The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-06

New York, Aug. "a dispatch to the
Herald from Havana says: 1t is
rumored that General Weyler's depar-
ture for MatanZas was due to orders
direct from Madrid sending him to the
front. General Weyler made prepara-
tons to take the field some days ago.
but according to statement made by
an officer at the palace he delayed his
departure in order to mature plan to
entrap General Castillo.
For weeks now bands of insurgents
have been swarming into Matanzas
and even Havana They have raided
small towns and made demonstrations
before large towns. They have landed
expeditions and had time 10 organize.
Yet General Weyler contented himself
with remaining on the defensive and
only retaliating on the insurgents by
issuing DEGREES that considerably ag-
gravated the sufferings OF the IN
fortunate reconcentrados.
1t was only when the insurgents
boldly attacked the suburbs of Havana
before public opinion forced him TO so.
Public opinion here with regard 10
General Weyler's policy is beginning to
manifest itself. Business is at stand
blame upon the government. They say
General Weyler's edicts practically
restrict them from doing business with
the interior. The wholesale arrests
that have lately been made and the
terror of the people on the outskirts OF
the city help 10 swell the feeling OF I'M
easiness and discomfort with the wav
the campaign is being carried on.
According to insurgent proclama-
+irpc General Gomez dUe
Matanzas about the time General
Weyler will arrive there. The chances
are that there will be heavy lighting
There is possibility, TOO, that
Weyler's and Gomez forces may come
face TO face. The insurgents not only
stopped all traffic on the railway line
in Matanzas and Santa Clara during
the last week, but they attacked sew
eral towns garrisoned by Spanish
troops.
On July 27, a large band entered
Encrucyada and carried off whatever
they wanted. They raided and burned
stores and when they retired drove
away with them a large herd or cattle
The Spanish commander of the town,
Simon Guenec, shut himself UP IN
church with his soldiers. The men IN
the fort fired Unfortunately without
exposing themselves.
Thirty-six hours after the insurgents
had left the town a column OF troops
started in pursuit Encrucyada has
population OF about 5000 and is STU
ated on the railroad line.
The insurgents entered EsDeranZa,
railroad town OF 1900 persons. There
they met with some resistance, and
there was considerable fighting in the
streets. According 10 official accounts
the insurgents left 20 killed when they
finally retired. The commander or the
town was seriously wounded. He al
mits that the Insurgents robbed sew
eral stores. Bolondron, another small
town about eight leagues from Matan-
zas, was also raided, and many stores
and buildings were destroyed.
In Havana province on Sunday last
insurgents attacked Santiago de Las
Vegas. five leagues from the capital.
band was playing in the park at the
time, and most of the citizens were out
A panic was threatened,
Bat the Spanish officers kept their
heads and took prompt steps 10 repel
the insurgents.
There was brisk firing in the streets
for time, but eventually the insur-
gents were forced to retreat. Several
on both sides were killed. The lnsur-
gents remained close up enough all
night TO keep up a fire on the forts.
-Four hundred insurgents under Cen
sral Castillo attacked La Chora, town
three miles nearer Havana, on the
same night. Castillo was not able to
enter the town, but kept up heavy
fire on the forts all night He also used
dynamite with great effect, throwing