l could enlist as many
men as l had arms for. Large numbers
of men have followed my column, sever
al thousand at one time, and would have
gladly carried arms could 1 have pro-
.vided them.
1T is not my policy to have a general
engagement with the Spanish troops.
1 cannot afford to risk the loss of arms
and ammunition that a battle might
cause.
Neither will I attempt to occupy and
hold town. in that case
the Spaniards would environ it
with superior force. l avoid
towns generally on the marches. The
destruction of Gabriel and Guira were
warnings to all committees not to resist
my progress. My people were tired on
at both places and they retaliated by
coDfiagration.
II destroyed portions of the western
railway in order to prevent the Spaniards
from transporting troops.
II cannot reveal my future plans, but
l will, state that all my movements. are
pre- arranged, with some few exceptions,
and l expect to carry them out success
fully. The war is being conducted on a
much broader scale than the ten years
revolution.
"Martinez Campos, who is an honorable
man and one to be respected personally,
iuaugurated the policy which prevails,
and l am glad to join him in it as long
as it continues. 1 believe in meeting the
enemy in an open way.
Il am disappointed because the gov
ernment of the United States has not
recognized the belIigereecy of the Gu
bans, but am hopeful that this much
desired act will soon be attained.
81 cannot talk freely about my militia
~ operations at this time"
The foregoing statement was obtained
from General Gomez by representative
of the World at point near Sonno sta
tiOn on the Westere railway