The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-02-17
SITUATION IN CUBA.
Gomez Advance Setting Woyler
on Tenter Hooks.
he WANTS MORE nEINFORCEaENTS.
The Financial Situation Becoming Dss-
Perate-Anolher Issue Of Ten Mil
lions in Paper Threatens
Ruin 10 the Merchants.
New YORK, Feb. t5.-A dispatch to

NEW YORK, Feb. t5s-A dispatch &c
the Sun from Havana says
The marquis Of Ahumada, second in
command Of the island Of Cuba, re-
ceived, Saturday, a dispatch from Gen.
Weyler urgently demanding a rein
fOrcement Of 5000 soldiers to help him
in Las Villas. Though this fact has
been kept out of the newspapers and
away from the general public it is
well known in official circles and by
influential Spaniards, and has created
great sensation
Weyler Is afraid Of the advance OF
Gen. Gomez, now in progress, and
thinks that the %, 900 regular Spanish
soldiers under his command in Las
Villas, besides the COCO or 1000 volun-
teers and guerilla forces, are not
enough to check the Cuban leader
The Spanards have taken refuge in
the towns aud Notifications, leaving
the country to the control Of Gomez
Without reinforcemcnts Weyler does
not dare to attack the Cubaus. Gomez,
however, keeps moving from one place
to another in the province, but all the
while advancing slowly to the west,
keeping Wcyler in constant uncer-
tainty about his intentions.
1t is known here that the conceDtra-
tion under Gomez of the various bands
of insurgents in the province Of Santa
Clara has resulted in wclI-armed
corps of more than 6,OgO men, The
main object Of Gomez for the present.
is to prevent Weyler from allowing
the sugar estates of Las Villas to grind
cane and at the same time to give bat.
ule to him if he dares to fight in place
chosen by the Cuban leader. Here
IN Havana the situation is no more
favorable to the Spaniards than
in Las Villas. The 1000 Cubaus
who are on tue hills Of Gavilau are
constantly harassing the neigh boring
towns Of Managuay and the Havana
suburbs. Their flags displayed on the
hills are seen from the capital.
Great uueasiness prevails here on ac-
count of all this and Gomezs APP
proach fills the authorities with the
lleenest anxiety. AT the same time
the financial situation is desperate.
The news that the government is will
ing to extend to $4,000 600 the issue
already made of $4,000, 900 in bank
notes has created a panic. The mer-
chants protest against such a measure
as meaning the total ruin of the couu-
try. Daily runs are attempted on the
Spanish Bank of the Island of Cuba.
but strong force of military police
guards the doors. Those who try to
enter are arrested or assaulted by the
soldiers Finally the crowd yields,
and everyone goes home protesting
against the government. But they do
not dare to revolt openly, for fear Of
helping the insurrection. the issue
of $40, 600 600 more in paper money is
as the first signal of the
of Spain, to be followed |
by a general suspension of payments. |
This policy during the last warruined |
thousands of Spaniards.
The proposed reforms continue to be |
bitterly criticised The Cubans here |
believe that the reforms will never be |
established, and that the Spanish gov
ernment issued the decree only be- !
cause Canovas feared that with the |
change of administration in the United |
States there might be a change of
policy with regard to Cuba, and so he
will try to delay any action by Nc
kinley's cabinet by asking time to es-
Ia blish the new regime and show re-
suits.