It is reported that General Gomez is in Santa Clara, and Weyler has gone
thither with all the troops he can mass together to meet him.

[Illustration: The Filibuster Bermuda near the Cuban coast]

All Cuba has, however, learned by this time that the whereabouts of Gomez
and his army are never to be relied on. The Spaniards go out to fight them
in a certain place, and when they reach the spot where they expect the
enemy to be, they find that the Cubans have made a forced march and
escaped them, and are making war in quite a fresh section of the country.
The Cubans have accomplished some of the most wonderful marches in the
history of war, and have won many of their advantages by stealing past the
enemy that was advancing to fight them, and capturing towns and stores
left unprotected in the enemy's rear.

It is therefore not to be wondered at that there is a report in Havana
that Gomez has slipped past Weyler, and is advancing upon the city to
capture it.

If Gomez feels himself strong enough to fight a real battle with Weyler,
it may perhaps be the decisive battle of the war.

All the Cuban generals have had good luck lately, but the most successful
and brilliant work has been done by General Calixto Garcia in Santiago.

Lest you should feel confused when hearing of so many generals, and so
many provinces, it is perhaps as well to explain something about the
formation of the island of Cuba.