Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-04
HEADQUARTERS ON THE MOVE
Cuban President and Cabinet Have Nc
Abiding Place.
ALLEGED CAPITAL CITY A PLANTATION
Cucvitns IN Part of the Betnncourt
Estate nnd Is Held by the
Spaninrds, who visit
IL Occasionally. i.l

Copyright, 1897, by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. 3.-(New York
World Cablegram-special Teegram.) )-Pu-
e-to Principe province is comparatively quiet.
1t is the largest province in Cuba, except
Santiago but has the smallest population.
OF its $4,000 inhabitants, $4,000 live in Pu-
erto Principe city, the provincial capital.
Immediately after arriving in Cuba / sent
trustworthy agent to the province to as
certain the exact situation there. The sum
mary OF a long report received, which is
cabled herewith to the World vouch for as
being accurate:
The railroad connecting Puerto Principe
with the seaport Neuvitas, is in regular OPP
Grafton. There has been great improve
ment in that respect since last summer,
when the railway was blockaded. The coun-
try between Puerto Principe and the sea
was overrun then by the insurgent bands,
but the death of their leader, Jose Maria
Rodriguez was a severe loss, from which
they have not recovered. A large part Of
the province being uninhabited, the insur-
gents were able to roam about, until General
Castelanos and the governor pursued the
different bands relentessly and drove them
into Santiago or into the wilderness of the
LaIasa hills in the southeastern part of the
province
The so-called president and his cabinet
have no fixed abiding place. 1t has been
circumstantially reported in the United
States that point called Cuevitas was the
seat of government of Csneros. Cuevitas
is not a town. but plantation belonging to
of the well known Betancourt family.
Rugged hills rise in its center. 1t has been
visited frequently by Spanish columns, but
General Castellanos does not regard 1t as
a point of sufficient consequence to regu-
larly garrison IL. The insurgents hold no
town or village in the province. The only
town actually taken by anything like siege
in the whole rebellion was Guaimaro and
that was held by them. The Cuevitas plan
tation is not now occupied by the insur-
gents. The story of its being held is false.
GOMEZ is OUT OF SIGHT.
The whereabouts of Maxine Gomez are
not positively known. He was in the jungles
of Lajasa December T. / have seen a
proclamation by him dated Lajasa. Novem-
ber 30. An intercepted letter, signed by
Gomez and dated December 5, was filled with
violent complaints against the junta in New
York He accuses the members of 1t OF far
worse offenses than incompentency, and is
particularly severe against Palma and
Rubenn. Gomez is in a bad physical con-
dition, and is generally dissatisfied He has
quarreled with other leaders OF the rebellion.
The dissensions are like those in the former
rebellion. Gomez has attempted to ignore
Cisneros and make himself dictator in
political, as well as in military affairs.
Calixto Garcia is the only leader now show
Ing signs OF activity.
. Influential Creole families OF Puerto Prln-
cipe strongly desire that civil strife should
end. They would withdraw the province
from the influence of the revolutionists II 1t
were possible. There Is much poverty and
disease In Puerto Principe City, on account
of numerous refugees There has been much
sickness in the Spanish army in that section,
and especially on the line OF the eastern
trocha. chiefly malaria fevers but there has
been great Improvement recently.
Major Jimenez, commanding three squad
rons of cavalry of the El Principe regiment
was promoted yesterday FOR work in the
field north of San Crlstobal Pinar del Rio
province. While moving along the base of
the hills, near Coreial and Blanquisal he
swooped down on some bands of insurgents
foraglng, killed twenty and wounded most OF
the remainder. Those who escaped into the
hills were captured In arms.
All trains are now running regularly in
Pinar del Rio, Havana and Matanzas
provinces. Parts Of some lines in Santa
Clara province are not operated because
bridges destroyed have not yet been re-
placed Trains run daily to Cienfuegos 1876
miles from Havana. Last May all the lines
were either wholly interrupted or trains
were run In portions at irregular intervals.
WILLIAM SHAW BOWEN.