Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-02
RIVERA'S ARMY
Weyler's Latest Promenade in Pinar del Rio
Proves Successful.
INSURGENTS SCATTER BEFORE SPANISH
Remnants of Mnceo's Forces Flee in
All Directions and Leave the
Province In Hands of the
Impcriulists.

tCopyrignt, 1897, by Press Publishing Company)
HAVANA, Jan. 1.-(New York World
Cablegram 49, Special Telegram.) - General
Weyler arrived at Candelaria yesterday and
will reach Havana probably on Sunday. The
reporter of the World has obtained from the
captain general his account OF his latest
operations in pinar del Rio. He says he
proceeded west as far as Palacios a town
on the Western railway, which | visited ten
days ago; thence he moved northward to the
slope of the hill country, which is the last
resort of the insurgents. He found no
armed bands in the open country. All the
Spanish columns in Pinar del Rio were put
in motion simultaneously with the front,
which was Immediately commanded by Cen
eral Weyler General Melquzo operated north
of Consolation del Sur, General Obregon
went into the hills northward from San
Cristobal. General Hernandez, General In
clan, Colonel Segura and Colonel Alsina
swept all roads and paths in the
hills, moving from the north coast
side; General Aroas went out from
Artemisa, and swept through the hills NOV
Ing westward General Weyler explicitly
stated that there wero not 500 armed insur-
met no bands and he returned without see
ing more than four or five insurgents to-
gether at n distance The Spanish columns
that went through the hills, except that OF
Colonel Segura met little bands OF insur-
gents who fed into the thickets when fired
on. The total number Of insurgents killed
whose bodies were found, was thirtyseven
the wounded eight and the prisoners ten.
General Weyler stated that sickness
wounds and starvation have wrought havoc
emong the small remnants of the Insurgents.
Ruis Rivera leads the insurgents. He Is
ambitious to succeed Maceo, but Weyler says
he Is a dead failure. He is without pres
tige. and is incapable of holding the in
surgents together. He has not got their con-
fidence. Weyler said he would now en-
courage agriculture in the province. The few
rebels there now were nothing more than
bandits He will also stimulate agriculture
in Havana province. The captain general
cgngratulates the army on practically clear
irg pinar del Rio OF insurgents, but he will
permit no rebuilding of houses until the
paclfication of the province Is complete
ROUT OUT RIVERA.
have already cabled that the only Span
ish commanders who met any considerable
force of insurgents during the operations
were Colonel Segura and Colonel Obregon
Segura's orders were to proceed from Bahia
Honda. on the north coast up the valley of
the same name. 1t being known that Ruis
Rivera was hidden In that locality. He
pushed rapidly forward and on December
26 before daylight, near Hoyos, he hred on
small group OF insurgents on the hillside
who dispersed Segura found their camp
OF palm leaf huts, with indications that it
was Rivera's headquarters. Proceeding up
the valley toward Cabezadas, he threw out
two companies of the battalion Zamora, as
skirmishers, who swept up the slope OF hills
They soon reached the insurgents, who were
on the further side of a small stream. The
battalion Zamora fired on the insurgents,
who were partially concealed by smoke from
burning grass. Colonel Segura with several
companies went up the hillside and occu-
pied position nanking tho insurgents. He
placed two pieces Of mountain artillery on
another hill enhading the enemy. Some
of the companies of the battalion of Merida
got a position on the insurgents left and the
latter broke and scattered up the slope be-
hind them seeking cover like so many rats.
Most of the insurgents seen were negroes,
presumed to be the small remainder OF those
who followed Antonio Maceo west from San
tiago province. The Spanish oihcers con-
slider them the only fighting men among the
Insurgents They fled up the narrow valley,
leaving many dead. General Obregon's col
umn arrived on the scene, coming from the
rear of the insurgents position by road
from San Crstobal. The total number OF
insurgents was about 400. Among the bodies
found was that of well dressed man, evl-
IDENTIFY an American. He had been killed by
q shell wound in the head. Ruis Rivera
who commanded the party, was severity
wounded II is announced that the Spanish
loss was two killed and one lieutenant and
sixteen soldiers wounded.
The foregoing confirms the intelligence
that obtained during my visit to Pinar del
Rio, which cabled to the World last week,
The rebellion in that province is In the last
extremity.
General Melqulzo reports having killed
nineteen armed insurgents; General Arolas
reports four killed, captured and wounded;
General Hernandez seven killed; Colonel
Alslna four killed. captured and wounded;
General Inclan two killed and many pris-
oners Colonel Alsinas column captured an
insurgent storeplace containing 10000 Mauser
rife cartridges and 900 Remington rifle
cartridges.
CONDITION AT GUANABACOA.
I have continued to investigate the al
legged killing OF the citizens OF the town OF
Guanabacoa, previously reported. | arranged
with experienced and responsible persons to
remain in the town for two days to obtain
Information. The result confirms my previ-
Gus dispatch on the subject. The consul
general also has an agent In the place. |
find that the denial cent to the World
by Acting Governor General Ahumada Is
sustained by facts In Guanabacoa The
town contains numerous sympathi2ers with
the rebellion; II has been a favorite point
from which to communicate with the insur-
gents The government determined TO stop
It.. placed In command there an unusually
strict officer, who issued a proclamation and
made several arrests of sympathiZers. The
residents became excited, AMI set aloat
wildly exaggerated stories which have been
sent to the United States by way of Tampa.
Another sensational story circulated In Ha-
vana. that insults were offered to the con-
sul's sign at Cardenas is, as am assured
by the acting governor, entirely unfounded