The herald., 1897-02-19
REBELS N FULL Retreat
Before the Puissant Captain
General
EXPECTS TO ENTRAP GOMEZ
And End TIE Rebellion at Oae Eel!
SwOop
EXPECTS TO ENTRAP GOMEZ
Cubans Express Belief That the Scheme vii.
Fail Now It Has So Many
Times Before
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
HAVANA, via Key West. Feb 1S.-
Copyright, 1S91) If official reports are
correct, the insurgent army under Gen
Gomez has been divided into small
corps, ard Gomez himself is in full re-
treat before the continued advance of
Weyler. Dispatches from Ciego de
Aviel say the insurgent commander-in-
chief, with 1000 men, recrossed the mill
tary line in the province of Puerto
Principe in the direction of the capital
of the province. Gen. Calixto de Gar
cia, Gomez's second in command, was
reported four days ago in the vicinity
OF Puerto Principe, retreating toward
the same point as Gomez. Weyler ar
rived yesterday at Sanct Spiritus, the
most important town in the eastern
part of the province of Santa Clara, near
the boundary of Puerto Principe, in the
territory where the insurgent head
quarters were recently located
Weyler will push forward to Morn.
Ciego de Aivel and Jacra, thus sweep
Ing across the island with a large force.
driving the enemy before him. He ex-
poets to trap Gomez between the two
wings of the Spanish column and force
decisive engagement before the rains
put an end to military operations. The
Cubans believe, however, that Gomez
will, as usual. slip through the Gordon
before being completely enVeloped
dispatch from Monta Clara under
date of Feb. 11th, said that force of in
surSents were camped at San Gill;
twelve miles from that city under the
command of Gems. Maya Rodriguez and
Chuco Montague, apparently intending
TO continue their march toward the
Vuelta district In the same province.
dispatch from Consolation del Sur
adds that Pinar led Rio is far from be-
ing pacified. Numerous bands of in
surgents are said to be hidden in thick
woods, and on Monday last the insur-
gents dynamlted and derailed an ex-
ploring train from Pinar led Rio, be-
tween Los Palacios and Paso Real. The
line is still uninterrupted.
Pinar del Rio reports that a small ex-
pedition from the Elsie. which landed 1T
La Mulata several days ago, was led
by Manuel Maria Coronado, a cores
pondent of Ell Liberia of Madrid and by
the editor OF La Discussion. 1t is fur
ther stated that Collazo landed a band
of insurgents dressed like Spanish guer-
rillas. The schooner Mercedes was cap
tured in February and is now anchored
board thirty-three tons of coal owned
by Smith & Co. of Trinidad Four of
her crew escaped into the burned cane
fields of that district.
The military commander of Artemi-
sa Hidalgo reports that families can
resume cultivation in Las Canas dis
trict under the terms of Weyler's first
edict, but as living inside a fortified
zone. According to the terms Of the
canond adipf civ fU foy of hot
district were compelled to abandon
their homes, burning all the houses, in
Guiding some handsome dwellings and
large starch factory
A dispatch from Jaruco says that
Emilio Nunez has landed near there.
The bank bills question is producing
serious differences among the proprie
tors of the exchange houses-an the
government officials. Many of them
have returned their licenses to the gov
ernment and intend to close their busi
ness. The whole matter has caused
great excitement among the people, par
ticularly in the case of the poorer class
es, as the stores of all descriptions have
in consequence of the forced silver bill
currency raised in the prices of all kinds
of merchandise 40 per cent.
This is making the people here des-
perate and has added greatly to the
burdens they have been bearing for
long time. Milk and beef are scarce,
all kinds of provisions dear and grocers
and others have raised prices another
30 per cent To make matters worse no
lottery ticket sellers are to be seen on
the streets, which deprives the govern
ment of a fruitful source of revenue
and compels it to adopt other measures
to raise the funds necessary to continue
the campaign against the insurgents.
The GfQtannnDf that PVRrVhO6V Is tired
of war has so frequently been made that
it is almost useless to repeat it, but re-
cent developments have intensified this
feeling considerably and there is every
evidence of this on all sides. The feel
ing of depression cannot be dissipated
by changes in the features of the cam
paign. Everybody seems to be anxious
for the war to end, one way or the other,
and among business men, merchants
and their employees generally this senti-
ment is the most strongly expressed.
THE BERMUDA SAILS
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1S.-The
steamship Bermuda, which has gained
worldwide celebrity because Of her
Cuban filibustering expeditions, passed
out from Delaware Breakwater early
this morning and steamed seaward, os-
tensibly for the Bermudas. The Ber-
muda, which has been detained by the
collector of customs, was released yes
terday, after affidavi-s having been
made setting forth that she will not vio-
late the neutrality laws. 1t is reported
that Gen. Roloff, the Cuban insurgent
chief, whose bail was forfeited in Balti-
more yesterday, is a passenger on the
Bermuda.
GOMEZ ESCAPES
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Feb. ia
special to the Citizen from Key West
says: Private information has been re-
ceived in this city of the whereabouts
of General Gomez. He has succeeded
in slipping by General Weyler and is
now between him and Havana. General
Gomez gave the command for an ad-
vance, with strict orders that any man
who struck a match would be court
martialed. He then advanced on the
Moron trocha, in the eastern end of the
island, with 5000 cavalry and 10000 in
fantry. He advanced on the fort at
midnight and when he saw he was dis
covered by the Spanish. who fired on
him, he ordered the cavalry charge.
They swooped down on the fort and
captured it, and the whole army went
through the trocha. All of the arms and
ammunition of the fort were CAPTURED