The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-08
OVERTURES
BLOCKED BY GUERRA
Insurgent Leader Blows Up
Bridges as Answer
FORCES BETTER EQUIPPED
Rebels Seem to Have MOI Expert
enced Men and LargeNS ses
Than the cukSS
Army. Sc
81

Havana, Septembe' . ; All peace over
lures are blocked 20 refusal of Pine
Guerra, insurgent r in Pinar del Rio
province, to ents o any arrangement
for an armistice. ,lerra's answer to the
governments announcement of its readi-
ness to grant a ten days armstice is the
blowing up of two brgades on the West
ern railway, the cutting off of railway
communication beyond Pinar del Rio city,
and an attack on San Juan de Martinez.
1t is believed that San Juan de Martinez
is In the hands of the insurgents, and that
the garrison of one hundred government
recruits and small force of mounted
rural guards has been defeated or cap
tured The fact that other leaders of the
insurrection are willing TO agree to an
armistice, can have little effect so long
as Guerra is determined to prosecute the
war, as there is light doubt in any quar-
ter that Guerra can control the situation
in his region. His force is reported as
more than 5000 men, all we'll mounted,
some well and others indifferently armed
The opposing government force under
command of Colonel Avalos comprises
about 1000 men, 1t was reinforced this
evening by Lieutenant Clews with 150 men
and three machine guns from Havana.
Colonel Avalos force with. the exception
of small detachments left at San Juan de
Martinez and San Luis, is at Pinar del
Rio city, but is without means of trans
portation to go to the relief of San Juan
de Martinez.
Was Not Informed.
General Menocal said tonight that Guer-
ra evidently had not been informed that
the government had actually granted an
armistice, adding that a second committee
had been sent to him, but could not reach
him before tomorrow. However, Guerra
refuses point blank to accept an armistice.
except on condition that the late elections
be annulled.
That the government should consent to
this is out of the question. and so tonight
every prospect points to the continuance
of the war.
In connection with Pine Guerra's at
titude 1t is notable that the liberals have
grown more independent They say that
on account of the governments sur
veillance, and prosecutions, they will no
longer hold meetings and that it is use
less to consider peace under the circum
stances.
Several prominent veterans arrived to-
day from eastern Cuba. but the veterans
peace conferences are proceeding but
poorly. in view of today's developments.
The talk of the veterans is tending to
become more aggressive and they urge
action rather than peace endeavors as be-
ing the more practicable means of end
ing hostilities
May Bring Trouble.
n 81 Of an
lish company's railroad bridge as a serious
matter, and likely to invite international
action by Great Britain, and at least an
Interrogation of the government at Wash
ington by Great Britain as to what the
former intends to do. Most of the Havana
veterans speak with much concern or the
disparity in number of government troops
as compared with the insurgents and also
of the fact that while great many of
the latter are veterans. the former are
made of youth unused to hardships and
largely unmounted. 1t Is generally ac-
knowledged that the insurrectionists
especially in Pinar del Rio province are
in greater numbers, better equipped, arm
ed. mounted and fed. than was Maxine
Gomezs command in It's best fighting
days. Government officials fully appre-
ciate the gravity of the situation but are
still hopeful that the news of the ten
DAYS armistice announced by the gov
ernment today will have the effect of
causing a cessation of hostilities until all
concerned shall have obtained an under
standing of the peace proposals.
Train Has Not Arrived.
General Manager Livesey of the West
ern railroad, tonight informed the AS
ISOLATED Press that the special train car
rying machine guns and troops from Ha-
vana had not arrived at Pinar del Rio
this evening. Upon reaching Las Sovas
1t was found that n freight train preced-
ing 1t was neld up hy a large number
of rebels. Tho troops train was unable
to pass and after exchanging fire with
the rebels 1t returned to Las Palacios
According to a telegraphic report the
train was obliged to come back be-
cause the locomotive was out of watef.
The railroad officials are unable to un-
derstand the matter as the first and last
cars of the train were steel armored,
and the troops could safely have forti-
field themselves in them
No Representations.