The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-06
'WEYLER'S
PLAN FAILS.
His Visit to Santa Clara Without
Military Results.
GOMEZ EASILY ELuDED HIM AND
IS STILL IN A POSITION FOR
EFFEcTIyE FIGHTING INsUR.
GENTS ACTIVE IN EVERY PROV.
INcE AND THE SPANISH NOT
HOPEFUL OF PACIFICATIoN.
Gable Copyright.)

April ~ General Meyler's two weeks
excursion to Santa Clara has been utterly
without result from military point of
view, and causes bitter comment here
1t was expected that he would at least
operate in force against the insurgents.
who are positively known to be near Ar
royo Blanco under Gomez. But from the
beginning of the trip the captain. general
has done nothing but inspect with ill
grace the country which his troops and
the insurgents have devastated. going at
length to Cienfucgos, where he has caused
the arrest of seventy police officials and
military men for frauds connected with
the commissary and hospital service and
for other corruption.
No one here doubts that corruption
fiourishes In the Spanish service, but this
is thought to be strange time for Gen
eral Weyler to go into Lexow committee
work when the rainy season is approach
ing and Gomez is west of the Jucaro-
Meron trocha. where he is apparently
quite comfortable, swinging in his ham
mock and sending out messages of sar-
castle nature In regard to the efforts to
round him up.
General Weyler's excursion has done
nothing to contribute to the pacification
OF which so much is heard; indeed, his
Inactivity and the manner in which he
has stunned the country where Gomez is,
has greatly added to this discomfort here
and in other cities. His meddline with
the CienfueRos frauds at this time is
openly LAUGHED at, and La J.ucha prints
some verses limiting that the captain-gen-
eral has other motives than the single
desire for reform.
One explanation which has been sug-
gested regarding his puzzling conduct is
nj IN, 10
Gomez by able military tactics, he is now
working out plan by which an elaborate
attempt will be made, through bribery,
to capture the insurRent chief and his es-
cort, as Rivera is alleged to have been
captured in Pinar del Rio-that is, by
having an verwhelming force guided by
traitor, so rs to surround the rebel
camp in the night.
Weyler is more likely to capture Go
mez's double than the old chief. Before
the captain-general left Havana there
was much talk of n combined movement
OF the columns to drive Gomez into n
corner where he must fight or attempt to
break through the trocha, which was
said to be impossible.
But the much Wanted flying columns
were easily avoided by Gomez without
the necessity of attacking the trocha,
which no one doubts that he could have
crossed ut any one of dozen places had
it been necessary. 1t has not been neces-
sary, and Is not likely to be as long as
Spain is content with the policy which
has broken her back financially and has
SO nearly lost Cuba to her. Tomorrow,
always. the island is to be pacifed, but
to-day there are as mauy insurgents and
more arms than ever
=. 1t was said here yesterday that Minis-
FAR Del I,u6 INT ota1 hot all
ior garrisonS should be withdrawn in
June, the Spanish evacuating all but the
seaport towns.
Though he did not say it, the news was
accepted here. and it WAS wondered If this
WAS to prepare the way for the announces
ment that Spain would give up the strug-
gle here and attempt to save the Philli-
pines by reinforcing the army there I
know that the news of Minister De
Lome's reported announcement is now
travelling to Gomez.
General Weyler is coming back from
fruitless eastern trip soon, and will an
nounce disqualification of all the country
west of the Jucaro- Meron trocha, despite
the fact that General Gomez is west of
the trocha, and news direct from his
camp assures me that. he. can mobilize
three thousand men in and along the
Puerto Principe and Santa Clara boun-
Diary at the shortest notice.
The fact is the insurgents are active in
every province and the Spanish despair of
pacification in a reasonable time. Spain's
resources will not permit of her keeping
great army here another summer, even
without activity.
One thing is certain: If the interior
garrisons are withdrawn the insurgents
will control the island at once and when
the columns are no longer feared, will
make demonstration against Havana.
Ruis Rivera has not yet been shot, and
is not likely to be soon, unless General
Weyler has his way
Weyler is said to be angry that the Ma
drid government has taken a hand in the
disposition of Rivera's case and will not
permit the summary execution of Ma
ceo's successor.
&c The fact is, Rivera's life will probably
be spared, not from motives of humanity
but because shooting him in the back
would incense civilized nations against
Spain.
1t is also feared that if Rivera should
be shot Gomez would Mt one issue orders
to spare no Spanish officers who may be
taken prisoners, whereas in the past all
have been released.
Rivera's death would undoubtedly be
| avenged. The insurgents in Pinxr del
Rio have been active since his capture.
The San Quintin battalion, of whose
defeat at Punta Bravo I cabled, has again
been worsted. The insurgents under
Rodriguez, Castillo and Delgado encoun-
| tered two companies of these troops near
| Morianao, ten miles from Havana, on
Thursday, killing fifty and wounding
seventy.
This is the sort OF pacifcation which
exists within cannon shot of Moro Castle.
The San Quintin has paid in full lately
for the death of Maceo.