The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-16

New York, Feb. ia dispatch to
the Sun from Havana says: The mar
quis of Ahumada, second in command
day. a dispatch from General Weyler
urgently demanding a reinforcement
of $1,000 soldiers to help him in Las
Villas. Though this fact has been
kept out of the newspapers and away
from the general public, it is well
known in official circles and by in
fiuential Spaniards, and has created a
great sensation.
Weyler is afraid of the advance of
General Gomez, now in progress, and
thinks that the $4,000 regular Spanish
soldiers under his command in Las
Villas, besides the 5000 or 1000 volun-
teers and guerrilla forces there, are
not enough to check the Cuban leader.
The Spaniards have taken refuge in
the towns and fortifications, leaving
the country TO the control of Gomez.
Without reinforcements. Weyler does
not dare to attack the CuDans.
Gomez, however. keeps moving from
one place to another in the province,
but all the while advancing slowly to
the west, keeping Weyler in constant
uncertainty about his intentions.
1t is known here that the concentra-
ton under Gomez of the various bands
of insurgents in the province of Santa
Clara has resulted in a well-armed
corps of more than 5000 men, The
main object of Gomez for the present
is to prevent Weyler from allowing the
sugar estates of Las Villas to grind
cane, and at the same time to give
battle to him if he dares to fight in
place chosen by the Cuban leader.
Here in Havana the situation is no
more favorable to the Spaniards than
in Las Villas.
The 1000 Cubans who are on the hills
of Cavilan are constantly harrass-
ing the neighboring town of Mana
qua and the Havana suburbs. Their
flags displayed on the hills are seen
from the capitol.
Great uneasiness prevails here on
account of all this, and Gomez ap-
proach fills the authorities were keenest
anxiety. A. the same time, the finan-
cial situation is desperate. The news.
that the government is willing TO ex-
tend to $50 600 600 the issue already
made of $4,000 900 in bank notes has
created a panic. The merchants pro-
test against such a measure as that
means the total ruin of the country.
Daily ruins are attempted on the
Spanish bank of the island of Cuba
but a strong force of military police
guard the doors. Those who try to
enter are arrested or assaulted by the
soldiers. Finally the crowd disperses
and every one goes home protesting
against the bank and the government.
But they do not dare to revolt openly,
for fear of helping the insurrection.
The issue of SO 900. 900 more in paper
money is considered as the first signal
Of the hankruptcv of Spain. to be fol-
lowed by general suspension of re
ments. This policy during the last
war ruined thousands of Spaniards.
The proposed reforms continue to be
bitterly criticised. The Cubans here
believe that the reforms will never be
established. and that the Spanish gov
eminent issued the decree only be-
cause Canovas feared that with the
change of administration in the United
States there might be a change of
policy with regard to Cuba and so he
will try to delay any action by Nc
Kinley's cabinet by asking time to
establish the new regime and show re-
suits.