The record-union., 1897-07-10
The Strength Of the Forces Estimated at
from 1900 TO 5000 Men.
Believed to Be Either a Scheme to
Embarrass WeyIer or to Detract
Attention From General Gomez,
Who Is Supposed to Be Hem
med in by Spanish Columns
Near Sancti Spiritus.

HAVANA, July 8. - The threatened
invasion of Matanzas province by the
insurgents has been begun. Several
large bodies of Cubans have crossed the
line from Santa Clara, and the strength
of force in the westward movement is
estimated from 1900 to 5000.
La Cret and Herie, who recently
crossed the Jucaro-Moron trocha, and
passed into Santa Clara from Camag-
uey, have united with other leaders,
and there are now five or six chiefs,
each with a considerable following,
moving into Matanzas, where the insur-
gent forces We're ordered to mobilize.
Men have been summoned from the
plantations around and ordered west
ward
Whether the movement was ordered
to embarrass General Weyler or to dis
tract attention from General Gomez,
who is supposed to be hemmed in by
Spanish columns near Sancti Spiritus,
is not yet clear. It may do both.
General W'eyler will hardly continue
to press operations in Santiago de Cuba
If the insurgents concentrate in num-
bers in Matanzas, and he may cease
his long-continued pursuit of the head
of the rebel forces, not connected with
westward movement of the insurgents.
General Weyler is near Sancti Spiritus.
The wet weather has already made
transportation of troops difficult, with
the ranks being constantly thinned by
sickness. General Weyler may find it
difficult to stop the progress of Gomez
latest move The purpose of the gath
ering in MatanzaS is said to cover the
landing of an expedition which is due
in that province, and which will fur
nish the combined forces with some ad-
ditional arms and cartridges and sew
eral rapid-fre field gums
After receiving this expedition the
programme mapped out by General
Gomez is for an advance across Matan-
Zas province. a junction with the forces
in Havana province, and if all goes
well, a demonstration near the city Of
Havana itself.
The Generals plan of concentration
was circulated here in confidence among
the Cubans a fortnight ago. 1t was
known that the forces in this province
had riders to meet the other bodies at
the Matanzas line.
Quirtin Banderas, who recently came
from the East with 1,600 men, and who
was in Melena del Sur two weeks ago,
has gone to Matanzas. The entire force
of rebels under Castillo in this prov
ince is ready to join with this eastern
province.
Ducasse and his force of $500 to
5000 men may come from Pinar del
Rio to take part in the movement.
General Calixto Garcia will remain
IN, CO 11,-
all the other leaders of prominence of
the insurgent side have been ordered to
meet in Matanzas.
Just what opposition the Spanish
troops will make to this movement is
not certain.
General Weyler is expected in Matan-
zas daily. His dispatch from Santi-
ago was sudden. Whether he started
West to take part in the attempt to
corner Gomez or to strengthen his
forces between the rebel bodies and the
camp is not known.
His announcement that the inland
city of Bayomao is to be abandoned by
the Spanish and his withdrawal from
the eastern province caused surprise
here, as it is only a week since he
moved large bodies of troops to Santi-
ago for the declared purpose of wip-
ing out the last vestige of the re-
bellion there.
The sudden activity in the rebel ranks
after the rainy season has we'll begun
shows that they are able to move de-
spite the muddy condition of the roads
and frequent drenchings which they
must receive.
Any forced marches Of large bodies
of Spanish troops to head off the rebel
movement must result in heavy losses
from sickness, hardship and exposure