The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-25


er-in-chief Of the insurgent forces One
story has asserted that he was suffer-
ing from wounds and that he was Sc
riously i'll with fever. 1t appears from
information derived from trustworthy
sources that neither of these reports is
correct. but it is positively asserted
that the insurgent chief is a very SICK
man. 1t is stated upon the authority
cited that the doctors in attendance
uron General Gomez recently held a
consultation and diagnosed his case as
being an advanced stage of consump-
ton, complicated with fever 1t is fur
cher stated that the physicians have
come to the conclusion that Gomez can
only live about two months longer.
These statements have caused
CONSIDERABLY ALARM
among the insurgents and their friends
as, even though his condition may be
exaggerated to some degree, it is be-
lieved the main facts are correctly
stated
Besides. according TO the reports
from the front. he is being sharply
pushed by the Spanish troops and IS
getting little or no rest now, day or
night. The effect is that his move
lrents can now be marked b. a ira
OF tired-c ut OF lame horses which he
in5acsents leave behind them. The
opinion is expressed here that The in
surg nts are in desperate straits ana
hat Tor Gomez now everything de-
ponds upon the safe arrival in the DO
vince Of Havana of the eastern or SCI.
md army Of the insurgents, under
Generals Toca Narpp and Tla11f
Gomez yesterday for a time appeared
hale inclined to risk a decisive en-
Bagement with the Spanish troops. He
was bivOuaclSed al the village Of Pla-
sole. not far from Quinvican, south Of
this city. Colonel Galvis. in command
Of the Spanish troops at Quinvican.
gathered together all the government
troops available and moved with a
strong column upon the enemy The
latter, contrary to custom, awaited the
approach Of the Spaniards. but after
.half al hours firing, during which a
number were killed and wounded on
both sides. Gomez suddenly
DIVIDED HIS FORCES
into two columns and commenced to
retreat. One Of the insurgent columns
retreated southwark to the Lagia Dis
trict and the other toward BatabarO.
Comes forces and had d skirmish
with the enemy's rear guard. When
last heard from the Linares column
was closely pressing after the enemy.
and Colonel Calls, having been rein
forced by troops under Colonel Aldecoa,
three columns were started in pursuit
of GomeZ's forces. News received from
the front at an early hour this morn
ing showed that Gomez apparently re-
1nnff66 his f0wacc scf frrIk lr,4 IL
camp this morning when informed of
the approach Of the Spanish troops.
The
FORCED NIGHT MARCH
however, had told terribly on the Span
ish infantry. and the mounted insllr-
gents Of Gomez had no difheuItffiy in
getting away The Spaniards had also
effected a junction with Colonels Lin
arez and AIdecoa's forces so soon as
The scouts brought word that the two
jnsurgent columns had wheeled toward
each other Later the third Spanish
column, under Colonel Galvis. Joined
them, and this strong force started in
pursuit CT the insurgents, moving in a
sOutherly direction soon after break
fast this morning. A prisoner. severe
" wounded, who was captured by the
troops, reported that the horses and
men of the insurgents are becoming eX-
haUsted from long marching and that
the insurgents are also short OF ammu-
milton and provisions.
A dispatch received from Cienfuegos
says that Major Alonzo, with $50 men
OF the Alava battalion, has been en-
gagged for three hours at Lasjas. in the
CienfuegOs district, with a strong force
of insurgents and that the insurgents
left twelve killed and fifteen wounded
on the field and retired, taking with
them many other wounded men. Only
a few Spanish soldiers were wounded.
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
The authorities now have to face a
serious problem here. The prices of all
kinds Of provisions are going up rap
idly every day In spite of this people
are fOcking into Havana from the
country districts and other provinces.
and in many cases the refugees are
people who have lost everything they
possessed and a very great number of
Them here and elsewhere are depending
upon charity. The cost of the war has
been enormous and the drain created
10y provisioning the army has been
very great Consequently this extra
expense which The authorities win have
10 meet in some manner or other is
causing them a great deal of anxiety.
However, there is large and ever in
crea sing exodus of planters and others
from this city, hundreds leaving bv
every ship bound for the United States.
Jamaica, Hayti or South American
ports.
CRIME INCREASES.
The increase of crime in all the pro-
Vsaces is said to be enormous.
Business is almost at a standstill and
commerce IS practically a thing of tbe
past. The work Of Strengthening and
increasing the defenses of Havana con-
tinues without interruption. A nun
Der Of additional small forts have been
built at Havana and the authorities
claim there is absolutely no danger
Of sudden attack by the insurgents
much less OF a successfur siege Of Ha-
vana.
In spite of this assurance bs,,vA,,.r
a feeling OF gloom and depression nra'
walls here There is no longer any
talk Of settling the insurgents bv a
crushing blow, and although the ad-
vent of General Weyler is locked For
ward to as likely to be the signal for
more active operations against the in
surgents, the feeling grows that the
struggle is a most exhausting1 one for
ali concerned, and that much more
blood and treasure must be extended
by Spain If ne instruction is 10 he
quelled by force of arms. Under these
circumstances 1T is not astonishing
that a feeling in favor of some COM
promise arrangement is steadily grow
ing and all eyes are turning toward
the United States as likely to be the
gceat factor in bringing peace and
prosperity once more to unhappy Cpba-
The military authorities are draw
ing all the troops possible from the
eastern part Of Cuba, as that part of
80 island sa@neoia1lv 4la r,y,,,rysr,,,e -