The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-24
WEYLER'S ARMY IN A BAD WAY
THE HEAT INTENSE AND THE
RAINY SEASON NEAR AT HAND.

Laval Spaniards Losing Hope of the
captain Generals Success-They
admit That He is Not Gaining
Ground, and See Nothing Ahead
Rnt Dfsaster-MaceO said TO Have
n strong and Wen Armed Force
and Plenty OF Provisions.
Havana. April %. via Tampa, Fla. April
/ q-There is no truth in the report that
reforms are about to be put into effect
in cuba Your correspondent is in po-
sition to state that several cablegrams
an the subject have recently passed be-
tween the Madrid officials and Gen. Wey-
ler. The captain general was asked if IL
would be possible Immediately after the
assembling of the new cortes next month
4 "a implant in Cuba the reforms which
were passed early in 1895.
Gen. Weyler replied that the island must
first be pacified. That settled the matter,
for while Gen. Weyler remains captain
general his wishes will be paramount.
Here in Havana loyal Spaniards who
take the pains to obtain other informa-
ton than such as is given out by the
government as "official news" and pub
llshed by the censorized local papers aG-
NIT freely that they see nothing ahead
but disaster. They have lost hope of Gen.
Weyler's being able to crush the insur-
Tection with the forces at his command.
They know that he is not gaining ground;
that the heat in the interior is now inter-
ferng with active operations and that
the rains Will be here in few weeks.
Many Spaniards who own sugar estates
or other property which is being ruined
are wavering in their patriotism now that
hair nf fnlnha1 hHxT Tarsa-
serve a semblance of loyalty to Spain in
public, but in private they hope some
thing will happen to stop the wrecking OF
their fortunes.
The situation from a military stand
point is unchanged. Gen. Weyler'S troops
hold the trocha and Antonio Maceo is en-
camped a few miles west of it, apparent
ly in no hurry to cross. The stories of
his being in a bad way for food and clothes
for his men, and the reports that he is
ready to surrender or fly from the island
In a boat, are ahsurditieS. l am informed
by Spanish officers who have taken part
in recent operations against Maceo that he
has a strong force of well armed men
with him, and that the insurgents have
large quantities of provisions stored in
Narcisso Lopez the rebel leader who was
killed in recent engagement near Santa
Clara, was an American citizen. Complete
details OF the engagement are Withheld by
the government and this fact leads to the
belief that the Spanish troops were de-
feated.
DR.. Pinar and his wife were arrested a
few days ago at Santa Fe, province of
Del Rio. They were brought to this city
and thrown into the dungeons of Moro
castle. The charge against them Is that
they aided and abetted the rebels by at
tending to sick and wounded insurgents.
DR.. Pinar as physician and his wife as
Capt. Gen. Weyler tonight issued pro-
clamation which he expects win result in
many of OF the rebels laying down their
arms. The proclamation says in substance
that the insurgents in the province of Pi-
mar del Rio have been demoralized by the
obstacles which prevent their passing the
military line extending from Marel to
Majana. and by their constant persecution
by the troops. 1t being known that many
of the insurgents are desirous of surren-
derng but fear to do So, believing that
they will be shot, he therefore orders that
all the rebel leaders and their followers
who during the next twenty days shall
present themselves with their arms to the
military authorities in that pro-
vince wins; ., will be Pa9rdoned, s9 =, Pardon H
els and rebel sympathizers who sur
render without arms. The military au-
thorities, the proclamation adds, reserve
the right to decide where those who sur
render shall reside.
Rebels have captured Cruces, an impor-
tant town near Santa Clara. The Span
ish troops remained within the forts about
town, apparently afraid to venture forth
TO attempt to repulse the insurgents The
latter, after entering the place, set fire
10 the houses of several well-known sup
porters of the government. They also
looted a number of stores owned by Span
iards, securing supplies of provisions and
clothing. When the last advices were
received, the troops were still in possess
sion of the town.
Havana, April 23.-News has been re-
ceived here from Jaruco. in the province
of Havana, that the Guadalajara bat
talon, while marching to San Miguel,
met a party of 600 rebels, commanded by
Aguirre and Morejon. A fierce fight en-
sued, resulting in the rebels being so
thoroughly beaten that they fed demor-
allied from the field. The rebel loss was
upward of thirty and it is said to have
been sixty. OF these four were killed The
Spanish troops lost one officer and three
soldiers wounded. The above story is Of
fetal
News of the same events from other
sources indicate that the affair was SINH
lar to others in which 'pacificos' or
peaceful citizens have been killed by Span
ism troops. Fourteen of the dead are said
70 have been employees on estates and
not insurgents.
On the Spanish side nine were killed
and only three wounded while the Cuban
Qead exceeded thirty. Jaruco is only fir-
teen miles from Havana, on the Matan-
zas railroad. 1t was only a few miles
from Jaruco that DR.. Delgado, an Ameri-
can citizen, was shot down and left for
aead, and seven of his farm hands mas
sacred.
Col. Escuderos, while accommodating IN
Vhe Aapata swamps, destroyed four rebeI
lamps and had several engagements with
Ieoel bands under the Soiriois and San
AOrla, killing four Insurgents.