The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-28
CUBAN BATTLES.
Official Reports Say Insurgents IRE
on the Retreat.
GOMEZ NOT YET REPULSsD.
His Erratic Movements Not
Understood by Spaniards.

HABANA, Dec. .S.--Nows Of small en-
gagements and movements of the troops
aud many moro rumors OF funauthenticated
reports arrived here continually through
out yesterday, nil accompanied by the gem
eral claim That the insurgents were In
retreat, and that the raid into Matanzas
was ended. No reliable estimate could be
made Of the real position of the insurgents
or tho numbers and force which they
mustered in any one place
Their movements could only be sur
missed from the reported movements Of the
Spanish forces and their encounters with
forces OF the Insurgents. which do not APP
pear to have been in great numbers in any
OF these encounters.
Tho official reportS, or that pertien-ef
them which is allowed To gain publicity,
give the impression that the insurgents
arc no longer making any aggressive
movement toward Ha5ana, but are strlv-
ing by every means to effecta retreat back
into Santa Clara, while the Spanish forces
are reported TO he putting forth every ef-
fort to secure battle with n large body
OF the insurgents and TO cut off their re-
treat
While the official reports state that Quin.
ernmost column OF tho insurgents. Is re-
treating, the points named as being oc-
cupied by him do not indicate any marked
change from his position OF yesterday
morning. For instance, an official report
states that Bandera has rctreated from
Guamacaro, which Is several miles north
OF and nearer Matanzas than Sumidero.
where Bandera was reported yesterday
morning.
The Movcynent of Corners Column
In the south, or the retreat, rs the official
reports term IL, Is conducted in appar-
emily good order and without loss from
attacks by the Spanlards, while the
column leaves rs destructive trail behind
it as 1t did on its course westward, and
over an entirely different route.
Late reports would indicate that por-
ton, NJ least. of Gomez's column had
crossed tho line back into Santa Clara
and Is now near the Cienega Oriental do
zapata, the great swamp land in tho south
crn part OF Santa Clara province
Gomcz's force was reported yesterday
AFTERNOON to have left Jaguay Grande,
where he was in the morning, and to have
gone by way of Entrada toward Glen
fpegos in Santa Clara.
L! that report be true, Il by no means
necessarily follows that the insurgents
have determined Co eyacuate Matanzas
province Immediately. Bandera and
Maceo In the north seen 10 be holding
tSeir own against the Spanish forces.
Tho fact that Gomez has not been re-
pulsed in any serious engagement and Is
not being driven by any pursuing force
would indicate that his movement is a
strategic one.
1t Is probably designed to hold a safe
line in retreat for tho columns of Bandera
and Maceo, should that become necessary,
while those leaders continue their appar-
emily erratic but always destructive
course from one unexpected point TO an
other. continuing the ravaging OF the
province OF Matanzas, which was the OBJ
jcct of the whole movement.
A report ~ in circulation here that the |
mayor Of Macurijes, his family, including |
the ladies, and everyone OF his household, |
have been murdered by the insurgents. |
The same fate Is said to have oyertaken |
the mayor OF In Giura. These towns were |
on tho course of Gomcz's line of march
lt Is also reported that General Prat !
had an engagement with the insurgents |
yesterday ut Recreo, which is several |
miles east OF Maceos position at Cimar- |
ronos. The insurgcnt loss Is said TO have
been five killed, eight prisoners and the |
unknown.
General Godoy is also reported 10 have
fought a band OF insurgents at San Marcos,
n small town OH n branch OF the railroad
that connects the city Of Colon. Santa
Clara and Cicnfuegos. This insurgent
band was engaged In preventing COM
along the railroad by attacks
,n the trains, but it is said that communi-
,ation Is now rc-established. A train
rom Vavajas, outside the town of Macuri-
JOS or Corral Falso, was also burned by
he insurgents yesterday.