The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-02

HAVANA, Feb. 1.-Considerable anx-
iety is felt here regarding the result of
the military operations now being con-
Quoted against Maxine Gomez and
Antonio Maceo under the personal di-
rection of General Marin, the acting
captain general of Cuba.
1t is believed that Marin has been
aiming to strike death blow before
the arrival of General Weyler, the
successor of Martinez de Campos, as
captain general of Cuba, and it is IN
derstood he has taken steps to accom-
plish this end. But ambition is not
the only spur to General Marin's activ-
ity. 1t is admitted, even in Cuban cir
cles, that the insurrection has reached
A PRECARIOUS STAGE
from several causes, notably lacks Of
ammunition and arms, and the want
of fresh horses and supplies. The steps
taken by the Spanish in gathering in
all the horses and cattle possible have
had the effect of weakening the insur-
gents considerably. Their horses, as a
rule, are almost worn out, and, being
kept almost continually on the march
for months past, they are not allowed
to recuperate. The Spaniards seem to
be aiming to keep the insurgents con-
stantly moving from place to place,
night and day, and to gradually wear
them out There is little doubt that
the insurgents are feeling the effects OF
This. for their trails are marked by
numbers of lame horses, and their
number is increasing as time wears on.
Hitherto
THE GREAT DRAWBACK
under which the Spaniards have
laEored has been the lack OF cavalry
with which to pursue the quick nov
ing mounted infantry of the insurgents.
This is being gradually overcome
There is no denying that the Spanish
commanders have, up 10 the present,
succeeded in keeping the insurgenr
armies apart. With this object III
view new military line has just been
drawn, north and south, from MarIet,
on the northern coast of Pinar del Rio
through Guanajay and Artemius, to
the southern coast, near Mangas, and
upon the maintenance of the new line
a great deal is said to depend
A dispatch from the frontier says
Rrigadier- General Canelo, who is in
command of the military line drawn
across Pinar del Rio, was engaged
yesterday with portion Of the force
commanded by Gomez.
THE FIGHT
took place between Miroz and San
Augustine, and is reported to have re-
suited in a repulse of the insurgents.
While Canelo maintains the military
line, General Marin, it is reported, will
push or westward in an attempt to en-
gage Maceo.
Gomez, when last heard from, was
in the neighborhood of PaSo Redondo,
a little north of Batabano, which would
seem to substantiate the official state
ment to the effect that he has been
driven eastward from the Frontier in
Pinar del Rio, owing to the pursuit of
the Spaniards.
The health of Gomez continues to
give anxiety to his friends Confirma-
ton was received of the report that
Gomez had consumption and was not
expected to live over two months.
A report was current in Cuban cir
cles here yesterday that there is con-
siderable dissatisfaction in Gomez
camp owing to some of the actions of
the Cuban junta in New York, and it
is said that body is strongly blamed
for the insurgents failure to receive
much needed arms and ammunition,
and rumor has it that there are dis
agreements between the insurgent
armies in the field. Such rumors, how
ever, are known to have been circu-
lated by the Spanish authorities in the
past and it may be
THE REPORTED DISCORD
between the Cuban generals is not an
actual fact. Reinforcements of cav
airy are being hurried on to General
Marin from every available point. His
exact whereabouts, however. are not
known, contradictory reports in this
connection having been purposely cir
culated to deceive the friends Of the
insurgents, who keep the latter posted,
so far as possible, upon the movements
of the Spanish troops.
The exodus of the better class of
people from Cuba continues and the
prices of provisions continue to go up.
In fact, matters have almost reached
the point where the poorer classes will
have to depend upon the authorities
for relief Luxuries are worth their
weight in gold, business is nearly a
thing of the past, and trade with the
interior may be said to have ceased,
excepting that part of it which is
carried on by vessels. The country
merchants are either bankrupt or
nearly so. and the banking firms are
being called upon from all sides for
assistance. People who can do SO are,
in very many cases, realizing upon
their belongings and everything tends
to increase the
FEELING OF DEPRESSION.
The worst Of it is, there is no glim-
mer of sunshine anywhere, the best
that can be expected being a long.
tedious struggle with an unsatisfactory
ending to the business man in any
case. The movement of the troops
seems to be the only enlivening event
in life in Havana nowadays and it may
be admitted people are getting tired of
the military display. In short, the in
surrection is firing everybody here and
running business.
The Matanzas railroad situation has
become SO bad that the company has
decided to reduce the wages of all it's
employees. The present schedule of
wages adopted is only 80, 40, 25 and Is
per cent. of the old rate of wages, and
some Of the engineers have refused to