Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
FORCES IN CUBA
FUTILE TO STOP
ACTS OF REBELS
Havana is Menaced and the
Situation Serious.
ATTACK ARMORED TRAIN
Telegraph Lines Are Being Torn Down
and Bridges Burned.
20 KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED
Minor Encounters Reported in MANY
Places-Three Hours Fighting
Small Hope of Peace.
ATTACK ARMORED TRAIN
Telegraph Lines Are Being Torn Down
and Bridges Burned.
20 KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED

Havana may be taken. There
are persistent rumors that the
rebels intend to attack the city, and
the water supply may be cut off.
The situation grows hourly more
serious. Telegraph lines are being
destroyed, bridges burned, and
there was three hours hard fight
ing today. There is great opposi-
ton to an extra session of Con-
gress. Minor encounters are re-
ported near Placetas. Peace is a
distant vista.
HAVANA, September S-There are large
forces of rebels south and west of Havana
and persistent rumors are current that :,
is their intention to attack the city. aided
oy reoeis within. The city militia. which
was enlisted for special purpose of guard
ing the outskirts of Havana is reinforced
nightly by such rural guards as are in Ha-
vana, especially in the vicinity of Veto
springs, which supply water to the CITY.
A strong party of rebels is engaged in de-
stroyfng telegraph lines near Herradura-
'hirty miles east of the city of Pinar del
Rlo. An armored train with $50 men and
rapid-fire guns left Palacios shortly after
noon today for Herradura. Commander
Diaz, who was In command of the armored
train, has ben superseded by Col. Tabares
1t is expected that the train will he at
tackled In front and rear and that Colone,
Avaios, commander-in-chief of the govern
ment forces in Pinar del Rio, will be sur
rounded on all sides.
The principal features in the revolt to-
day were attempts by the Western railway
to get trains as far toward Pinar del Rio as
possible and the advancement of an ar
mored train with machine guns and re-
cruits to the country now occupied by the
insurgents. Wire communication, both by
railroad and government lines, was cut re-
peatedly farther east tonight, and neither
the railroad nor the government is able TO
communicate beyond Paso Real, thirty
two miles east of Pinar del Rio city.
Train Encountered Rebels.
The armored troop train which returned
to Palacios Friday night started this after
noon westward from Paso Real Between
La Herradura and Consolation Del Sur it
encountered revolutionists. 1t is thought
the troop train got through to the vicinity
of Puerta Golpe. where two more RAILROAD
bridges were blown up this morning.
Four hundred more reinforcements left
Havana this afternoon to cooperate with
the machine gun corps in an endeayor to
reach Col. Avalos at Pinar del Rio and an
other machine gun battery started for
Santa Clara on an armored train, which is
taken to indicate that the government doe.
not .overseriously regard the so-called Jun
official armistice. The government is un-
willing to admit of cessation of hostilities
or the of an armistice 1t is consid-
-ered that the use of the sword armistice
would mean recognition of belligerency.
No Peace at Hand.
The veterans who are searching for
peaceful means of settlement of the Difficult
ties profess that the Santa Clara and Ha-
vana insurrectionists are ready to quit and
turn against Guerra if he does moi show a
similar tendency; but Guerra's conduct and
especially the attitude of the liberals in Ha-
vana, who supposedly are members and ad-
visers of the revolutionary jun:a totally
precludes the probability that peace is at
hand. A. permanent veterans peace COM
mittee was constituted today, and includes
besides Gen. MeEocal, Gems. Nodarse Ce-
breco, Recio, Agramont, Molinet and Padro
and Col. Lazo. The cigar and cigarette
manufacturers and the 25OO0 men and
women employed in those industries in Ha-
vana are awakening to an appreciation OF
the consequences of there being no crop of
Pinar del Rio tobacco. The number of per-
sons more or less directly employed in the
Havana factories with their dependents is
estimated to approach 100000 The factories
exclusively use Pinar del Rio and Havana
tobacco.
The Havana factories must. unless the in
surrection ends soon, suspend work next
summer for year or more or until the
crop planted a year hence is available.
cured and sorted.
Indications for the city are exceedingly
blue 1t is claimed that the best tobacco
regions never before were to tied up by
insurrection.
Still Hold Armored Train.
The Western railway at 8 o'clock this
evening received telegram from Paso Real
saying that the band commanded by the
Paix brothers was still holding up the arm
ored troop train between Herradura and
Consolation del Sur and that firing was
continuing. The dispatch adds that Col.
AvaIos' troops in Pinar del Rio city un-
doubtedly are surrounded.
The mayor Of Guayabal. near Guanajay.
has Joined the Insurgents. He was followed