Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
NEW LINE IN CUBA
Drawn Across the Island Through
Pinar del Rio.
SPANISH ACQUIRING CAVALRY
It Has Had a Depressing Effect on
the Insurgents.
BEING KEPT ON THE MOVE

Copyright, 1896, by the Associated Press.)
HAVANA, February 1.,-Considerable
anxiety is felt here regarding the result of
the military operations now being con-
Quoted against Generals Maximo Gomez
and Antonio Maceo, under the personal di-
rection of Cen Marin, the acting captain
general of Cuba 1t is believed that Marin
has the ambition to strike a death blow to
the insurrection before the arrival from
Spain of Gen. Weyler, the successor of
Marshal Martinez de Campos as captain
general of Cuba, and it is understood he
has taken every step possible under the
circumstances to accomplish this end.
But ambition is not the only spur to Gen.
Marins activity. 1t is coming to be adj
Initted even in Cuban circles that the in
surrection has reached a point where col
lapse is possible, if not probable, from sew
eral causes, notably lack of ammunition
and arms and the want of fresh horses and
supplies.
The steps taken by the Spanish authori-
ties in gathering in all the horses and cat
tie possible have had the effect of weaken
ing the insurgents considerably. Their
horses rule are almost worn out, and
being kept almost continually on the march
for months past, they are not allowed to
recuperate.
The tactics of the Spaniards seem to be
to keep the insurgents constantly moving
from place to place, night and day, and so
gradually wear them out. There is little
doubt that the insurgents are feeling the
effect of these tactics, for their trails are
marked by numbers of lame, emaciated
horses, and their number is increasing as
time wears on.
Hitherto the great drawback under
which the Spaniards have labored has been
lack of cavalry with which to pursue the
quickly moving mounted infantry of the
Insurgents. This defect is being gradually
Icmeded. and Gen. Marin has now with
kim in the province of Pinar del Rio a force
OF cavalry almost equal in numbers it is
said, 10 the cavalrymen of Maceo who is
still understood to be in the vicinity of
Pinar del Rio, awaiting Gomez, who, ac
cordins to all reports. has been for some
time past doing everything possible to eff
feet a junction of his forces with those of
MaceO. But there is no denying that the
Spanish commanders have up to the pres
cnt succeeded in keeping the two insurgent
armies apart.
New Military Line.
With this object in view a new military
line has just been drawn, north and south,
from Mlriel, on the northern coast of
Pinar del Rio, through Guanajay and Arte-
n.isa, to the southern coast, near Mangas
and upon the maintenance of this new line
a great deal is said to depend.
Fight With GOmez's Forces.
A dispatch from the front this morning
announced that Brigadier General Canello
who is command of the new military line
across Pinar del Rio, was engaged yester-
day with q portion of the forces command
ed by Gomez. The fight took place between
Mirosa and San Augustin, and is reported
TO have resulted in a repulse of the in
sUrgents.
Later, yesterday, Brig. Gen. Canello
ps ssed through Artemisa, Strengthening the
garrison there, sent detachment of troops
TO M@ngas and then pushed en- for Guam
aJay leaving Col Segura at Artemisa in
command OF the southern hall OF the mil
it2ry line. Between ArteTnisa and GUIANA
jay Canello left detachH,ents of troops with
supplies, ETC., and every precaution has
been taSen to keep the li:ie of de.achments
IN communication with each other by
means of cevalrymen and scouts. AS the
island is only about twenty miles wide be-
tween Mariel, on the north, and Mangas. on
the south, it would seem that there should
not be much difficulty in maintaining the
military line intact.
While Canello maintains the military line
Gen Marin, it is reported, will push on
westward in an attempt to engage Maceo
the latter, yesterday, was in the vicinity
OF NlnaleS, about twelve miles north of the
city of Pinar del Rio. The insurgent COM
mander had just then reached that place
from the extreme western coast of the
island, where, according to rumor he went
In order to protect the landing of expected
hlibuEtering parties with muc ch-needed sup
pies OF arms and ammunition. The Span
autilOiilleS, however, We're aware of this
movement and its object, and that portion
OF the coast has consequently been closely
patrolled by cruisers and gunboats with
the result, 1t is claimed, that there is little
likelihood that the supplies will reach
Maceo before he is confronted by the forces
Of Gen. Marin.
Cuban Families Emigrntin-
TAMPA, Fla, February IA prominent
Natanzas lawyer writes to friends here
that most of the important Cuban families
are leaving the island for Mexico South
and North America
The United railway at Havana has dis
charged $50 employees
When Gomez passed through San Jose
Las Lajas he left six sick men there
one Spanish column passed leaving them
ufmoleste1, but another column came along
ana Killed the SIX, chasing one of them into
the street before killing him. Ouinton
handeras, learning this. instructed the
Wemen and children to leave the town. and
then burned it, -
Maceo, tho letter says, captured 2 aO1
carts With provisions, arms and arnmuni-
tion near Phar del Rio.
Cubans here held an immense coincidence
meeting last night over the loss of the
steamer Hawkins. The meeting was called
!or the purpose OF collecting funds forRthe
1uata TO purchase another steamer