The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-03-24
Spanish Troops Needed.
Twenty Thousand More
Wanted in the Philip.
pine Islands.

pine Islands.
Madrid, March 10 The archbishop
Of Manila. the capital Of the Philip.
pine Islands, has cabled to the author
tiles here that 10000 additional troops
to reinforce the Spanish soldiery there
are inperatively necessary, aod that
there should be no delay in forwarding
them.
Au Habapa cable dispatch to the
New York Herald says: The news
Of the Spanish reverses 10 the Philip
pines aud the repulse Of Polavieja
before Cavite. and his resignation in
front of the enemy. add, if it we're pos.
sible. TO the gloom and depression that
prevail in official circles here Now it
is understood why General Weyler re-
ceived telegraphic instructions 90 the
9th Inst. not to embark on the 10Th.
Primo de Rivera, who was to have sue.
ceeded him 10 the hopeless task Of sub
dung Cuba, is designated for the su-
prone command 10 the Philippines and
it is not Known who will be sent here.
Six thousand troops that we're to
have sailed from Cadiz for Habapa this
week will be sent to Manila and Cen
eral Weyler has been asked to send aa
many troops as be caa spare to Spain.
These are to be trans-shipped for the far
eastern archipelago. or are to replace
the regiments Of the home garrisops
which are destined for service in the
Philippines.
l learn On the highest military au-
thority here that these 5000 recruits
we're raised by offers Of bounty, as 10
the present state Of public opinion iu
Spain it was not deemed safe to extend
the draft.
CRISIS APPROACHING
General Weyler. learn on the
same nigh authority, has stated chat
he can only spare 10000 men. aud
these will shortly be embarked f,r the
peninsula 10 the guise of invalids and
neu whose time has expired.
The situation here is grave, and be-
comes more critical every day. The
opinion prevails that crisis is approah-
ing. All garrisoo towus in Habana
province are nightly attacked, and the
insurgeut success at Guines has been
followed by an equally successful on
slaught upon Bejucal and Guauajay.
The Spanish troops are harassed day
and night, aud the insurgents have
evidently begun an aotiye campaign,
which was to have awaited the fall Of
the spring rains.
visited Piaar del Rio this week aud
found the province filed with iusDr-
gents who are pouring in from the east,
marching past Marlena as cool and un-
disturbed as though Upon parade. At
night the bills around Piuar del Rio
town aod San Cristobal are ablaze with
insurgent camp fires, and on Monday
the pilot engine which preceded our
train was blown up, dangerously
woundiog both engineer and fireman.
This is the twelfth locomotive on the
Western railway that has been blown up
since the pacidcatiou of the province
by General Weyler.
DYING LIKE FLIES
It is difficult to say whether the suf-
feriug among the troops or tho paci6cos
10 this province are the greater The
troops wear tattered rags and are rack
ed by fever. The sit in the sun all day
With horse blankets wrapped about
them. The paci6cos are dying like
summer flies before the frost Of starva-
ton fever-calentura de ham bre-as
they call it.
The arrears due the troops aud for
supplies now amount to $4,000, 900,
and there is not cent of good money
10 the treasury for the daily expenses.
The question of paper money billetes
still remains unsol7ed, end is likely to
remain SO. Spauiards are oow openly
saying that the only hope is 10 negotia
ting with Gomez. but they know that
this is impossible as long as General
Weyler remains upon the island.
For the first time since the outbreak
of the revolution the authorities here
seem to see that the war may end by
evacuation aud withdrawal from the
island