The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-12
MACE0 Is NEAR HAVANA
HE CLEVERLY TURNED THE FLANK
OF wEYLER's SPANISH FORCES.
The Insurgents Expect to Join With
Gomez and Strike n Decisive
Blow at the Capital.

Havana, Dec. st is semi-ohicially adj
mitted that Antonio Maceo, insurgent
leader. passed the military lines of Pinar
Del Rio Friday near Mariel, port at the
northern extremity He was accompanied
by a son of Maxine Gomez.
There was much excitement here when
IL became known that Maceo had crossed
the military line, with, it is understood,
a strong force OF insurgents, especially
when 1t Is coupled with the lighting be-
tween the Spanish troops and insui gents
close to the city. 1t seems evident that
the insurgent commander has not only
cleVerly turned the flank of Captain Cen
eTal Weyler, but has succeeded in getting
in his rear and crossing the famous mill
tary line near the port which has been
used as base of supplies for the Spanish
troops in Pinar Del Rio. The Importance
of this movement can not be exaggerated.
WeyIer Is Chasing in Vain.
The exact whereabout of General Wey-
Ter is not known, but he is believed to be
hunting for Maceo in the mountains in
the extreme eastern part of Pinar Del
Rio, while the insurgent chief has SEEM
ingly doubled on his tracks. turned the
flank of the Spanish general and passed
in his rear in the direction OF this city,
crossing the military line at will and pos
sibly by this time in the vicinity of the
capital Of Cuba. If Maxine Gomez has
| that of pushing westward to the support
! of Maceo, a junction of the two main
| bodies of the insurgents may be expected
| shortly.
Maceo's Force Is Large.
| Nothing appears to be known of the
strength of the insurgent forces with An
| tonic Maceo in this province. In fact, it
| was not until the news was being passed
! from person to person in the streets that
the authorities would give half-hearted
| admission of the truth of the report that
| Maceo had crossed the military line. This,
it is believed, will alter the whole stu
alton, and important events may occur
| within short time. There is no doubt
| that the insurgents have recently been
increased in numbers about the capital
The stray bands of 20 to 30 bandits met
by the Spanish troops have now swollen
the insurgent force of 1000 to 10000. 1t
seems to be admitted and believed that
Maceo will shortly strike, before Weyler
can hurry back from Pinar Del Rio. In
deed, it is currently reported that the
captain general has been wounded in an
engagement with the insurgents before
| the latter crossed the military line, and
that he may not be able to return here
except as a prisoner of the Cubans.
The authorities naturally are doing al
in their power to analyze the crossing oil
the trocha by Maceo, and intimate thai
| he is, as usual, according to the Spanish
running away from Them This does moi
alter the fact that he has escaped the
hunter and that the hunter may find diff
ficulty in getting home.
The friends of the insurgents here arr
overjoyed at the new turn taken in thu
campaign, and are boasting that Mace'
a, and Gomez will soon be knocking at tn
gates of Havana. To this the Spanish
officials simply say: "Wait and see; the
time is not yeti But there is no denying
that the supporters of Spain here today
! are looking much crestfallen and dis
| couraged.
Even defeat at the hands of the in
surgents, it is admitted, would have beer
better than the humiliation which thu
Spanish troops have suffered in being 81
- successfully outmaneuvered by the insur
| gents.