The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-18
General Gomez Reported
10 Be Falling Back.
Weyler Trying to Get Him
Between Spanish Armies.
Cubans Say That If the Story Is
True Gomez Has Purpose.
ccopyrisA. 1897, by the Associated Press,

Copyright 1897. by the Associated Press,
Havana via Key West, Fla, Feb. Is. III
the Official reports are correct. the insur-
gent army under General Gomez has been
divided into small corps and Gomez him
self is in full retreat before the continued
advance of Captain General Weyler. Dis
patches from Ciego de Avila say that the
insurgent commander with four thousand
men has recrossed the military line In the
Province of Puerto Principe, extend
ing from Jucaro to Moron, and that he IL
going eastward through Puerto Principe
and in the direction OF the capital of that
province, aIso called Puerto Principe.
General Cslixto Carols, Gomez's second
in command was reported four days ago.
to be in the vicinity of Puerto Principe,
on the north coast of Puerto Principe, and
retreating towards the same point 10
Gomez. Captain General Weyler arrived
yesterday at Sancti Spiritus the most i'm
portant town in the eastern part OF the
province of Santa Clara, where the insur-
gent headquarters were recently located
and as he has been able to reach that
moIesta,iop upon the part of the insur-
gents, the report that Gomez is retresting
would appear to be- borne out by the facts.
The statements from the Spanish head
quarters are even more explicit. 1t 10
announced that the insurgents have re-
treated to the mountains and to the
woods before the Spanish advance and
that from Sancti Spiritus, Captain Gen.
eral Weyler will push forward his col.
umns to Ciego de Avila, and Jucaro, thus
seemingly sweeping across the island
with large force, and driving the enemy
before him towards the eastern part OF
the island. In Santiago de Cuba, 1t Is
known q strong column of Spanish
troops has teen gathered, and IL believed
that the plan is to attempt to catch
Gomez and Calixto between the armies
advancing under Weyler and the Spanish
columns in Santiago de Cuba. In any
case the most interesting stage OF the
campaign seems to have been reached and
the outcome will be awaited with con-
sidera BILE anxiety by both Spsniards and
Cubans. The supporters OF the former
hope that the Spanish commander will
succeed in bringing about Q decisive
action before the rains put an end to
military operation for the season. On the
other hand the frienus of the insurgents
assert that Gomez may be trusted to
thwsrt the plans of General Weyler, and
that If ii is true that the insurgent
armies have retreated from the Province
| Of Santa Clara into the province OF
Puerto Principe, the insurgent general
has done 80 for purpose and In order to
still further carry out bis policy of ex-
hausting the Spaniards to the utmost
while remsining in the field In spite OF
| their efforts.
However, it cannot be denied that Gen.
| eral Weyler now occupies q mort advanta-
eoous position from which to conduct his
| future operations against the insurgents.
From Santa Spiritus q short line Of rail-
road communicates with the port OF
| Tunas, on the northern coast and by this
means he can have conveyed to him BY
water, reinforcement supplies, ammuni-
| ton. &c, which he needs and II also gives
| him a con venient highway over which he
| can send his sick and wounded to the
| rear.
Advices from Santa Clara under date Of
| Feb. II, said that a force OF over q thous-
! anu insurgents was camped at San Gil,
| twelve miles from that city, under the
| command OF General 4. Mayia Rodriques
| and Chuco Montagudo apparently intsnd-
| ing 10 continue their march towards the
| yuelta district In the same provinces.
| A despatch from Consolation del Sur,
province OF Pinsr del Rio, still further
confirms the staten ents made In thess
dispatches that Pinsr del Rio. Is far from
icing pacified s the Captain General
claims. Numerous bands Of insurgents
are said to be hidden In the thick, dark
woods in that part Of the country snd on
Mondsy.last the insurgents dynsmited and
derailed an exploring party between Los
Pacifos and Psso Real, blowing mp q
culvert, destroying the engine, capsizine
a car, killing two soldiers OF the escort,
wounding eight others and seriously IN
juring the engineer and firemsn. rhs
line is still interrupted and pssssneers
bound from Pinsr del Rio to this city
have to be transferred to trains waiting
st the point where the explosion occurred.
Otherwise trains to and from this city
are running a. usual.
pinsr del Rio reports that small ex-
| ,,a;.,r. from, fbs Eliza which landed ~