The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-23
Was BIG VICTORY FOR CUBA
Capture Of Villa Clara Secures a
Seat Of Government.
Cisneros and His Cabinet Have Now
An Abiding Place : : Mach-
& Gut Diplomatic
Tangles.

New York, Jan. 49, "At last the Gu
pan republic has a seat Of government
ana a permanent one said q member
or the Cuban junta to a correspondent
while discussing the report of Gomez's
victory at Villa Clara.
The result of this battle" he contin-
ued. will at nce silence the taunt that
'he Insurgents are not in possession OF
any large city and AVE no fixed capital
or means of communication with other
governments. It win 0 the way to
recognition by congress-, for it disposes
OF the principal objection urged against
recognition.
villa Clara is the largest city in San
ia Clara province and Is strongly forth
fed. Gomez's army can hold 1t against
all the available forces of Weyler. I'm
doubleday 1t will at once become the seat
or Cuban government, where President
Cisneros and his cabinet can meet and
perform their duties in safety. The city
Is a little north OF the exact center of
santa Clara province and Is only assail-
able by a land force.
The occupation Of Villa Clara untan-
giles diplomatic complications and gives
the Cubals a seat of government as per-
manent as Havana. You will not hear
any more taunts that President Cisne-
ros carries the Cuban capital around in
his hat.
Disastrous Blow to Weyler.
From a military standpoint the VIC
tory means the beginning OF the and of
Weyler. His scattered forces in Matan-
zas province are retreating before the
advance guard Of Gomez's army, and
there is no doubt that they must con-
tinue to fall back until they are within
the lines of the main forces in Havana
province. GomeZ's march upon Ha.
Vana is like Sherman's march to the sea.
Ills work of destruction will go steadily
on until he is at the very gates of Ha-
Vana. Plantation after plantation is
given to the flames and his army is be-
ing steadily reinforced by the people of
Santa Clara and Matanzas provinces.
OF course 1t is impossible under pres
ent conditions for Gomez to occupy Ha-
vana city, n that is not his purpose In
marching toward the Spanish. capital.
Weyler must either come out and give
him battle or sit under the guns of his
warship and see Havana province laid
waste. Either alternative will prove
disastrous for the Spanish captain gen.
eral. .5
He is in a trap. with Gomez confront
ing him in the Matanzas and Rivera At
the head of Maceo's arpaN7r TIL astihg for
revenge in his-fe9r.
Havana Hears Sounds of Battle.
Already The sounds of skirmishes
between Weyler's forces and Rivera's
troops III Pinar del Rio are heard in h
capital, and n move the captain gen.
eral may make to drive Gomez back to
Santa Clara will leave the back door OF
Havana wide open to Rivera's army.
One swift charge by the gallant sue
cessor of Maceo, made at ar opportune
moment, may lay waste the beautiful
city II place the Spanish forces in the
field between the two armies. In such
an event there is nothing for the Span
ish troops but humiliation.
In all Of these possible opportunities
Weylcr could hope for no assistance
from his g%unboats or war ships, as the
Cuban army under Gomez is operating
i'll the interior and keeping well away
from the coast.
Evidently the people of Havana are
expecting just such q raid as l have de-
scribed and are rapidly leaving the city.
What the next few days will bring
forth no one can accurately tell, but
this much is certain: Weyler can make
no effective sortie against Gomez with
out leaving Havana province and city
at the mercy OF Rivera, and without
placing himself in a position where he
would be cut off from his naval forces.
II he stays in his hole under cover of
his g%unboats he practically leaves the
entire island Of Cuba in possession of
h insurgents and leaves himself with
out a source or base of supplies.
The Madrid government must realize
this condition as clearly as any, and Its
wrath will no doubt be visited on the
head of the butcher who has been out
generated at every point, and who, but
for his navy, could be whipped into the
sea before another week"
The Cuban junta yesterday received
d letter from General Maxine Gomez,
dated Ciengo Majeso, Dec. %. In it
Gomez tells of the receipt OF arms, am
munition and other supplies. He sends
his thanks for the prompteness with
which the cargoes have been forwarded
to him. and adds that in the future he
will let the junta know where to for
ward to him other supplies and ammu-
nition.