Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1896 — WEYLER IN COMMAND. [ARTICLE]

WEYLER IN COMMAND.

At Once Reviews Troops and Issues a Proclamation. \ aleriano Weylor, new captain general of Cuba, arrived at Havana Monday, and was tendered an ovation by the loyal Spanish. Alter taking the oath of office, lie reviewed the troups, ami issued a proclamation declaring that, backed as he was by all Spain’s resources, he should never give up Cuba to the insurgents. He appealed to the gallantry of the army and navy, and especially to the loyal inhabitants, native or Spanish born. He announced his purpose to be generous to the subdued, and to all who render service to the Spanish cause. The plan of campaign of Gen. Weyler is not known. He is likely to call in all the small detachments of troops which have from the first had such a weakening effect upon the Spanish operations, and he will try to drive the insurgents into a position from which they cannot escape without a pitched battle. He will endeavor to protect property to the utmost, but in so doing lie anticipates being able to call in several thousand men who are doing small garrison duty in places where apparently there is no necessity for their presence now. Gen. Weyler will also do everything jiossible to muster as strong a force of cavalry as lie can. Considerable rc-euforcoinents of this branch of the service have already arrived, and more are expected. In short, his first efforts will be directed to concentrating his forces and restoring public confidence. Later he will try to engage the insurgents, who are understood to be concentrating their forces in anticipation of having a much more difficult task before them than they have had up to the present. In fact, some reports credit the insurgents with desiring to concentrate all their scattered detachments and columns into one body, and so bring the insurrection to a direct issue. If so, there seems to be no doubt that the Spanish generals will uot put any obstacles in, the way of, the .insurgent conmmtdcrs. But Spaniards who are well posted on the situation say that there4s no.truth in thq report that the insurgents wilt make effort to risk a .pitched battle.