New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-26
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
PALMA WANTS MILITIA.
Neither Side Ready for Battle
Cabinet Crisis Settled.


The pay of chiefs of battalions and regiments
will be 5000 a month. adjutants s125 a month.
captains 800 a month and soldiers 50 day. All
volunteers disabled will receive full pay during
the period of disturbance. and in case of their
death the money will go TO their dependent heirs.
"Plno" Guerra and his men still constitute
the strongest group in the revolutionary move
ment against the government but neither Guerra
nor the government forces sent out against him
seem yet to be ready 10 engage in a decisive
fight for the mastery. The force under Guerra
is concentrating among the Bolondron hills. be-
tween San Juan Martinez and Guanes. In
Pnar del Rio Province.
In the mean while hundreds of families ac-
counted to be the friends of Guerra peace
fully working their rice and tobacco fields in
that region The inhabitants of the district who
have not belligerent inclnations do not appear To
care whether Guerra Colonel Avalos, the COM
mander of the rural guards, eventually prevails.
STRENGTH OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS.
Officials at Havana while they decline to give
details regarding the strength of the govern
ment forces at San Juan Martinez, inti-
mate tonight that it is much larger than they
have hitherto permitted to be known. This is
fully confirmed by the correspondent who is
with the government troops. The correspondent
telegraphs that Colonel AvalOs has with him 20
artillerymen and that he is accompanied by
Colonel Bacallao with 200 recruits. 100 infantry
men and few mounted rural guards. General
Rodriguez. commander of the rural guards, said
tonight that the government would send rein
forcements to Pinar del Rio tomorrow. Ro-
driguez says he is not aware OF the exact nu-
merical strength of Guerra's forces. but he does
not believe he has anything like 1000 men. He
apparently is confident that the present cam
paign will result In disaster to Guerra.
AdIiCpS received from COrresDOndent San
Juan Martinez declare that the troops under
Colonel AvaIos are loyal to the government and
confident of victory.
Up to the present time the government has
not suffered a reverse of any consequence and
to-day IL chrOnicled further victories. The prin-
cipal Of these came result of an attack by
$50 mounted rural guards under Major Gomez
upon Reinoso's band of 200 insurgents at Casca-
jail. Santa Rosa. This engagement came
at the end of a three days pursuit of the enemy.
forced march brought the government forces
suddenly upon the rebels After the first ex-
change of shots the rural guards chased the
enemy. who had dispersed and fled. and in
fiicted severe punishment with maChetes. A re-
port of this occurrence received by General Ro-
driguez this evening says at least twenty of the
rebels were killed wounded. This makes the
engagement the most serious yet fought. The
rural guards did not sustain serious injury.
tories for the government.
OFFICIALS MUCH ENCOURAGED
Those who are responsible for the conduct of
affairs are considerably encouraged and are per-
fecting every day systematic methods to down
the insurrection. Furthermore. it is undeniable
that there is some discouragement among the
cOnspratOrs. who, week ago. had hoped that
the Moderates would be swept out of power inn
mediately.
Hundreds of volunteers are enlisting every
day. The battalion formed to-day, clad In new
uniforms big straw hats and belts and leggings.
looked stronger and more fit than any yet mus
tered Their officers mostly veterans. al
though there are few volunteers among them.
Men who were in the employ of the American
government during the period of its intervention
in Cuba are organizing company to serve as
part of the Havana militia They using $500
of their benefit fund for it's equipment.
The government is most active in measures TO
provision and supply the men In the field, and it
is leaving no stone unturned in earnest endeavor
to protect itself. striking feature of the situa-
ton is the comparative indifference of the
masses of the people The average Cuban takes
little interest in the trend of affairs. Havana
Province is still plagued with revolutionary
bands numbering from ten to hundred. Ma
tanzas is quiet, but not free from roaming in
surgents. There has been conflict in Santa
Clara Province and another is expected there
when the force of rural guards and volunteers
from CenfuegOs meets the men under ex-Con-
gresham Carlos Mendieta. Oriental Cuba,
which has in past revolts been regarded as a
hotbed of revolution, is redeeming its repu-
tation and remaining quiet and loyal
Employees of the railroad reported to-day that
the government forces had marched out to meet
the enemy but II was subsequently learned that
they were only maneuvrng. Everything is
quiet at San Juan Martinez tonight. The
government troops there are awaiting orders.
Colonel Avalos has returned 10 the town of Pinar
del Rio to spend the night and arrange for the
disposition Of other troops.
BUSINESS MEN WANT PEACE.
In the mean time business is at a standstilL
The commercial interests while with President
Palma. desire more than anything else perma-
nentIy settled conditions. If the disorders con-
tinue for two or three months Spanish business
interests as we'll as American, British. German
and Canadian, would welcome American inter-
vention The subject. however is delicate
that it is not much discussed except in private.
An American who has just returned from the
Province of Santa Clara, where he visited sew
eraI towns. says that the people there are ex-
cited and e ratio, rule. He does not be-
Iieve that there Will be a general insurrectiOn.
but says that the insurrectionary movement, |
under strong leadership, might easily become !
powerful enough to sweep away the Palma gov |
ernment there.
A dispatch from Remedies, Province OF Santa |
Clara, this afternoon. announced that another !
insurgent band, commanded by Colonel Severi- |
ano Garcia and Captain Cepeda, who formerly |
was captain OF the rural guards had taken the
field against the government forces. The dis !
patch added that Quentin Bravo. the famous