The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
WEYLER WILL TRY AGAIN.
VIII MARCH NEXT MONTH AGAINsr
GENTS IN THE EAST.
before starting ne VIII Declare tho western
Provinces Pncined-His Perndy Toward
Gsp. Naoilna-Towns Looted by Cubans In
santa Clara - Another Cuban Victory.

Berore Starting Re Will Declare tho western
Provinces rncined-His Perndy Toward
Gen. R~oiina-Towns Looted by Cubnns In
santa Clara - Another Cuban victory.
HAvANA, via Key West, Aug. 2O.-Gen .weyler
has declared his intention to begin another cam.
paign against the insurgents OF the provinces of
Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cuba, To that
end preparations have been renewed among tho
! Spanish battalions which operate in the prov
inces of Matanzas. Havana. and pinar del Rio.
Each battalion will contribute a fourth part of
its men to the formation of q big military expc-
ditlon to the east. According TO the information
given out in military circles. the projected cam.
paign will begin in September. 1t is added
that u great part OF the Spanish forces in Santa
Clara province will be moved to the province of
Puerto Principe.
Before his march against the eastern insur.
gents the Captain.General will issue another
decree declaring, for the second time, that the
western provinces are pacified. All impartial
| observers here are wondering how Wcyler can
maintain that tho insurgent forces in the prov.
inces last mentioned are but insignificant bands
when the fact Ia that from Matnnzas to Pinar
del Rio the Cuban Army since July / last has
been L., 900 strong. The principal Cuban lead.
crs in that part Of the island are Gems. Quintin
Bnndcras, Avelino Rosas, Betancourt, Rodriguez,
Ducassi. and Castillo; the Colonies are Arrange,
Aranguren, and Hernandez. Not one OF them
has left his zone of operations or surrendered to
the Spaniards.
The plan of Gen. weyler to invade the east
again, despite his last unsuccessful attempt in
that direction, is severely criticised by many
Spanish military men here. They say that the
last failure will be repeated. as the withdrawal
of Spanish troops from the west will only
give strength to the revolution in this part OF
the-island.
Other and graver criticisms of weyler arc
heard in tho army. To hin is attributed the
responsibility for the death OF Gen. Molina,
Spanish military commander OF Matanzas prov
incc. 1t Is said that Weyler left Molina in the
heat of q big baltic and retired ANONYMOUSLY
to Havana. taking refuge in the convent of
piarists Of Guanabacoa. Molina. as already re-
ported to The SUN, died of a wound received
on the battlefield.
Gen. Weyler has declared that the death OF
Canovas is n loss that cannot be replaced. as he
last moment tho honor of Spain in Cuba"
These words, spoken to n committee OF mor-
atinR considerable comment. The General him
self tried TO soften and, explain them by adding
that Canovas possessed unique diplomatic abil.
ity, though many. other patriots OF equal ardor
and devotion might be found In Spain. The
Captain.General has said. furthermore. that as
long rs the Conservatives remain in power he
will serve Gen. Azcarraga with as much deyo.
ton as he served Canovas.
Dispatches from Santa Clara province say
that the war is as active there as In Havana.
Santa Isabel de las Lajas, an important town
in that province, has been rai1ed by the Cubans,
in spite OF Its strong Notifications. The gar.
rison offered little resistance. A large part OF
the garrison joined the insurgents and helped
them afterward in sacking nine big stores in
the main streets.
In the same province the town OF Cartagena
has been raided by the Cubans without any re-
sistance from the garrison or the Spanish
residents. The houses of Spaniards and all
the stores in The town were plundcrcd. A few
miles from CartREena a Cuban force, under
Capt, Juan Dorningnez, met Il strong body of
,Iaat 80 fS Sss ,Saods me Tb Eu Snas 81 hm az a Sh baiss re-,
all cavalry, left their horses outside of the
woods and made the pursuit on foot. They fell
into an ambush and were soon surrounded by u
larger force OF insurgents. who charged them
with machetes from all sides. The majority OF
the Spuniards escaped, leaving on the ground
their arms and ammunition. Sixteen were
killed, 7 wounded, and 5 made prisoners. The
Cubans captured 20 rifles. IA machetes, 81
horses and 1000 rounds OF ammunition.