The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
Surrounded by Thousands of Their
Side of the JucarO-MOrOn TrOcha.
GEN. PANDO NOT FAR AWAY
PREPARED TO OFFER INSURGENTS
ALMOST ANYTHING FOR PEACE.
Will Promise Everything Short of In
Their Arms and Cease Making War.

HAVANA, via Key West, Fla, March 49,
News has just reached this correspondent
from authentic sources that the autononlist
government, backed by the military authori-
ties and the government at Madrid, is now
playing its last card to secure peace in Cuba
and prevent Intervention on the part of the
United States. Near Palo Prioto and via
Jacas Gordasa, in the province of Santa
Clara on the west side of the Jucaro-Moron
trocha, are gathered several thousand in
surgents under command of Gen. Calixto
Garcia and other prominent chiefs accom-
panied by Senior Masso, President of the
Cuban republic, with several members of
his Cabinet. Also on the west side of the
trocha, in the district of Sancti Spiritus
less than thirty miles distant from General
Garcias forces, are stationed 1900 insur-
gents under Generals Panoho, Carrillo,
Montegudo, Lancliez Legion and Gonzales.
The Spanish commander General Pando,
| Generals Ramirez, Charvez and other gen
erals are within a few miles OF Gen. Calixto
Garcia. General Gomez is west of the Ju-
caro-Moron trocha within easy reach.
All the insurgent generals, President Mas
so and the insurgent officials with General
Garcia got through General Pando's lines
some time ago to begin 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-
ton to passing through the trocha the in
surgents turned General Pandos flank. 1t
| is just possible that this flank movement
was winked at by General Pando for the
purpose of attempting to carry out his ul-
ton of all concerned when the last advices
were received at the palace in Havana.
General Pandos purpose, to further which
he has ordered practical armistice in the
| eastern part of Cuba, is stated succinctly
as follows To have personal conference
with General Calixto Garcia, President Mas
so and other insurgents, and even with
General Gomez, if possible, and to make
them a formal offer of autonomy. according
to the programme drawn up by the Left, or
Radical wing Of that party. AS previously
cabed this offer Includes in return for
the ending of the insurrection, the dsarma-
ment and disbanding of all volunteers, COM
mercial treaties to be concluded without
Spanish interference, a maximum sum of
n no maid IN hHy
Cuba as the latters nominal suzerain, no
insurgents to be shot imprisoned on ac-
count of the existing insurrection, and no
insurgents to be sent as prisoners out of
Cuba for future political offenses.
The advices received here are, in sub
stance, that General Pando felt confident
of securing the conference, while on the
other hand Captain General BlSnco, Sec
retary General Congosto and the Spanish
staff officers of high rank and many radical
members of the autonomist government felt
sure that the proposition, being the best
ever offered and assuring practical inde-
pendence, would be accepted; that the re-
bellion would be declared at an end, and
that consequently all excuse for interven-
ton by the United States would be ended
Such views, however, were not held when
this dispatch was sent by those best ac-
quainted with General Gomez and his chiefs
nor by the Spanish Cuban merchants, bank
ers, editors or lawyers, the best class in
Havana. The latter were sure that nothing
but the proposition of Monte Cristo (the
granting of an indemnity to Spain, but abb
solute independence for Cuba) would ever
be considered by General Gomez or any of
his principal followers. In support of the
latter view it is officially announced that
after all the efforts near Manzanillo only
two privates of Salvador Ruiz's band sur
rendered. 1t is known, besides, that Cen
eral Pando. in order to advance his plans
for the proposed campaign in Santiago de
Cuba, greatly weakened all the trochas
taking from them several thousand men
and much artillery.
1t is regarded certain in weIl-inforned
circles here, that Generals Gomez and Gar
cia after refusing to confer with General
Pando, or. if they do confer, after refus-
| ing the terms offered. will take sufficient
cattle and provisions from the comparative
ly well-stocked plantations Immediately
west and then inaugurate raid on the pro-
vinces of Matanzas, Havana and probably
Pinar del Rio. appearing near here within