The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-04
Patriot Scouts Only Twenty
three Miles From Havana.
GOMEZ BURNING CANEFIElDS.
Quiutin Bandera'S Cavalry Threat
ems Dash Upon Havana.
To Cover Gomez Marsh Into Pinar del
Rio. West of HavaIta-AIartial Law
Declared in Two Provinces swift
Movements of the Army OF Liberty.

Havana Jan s-The authorities confess
the grave condition of affairs by proclaim-
Ing martial law for the provinces Of Hava-
ra and Plnar del Rio. Maxine Gomez has
declared h.s purpose to penetrate into
the province of Pfnar del RIO Although
h's forces have not reached the borders
Of that province. the 8ctian OF the authori-
ties Is understood Ia indicate that they
have no hope Of preventing him from car
rying ont his threat.
Latest advices Indicate that the insur-
gents are making a swift advance direct
II upon Havana. The advance guard OF
their cavalry. under Gen. Ia Crete. was
at latest reports at Ia Paste. which is
only eighteen miles from Guanahana. the
latter being hut a suburb Of Havana 1--WE
miles from The city. where a bathing
beach frequeRtci by the citizens of Hava-
ns IS located.
Gen. Ia Crete, with his cavalry. seems
70 be bat a scouting party IN advance OF
the tnsurgent wing commanded hy Quin-
tin Bandera. Word received from la Cat
alma. town between Guines and Baiuoa,
and about twelve miles from la Paste re-
ports that there are Indications OF a rapid
advance movement In considerable force
on the part of the insurgent wing under
Bandera.
Nothing definite is known as to tho
strength OF Baudera's column. but the
news of the near approach Of the insur-
gents has caused the utmost anxiety
among the authorities, and every pre-
paration IS being hastily made to have the
cty's defenses In readiness 20 repel An at
tack or prevent damage being done withir
the city.
SO far as IS known. Gomez Is st'u operat-
Ing in the region about Guines with large
force Of insurgents. and nothing has been
learned Of the movements Of that wing OF
the insurgent army that Indicates an im-
mediate movement to operate with Ban
dera in a direct attack upon Havana. IL
is believed Bandera Is simply planning n
dashiRg cavalry demonstration against
Havana, 20 divert attention from Gomez
and the southern wing. while that general
completes the work ot destruction in the
cauenelds OF Havana province or makes
a dash into Pinar del Rio.
Nevertheless the unparalleled boldness
and intrepbdity Of the movements OF the
insurgents has created something like a
panic here. and the conviction is universal
that unless ample force Is displayed To
show the insurgents that they would court
destruction ny an attack upon Havana.
there IS danger that they VIII make de-
s,ructive dash into Havana itself
1t is believed also that a large band ot
the insurgents Is still trying TO force its
way 10 Havana by way Of the mountains
about III Guanamon, which IS on the bor-
der in the southern part OF the province
OF Havana, going thence south OF san
Nlceles. A small force OF insurgents. ac-
cording 10 official reports, has already ap@
peared in the district OF San Niceies. which
adioins Guines on the east
Chicago, Jan. 3.-The effect or incen-
diatism in the sugar cane fields Of Cuba
by the insurgents has reached this mar
ket with greater force than that noted
last week. and sugar Is on the upturn.
The net advance this week has been Ac.
the wholesale price Of granulated being
5l.c. Conservative dealers are predicting
a further advance OF fully &c, and 9TH
ers look for an upturn or cent The
latest news on the street Is that the
Cuban crop is rapidly passing out or
sight i'm smoke. The insurgents. accord
ing to reports. seem determined TO de-
stroy the entire crop. The best intorma-
ton from the central producing localities
state there is remaining only - per cent.
or a crop. Early in the crop year the
Weld was estimated AZ 1.fO9.W0 tons.
Later estimates reduced Il TO 10000 tons.
afterWard 10 50H00 tons. and the latest
dispatches 10 wholesale grocers make the
Cuban crop only 900 600 tons. In View OF
the fact that the European beat sugar
outlook is poor. on all sides there IL pre-
paration Tor higher sugar prices It Is
a time OF the year when retailers stocks
have run low. and they are rushing into
the market with orders. jobte4rS are buy
ing everything they can lay their hands
on Refinedes have been compelled TO
shut off large speculative orders, and can
scarcely keep pace with what appears 20
be legitimate consumptive demand. The
London market is active aud advancing.
and the raw product the world over Is
ina big demand. The Louisiana planters
are holding back supplies. expecting high
er prices.
Madrid. Jan. At Is announced here
that the Danish government has express
.d the opinion that the steamer Horsa.
fixing the Danish hag. which conveyed
a nllh,steriug expedition to Cuba ~ No
verober last from Philadelphia. o8gat TO
have. been regarded as - pirate. IN spite
az the contrary decision OF the United
States authorities