The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-14
Since Taking Command He Has Not
Achieved IN single Great Success,
Either Military or Diplomatic.
plNAR DEL RIO NOT PACIFIED
AND l. OF CUBA EXCEPT THE
CITIES IN CONTROL OF REBELS.
No Truth I'm the Report that Gomez,
Who Is Advancing East, Contem-
plates Surrender or Compromise.

~
HAVANA. Jan. II. via Key West, Jan. 13.
Captain General WeyIer is in a very bad
humor and seemingly with good reason.
He was. with difficulty, dissuaded a day
or two ago from sending Senior Pena. cor
respondent Of the Madrid Heraldo. to MORO
Castle. and the newspaper man in ques-
ton is not safe from the Spanish COM
mander, who Was aroused by the criticisms
OF the conduct of the campaign in Cuba.
To such a degree has the captain general
felt his i'll temper that nobody outside of
his military and civil advisers has been able
to see him since his latest return from the
held That he is in danger of recall no.
body here for Il moment doubts, in spite
Of many official and semi-official denials
from Madrid, for il is remembered that
the same course was followed by the gov
eminent in the case of the recall OF Marshal
Martinez de Campos. Weyler cannot truth
fully be said to have achieved a single sue
cess, diplomatic. administrative, military or
otherwise. There are probably more insur-
gents. better-armed and supplied. in Pinar
del Rio at the present time than at any
time since the instruction broke out.
General Weyler once openly remarked that
the western part Of that province alone
contained 1900 armed men and that large
additional bands OF insurgents were hover
ing about his trocha. The Spanish COM
mander sent $1,000 men against the little
insurgent army. and the latter, acting
with admirable strategy. seemed to disap-
pear. and the best efforts of the Spanish
generals have failed to discover their
whereabouts. Gomez is pushing onward TO
the east with all the men he can muster,
vuhfla Of H. M tn, hs. ~.
treat.
The insurgent bands are, in the mean
while. carrying the torch to the very gates
OF Havana The flames of burning prop
erty can be seen from the roof OF the cap
tain generals palace. the sound of firearms
has been frequently heard of late i'm the
suburbs and except to hold the cities. the
Spaniards are absolutely powerless. though
they have burned every roof capable OF
sheltering n wounded insurgent. destroying
everything likely to- give them food and in
every way trying 10 crush the struggle for
freedom. not in an open conflict in the
field, but by adopting the very anarchistic
tactics they taunt the Cubans with en-
ploying. including the burning of the in
surgent hospitals and the Strengthening of
the helpless sufferers, according to all re-
ports.
The civil governor is known TO be using
his influence with the commercial bodies
here TO bring about Weyler's recall, and
protests against his conduct have been sent
TO Madrid recently in great numbers and
couched in the most emphatic terms of dis.
gust and disapproval. All efforts to cable
such matter TO Madrid from here have been
frustrated by the captain general. But this
has not prevented several urgent messages
being sent from Key West to Madrid. and
IT is believed the action taken will not
fail to have the desired effect in the near
future. The movement against Weyler has
It's root in the most influential circles-the
very quarters where Spain counts her
stanchest supporters-and, therefore, IL is
not believed possible hat the government
can much longer ignore the fact that little
or nothing can be lone towards the real
solution of the Cuban question so long as
Weyler is captain general of the island.
His military intapacity is not the only fea-
ture complained off. The air is full of ru-
mors OF rotten contracts, OF soldiers suffer-
ing from lack OF food, medicine. and ammu-
milton. which. by some means or other,
have fallen into the hands OF the insur-
gents or have entirely failed to material
lie. Even the army contractors nave
turned against the captain general and
that. as military men are aware, means a
great deal.
The rum0r that MaXlmo Gomez was con-
templating surrendering to the Spanish au-
thorities has been traced to Spanish official
sources. as u. dal. and is pronounced by
friends of the Cubans. who are always well
informed. TO be utterly false. They say
that as long aS General Weyler Is in Cuba
no proposition looking to a peaceful settle
ment of the Cuban question Will be accept
ed by the insurgent leaders. although IL Is
known that u strong party of insurgents
now under arms is in favor of accepting a
fair home-rule proposition as soon as the
details can be determined upon. The war
party" however. prevails against the
''peace party the former being strength
ened. IL Is said. by assurances received
from the New York Junto that if the Span
iards do not succeed in crushing the rebels
or in bringing about a peaceful settlement
of the questions at issue before next au-
tumn the United States will interfere and
bring about the establishment of "a republic
OF Cuba
The general which the Spanish party here
desires in place of Weyler is Polavieja. now
captain general of the Philippine Islands.
Polavieja. who knows Cuba thoroughly. is
said by the Spaniards TO be an honest man
and a general who can be counted on 10
terminate the war in shore order.
The advent OF Gomez into the western
part OF Cuba Is liable 10 he the straw which
Will turn the tide i'm favor of Weyler's re-
call. and is only held hack because the
Spanish ministry does not like to be placed
I'm the position of giving way In this matter
TO the inflammation which the captain
general and his methods have met with I'm
the American newspapers
References to the advance OF General Co
meZ and the utterances OF the friends of
Cuba in the United States Congress are be-
ing pretty well distributed among the
Cuban sympathiZers here and I'm other parts
of the island. and are understood to be do
ing much towards counteracting the blow
which the inSurgent cause suffered through
the death OF Antonio Maceo.
The statement was given out at the pal
ace to-day that Emilio Coilazo and Eduardo
Garcia. well-known insurgent commanders.