Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-19
GOMEZ REPORTED IN RETREAT
SpaniaTds Claim He Is Fleeing Before
General Weyler.
A Trap to Crush Him-Gen. Wey-
ler's Plan is to Catch the Insur-
gents Between Two Spanish
Columns and Force a Decisive
Fight-Pinar Del Rio Far from
Being Pacihed-Situation in Cuba.
Copyright. Associated Press.)


Havana. February 1S.-If the official re-
ports are correct. the insurgent army un-
der Gen. Maxine Gomez. has been divided
into small corps, and Gomez himself is in
full retreat before the continued advance
Of Capt. Gen. Weyler Dispatches from
Ciego de Avila say that the insurgent
commander-in-chief with 1000 men. has
recrossed the military line in the province
of Puerto Principe, extending from Jucaro
10 Moron, and that he is going eastward
through Puerto Principe. Gen. CaliXto
Garcia Gomez second in command). was
reported four days ago TO be In the vicin-
ity Of Puerto Principe. and retr5ating to-
ward the same point as Gomez.
Capt. Gen. Weyer arrived yesterday at
Saucti Spiritus. the most important town
i'm the eastern part of the province of San
In Clara. near the boundary of Puerto
Principe. and in the territory where tho
insurgent headquarters were recently To-
Gated and as he has been able TO reach
that place. apparently without any serious
nolestation upon the part Of the insur-
gents. the report that Gomez is retreatng
would appear to be borne out
The statements from the Spanish head
quarters are even more explicit. II is an
nounced that the insurgents have retreat
ed to the mountains and to the woods be-
fore the Spanish advance and that from
Sancti Spirius Capt Gen. Weyler will
push forward his column to Moron, Ciego
de Avila and Jucaro. thus seemingly
sweeping across the island with a large
force and driving the enemy before him
toward the eastern part Of the island.
Gen. Weyler expects TO trap Gomez be-
tween the two wings of the Spanish col
umn and thus force a decisive engage
ment before the rains put an end 10 mill
tary operations The Cubans believe.
however. that Gomez will. as usual, slip
through the Gordon.
Advices from Santa Clara under date OF
February II. said that a force of over a
thousand insurgents was camped at San
Gil. twelve milee from that city. under the
command of Gems Mayia Rodriguez and
Chuco Montagudo. apparently intending to
continue their march toward the Nuelta
district IN the same province.
A dispatch from Consolation del Sur
adds that Pinar del Rio is far from bong
pasifed Numerous bands of insurgents
are said TO be hidden I'm the thick woods
and on Monday the insurgents dynamted
and derailed an exploring train from Pinar
del Rio between Los Palacios and Paso
Real. The line is still interrupted and
passengers bound from Pinar del Rio TO
this city have 10 be transferred TO trains
In waiting at the point where the cXpio-
sion occurred.
Pinar del Rio reports that a small OK
pedition from the Elsie. which landed at
la Mueta. several days ago. was led by
Manuel Maria Coronado. a correspondent
of El Liberal. of Madrid, and by the edi-
tor Of la Discussion ] is further stated
that Collazo landed q band Of insurgents.
dressed Ike Spanish guerillas. The
schooner Mercedes was captured ON Fen
ruary II. it is now announced. i'm the river
Canimbo. She had ON board thirty-three
tons OF coal. owned by Smith & CO., Of
Trinidad Four Of her crew escaped into
the burned cancfe'ds of that district.
The insurgents have attacked Vega Alta
and succeeded in burning twenty houses
on the outskirts OF that town.
At Candearia, Pinar del Rio. there Is
great scarcity of vegetables, etc, as the
insurgents viii not permit the country
people to send any supplies into the place.
A dispatch from Jaruco says that Emilio
Nunez has landed near there.
The bank bill question is producing
serious differences among the proprietors
Of the exchange houses and the govern
mont officials. Many OF them have re-
turned their licenses to the government
and intend to close their business. The
whole matter has caused great excitement