Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-26
THE REBEL FORCE
IS concentrating
Under Pine Guerra, the Rec
ognized Leader.
PALMA'S TROOPS MANEUVER
Neither Side Ready to Urge Decisive
Battle.
ENGAGEMENTS ARE SKIRMISHES
Many Volunteers Enlisting With the
Government-SmallR Revolutionary
Bands Infest the Provinces.
PALMA'S TROOPS MANEUvER
ENGAGEMENTS ARE SKIRMISHEs

HAVANA. August 25.-Congressman
Faustino Guerra, who goes under the nick
name of "Pino" Guerra, and the men under
him still constitute the strongest group in
the revolutionary movement against the
government, but neither Guerra nor tho
government forces sent out against him
| seem yet to be ready to engage in a decisive
| fight for the mastery.
The force under Guerra is concentrating
among the Bolondron hills, between San
Juan de Martinez and Guanes in Pinar del
Rio province. In the meanwhile hundreda
OF families accounted to be the friends OF
| Guerra are peacefully working their rico
| and tobacco fields in that region. The in
| habitants Of the district who have not
belligerent inclinations do not appear to
care whether Guerra or Col. Avalos, the
commander of the rural guards, eventually
prevails.
Omcials at Havana, while they decline to
| give details regarding the strength of the
| government forces now at San Juan dc
| Martinez intimate tonight that it is much
larger than they have hitherto permitted
| to be known. This is fully confirmed by
the correspondent of the Associated Press
VINO is with the government troops. Tho
/ correspondent telegraphs that Col. Avalos
has with him 80 artillery men, and that
he is accompanied by Col. Bacallao with
mas with him 23 artillerymen and a few
mounted rural guards. Gen. Rodriguez
commander of the rural guards, said to-
night that the government would send REIN
forcements to Pinar del Rio tomorrow.
Rodriguez says he is not aware of the ex-
act numerical strength of Guerra's force.
but he believes 1t totals anything like 20O0
men, He apparently is confident that the
present campaign WI result In disaster to
Guerra.
Advfces received from a correspondent
OF the Associated Press at San Juan DO
martinez declare that the troops under
Col Avalos are loyal to the government
and confident of victory.
Employees of the railroad reported today
that the government forces had marched
quently learned that they were only ma
neuver1ng. Everything is quiet at San
Juan de Martinez tonight. The govern
ment troops there are awaiting orders.
Col Avalos has returned to the town of
Plnar del Rio to spend the night and arr
range for the disposition of other troops.
No Reverse for Government.
Up to the present time the government
has not suffered a reverse of any conse-
quence, and today 1t chronicled further
victories. The principal of these came as
result of an attack by $50 mounted
rural guards under Maj Gomez upon
Reinoso's band of 200 insurgents at Cac-
caJal, near Santa Rosa. This engagement
came at the end of three days pursuit
OF the enemy. A forced march brought
the government troops suddenly upon the
revolutionists. After first exchange OF
shots the rural guards chased the enemy.
who had dispersed and fed, and inflicted
severe punishment with machetes.
A report of this occurrence received by
Gen. Rodriguez this evening says that at
1aac
killed or wounded. This makes the engage
ment the most serious yet fought. The
rural guards did not sustain serious in
jury. Minor encounters have resulted in
uniform victories for the government.
Those who are responsible for tn conduct
Of affairs are considerably encouraged and
are perfecting every day systematic meth
DDS to down the insurrection. Further
more, 1t Is undeniable that there is some
encouragement among the conspirators,
who. week ago. had hoped that the mod
crates would be swept out of power imme-
diately.
Many Volunteers Enlisting.
Hundreds of volunteers are enlist:ng sa
day. The battalion formed today, clad II
-ew uniforms, big straw hats and beta
andA leggings, looked stronger and more NJ
than any yet mustered. Their officers are
mostly veterans, although there are a few
volunteers among them.
- The government is most active in meas
ures to provision and supply the men In
the field and 1t is leaving no stone unturn-
ed in earnest endeavor to protect itself. A
striking feature of the situation is the COM
parative indifference of the masses of the
people. The average Cuban takes but lit
tie interest in the trend of events.
Havana province is still plagued with rev.
olutionary bands numbering from ten to
100. Matanzas is quiet, but not free from
roaming insurgents There has been one
conflict in Santa Clara province and another
is expected there when the force of rural
guards and volunteers from Cienfuegos
meet the men under ex-Congressman Calos
Mend:eta.
Insurgents Reported Dissatisfied.
Vice President Mendez informed the As
ISOLATED Press this afternoon that the in
surgents in the provinces of Pinar Del Rio.
and Havana are beginning to be dissatisfied
and returning to their homes. They
expected a dashipg coup detat. and many
of them had already selected positions they
hoped to occupy in the government service.
They are now changing their views fearing
capture and punishment
A prominent American who has just re-
turned here from the province of Santa
Clara, where he visited several towns, says
the people there are excited and erratic
as a rule. He does not believe there will
be a general insurrection, but he says that
the insurrectionary movement under strong
leadership might easily become powerful
enough to sweep away the Palma govern
lnent. 1t is, officially announced that near
Santa Rosa, province of Matanzas, this
150 rural guards commanded by
Capt. Gomez charged with the machete and
the rebeis under Rainozo, killing
seven and wounding one of them
The government lost one horse.
Found Little Excitement.
SAN JUAN DE MARTINEZ. August