Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-20
PROPOSED CONFERENCE WITH GOMEZ
PandO Has an Odag 10 Make, Assuring
Practical Independence.
CUBANs EXPECTED TO SAY NAY.
Then, IL is Believed, They VIII Pro-
ceed to Raid Habana-Interyentfo
by the United States VIII Become
Imperative.
Imperative,

L.. DaGkef
by the military authorities here and IN,
Government at Madrid, is now playin,
It's last card 10 secure peace I'm Cuba anC
prevent Intervention on the part Of tn,
| United States. Near Palo Prito and via
Jacas Gordasa, in the province Of Santa
| Clara, on the west side of the Jucaro.
Moron trocha, are gathered several thou.
| sand insurgents under command of Gen
| eral Calixo Garcia and other prominent
| chiefs. accompanied by Senor Masso
| President Of the Cuban republic. with
several members OF his cabinet. Also on
the west side Of the trocha, I'm the dis
trict Of Sancti spiritus. less than thirty
miles distant from General Garcia s
forces, are stated to be 1000 insurgents,
under Generals Pancho, Garlic Montea-
guido, Lancliez, Legion, and Gonzalez.
The Spanish commander, General
Pando, with Generals Ramierez. Charvez,
and other generals, is within a few miles
Of General Calixo Garcia.
General Gomez is west of the Jucaro-
Moron trocha, within easy reach.
All the msurgent generals, President
Masso, and the insurgent officials. with
General Garcia, got through General
Pando's lines some time ago. and the
latter gave up the campaign. which was
to be grand military coup de grace"
in the province of Santiago de Cuba or
province OF Puerto Principe. But in addi-
tion to passing through the trocha, the
insurgents turned General Pandos flank.
1t is just possible, however. that this
nank movement was winked at by Cen
eral Pando for the purpose OF attempt-
ing TO carry out his Interior political
purpose.
Such was the position Of all concerned
when the last advices were received at
the Palace in Habana.
General Pandos purpose, TO further
which he has ordered a practical armi- |
stice in the eastern part of Cuba, is stated
succinctly as follows:
THE AUTONOMIsT PROPOSITION |
- have a personal conference with
General CaliXO Garcia, President Masso |
ana other insurgents, and even with Cen
eral Gomez, if possible. and to make |
them formal offer of autonomy. ac-
cording to the programme drawn up by
The left or radical wing of that party As /
previously cabled, this offer includes. I'm |
return for the ending Of the insurrectfon |
me disarmament ald dishandinq sf en- |
'oiunteers; commercial treaties TO be con-
,luded without Spanish Interference n
maximum sum Of 100000 annually TO be
laid to Spain by Cuba, as the Iatter's |
lominal suzerain; no insurgents 10 be
not or imprisoned on account Of the |
Nlsung insurrection, and no insurgents
o be sent as prisoners out Of Cuba for
uture political offences
The adyices received here are in sub
tance that General Pando felt confident
f securing the conference, and that Cap
BlanCo, Secretary CongOsto. |
spanish staff officers Of high rank. and
Lany radical members of the Autoqomist |
Government felt sure that the prnoosi-
ion, being the best ever offered and as
uring practical independence. would be
ccepted, that the rebellion would be de-
Jared at an end, and that consequently.
il excuse for Intervention by the United
tates would be ended. Such views, how
ver were not held when this dispatch
as sent by those best acquainted with
eneral Gomez and his ccnfreres. ior bv
ne Spanish-Cuban merchants. bankers
Ttors, and lawyers, the best class I'm
Iabana. The latter We're sure that no.
hing but absolute independence for Cuba
1
ny Of his principal followers.
In support OF the latter view. there IS
fcially announced a failure Of .he ef
rts made near Manzanillo. only two pri-
ites Of Ruiz's band having surrendered |
1t is known besides that General Pan
}, in order 10 advance his plans Cor the $
opposed campaign IN Santiago de Cuba. |
'eatly weakened all the trochas, taking
ON them several thousand men and .
uch artillery. !
CUBANS WILL RAID HABANA. '
It is regarded as certain, in well-in- !
rmed circles here. that Generals Gomez I
Id Garcia, after refusing to confer with /
neral Pando, or if they do confer. after 1
fusing the terms offered, will take suf- !
lent cattle and provisions from the y
well-stocked ranches i'm :
ediately west, and then inaugurate | n
ld upon the provinces OF MatanZas and c
lbana, and probably that of Pinar del h
o, operating near here within fifteen or r
;hteen days, which is considered posi- y
e. ~
4etters received here from prominent
Economists in the provinces of Santa |
IRA and Puerto Principe have been
own TO this correspondent. The writer's "
: not favorable TO the United States ~
d they still cling to the theory of auto h,
my, and class as false the assertions &
It the Spanish soldiers are "unuaid L
j unfeG, and living in towns. while d
r officers are consplring against the NJ
tonomist government, and refuse 10 ~
,e the field. either denying the per- 20
ience of the insurgents or saying. | NJ
/ the troops who are in favor of auto
ny. fight its battles A"
ther letters from the same source in x
that all the plans laid to secure the
render Of the insurgents have been "a
ly conceived and poorly executed. ~
ase letters add that only I'm isolated a.
ances have any of the insurgents laid III
IN their arms. and the insurgent Il,
Ter, Masso, who surrendered, Il Is still tr
her asserted w9s prescribed by Gene US
Gomez, and was liable 10 be tried by th
rt-martial, while OF the 100 insurgents III
, surrendered with him at Fomento.
e than half were back with the insur- III
is within a fortnight.
END OF AUTONOMY. is
ne general opinion seems to be that ~, yO
Pando conference will In any event. a.
the end Of autonomy, and the most Is
guine assert that it will make the in Fr
ention of the United States impera- J
Those who hold this Wow claim OF
the Intervention of the United States ~ ~
be necessary to prevent outrages %,
en- would disgrace civilization, and
10 protect American citizens I'm Cuba
lder the circumstances. news from the
Ie Of the conference is awaited here c
! the greatest anxiety. II.
spite of oficial and other denials, me
) believed that serious troubles for Ia Ia
=, In Porto Rico are Imminent and | -