Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-26
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Havana, Dec. 20. --(Copyrlghted. 1895,
by the Associated PreAs.) Further de-
tails reached here .odny from Matan-
zns OF the rapid advance OF the in
surgent army, numbering about 1900
men upon Havana after forcing Its way
through the province of Santa Clara
and into the province OF Matanzas, In
spite OF the efforts OF Captain General
Campos and about $4,000 troops at his
disposal In the territory traversed and
Invaded. The reported important bat
Tie yesterday by the spaniards under
Campos and the Insurgents at Collseo
plantation. twelve miles from Cardenas.
does not appear TO have been "a very
severe engagement. Tho fight at the
Collseo plantation was between q por-
ton OF tho Northern column OF the
three insurgont columns now pushing
through the province OF Matanzas,
and instead OF turning out to be a great
victory for the Spanlnrda. the result OF
the engagement was virtually "A defeat
for Campos' forces. for the Cuban army
pushed onward until checked and IL
stun advancing on this city. The light
ing took place amid burning cane. un-
derwood, tall grass and trees, ana was
or the usual guerilla nature.
The Cubnna, following their CUSTOM
airy tactics. seemed TO melt away into
the distance so soon as the troops got
within sighting distance OF them and
nearly all the firing was at quito long
hA aAtA a.. .
liant charges through the burning terri
tory This style OF nshting IL termed
defent of the Insurgents, but as they
succeeded In accomplishing their object
holding the Spaninrds In check while
the cuban army pushed ON southward--
the result was really n Cuban victory.
One OF the captain generals order
lies who was sitting on hin horse by
the side of Martinez dc cnmpos re-
coived a bullet in his chest and fell
TO the ground seriously wounded The
ahot no doubt was Intended for the
Spanish commander.
Cnmpos scema to have supreme
contempt for the bullets OF the In
surEents. but he ls RAPIDLY learning to
admire their tactics. In spite OF all the
veteran Spanish commander docs the
Cubans are marching through his
forces with but n few skirmlshes here
and there and he seems to be utterly
AlhbAf ~ concentrate NUfuu OF Intln
forces sufficient TO draw the enemy into
q pitched battle,
When Campos establishes headquur-
tiers and lays out a plan OF battle. the
Cubans seem by some mysterious
means to ! ear OF II. for, pretending TO
fall into the trap, they push body OF
men forward. Pltirmlsh with the troops
draw the Spanish forces upon them.
and then the Cuban army proper en-
tanks the spaniards and pushes stend-
ily on toward Havana. Admirers OF
the captain general claim this IL his
plan or campaign-thnt he II ALLOW s'R
the Cubnns to ret by him and nearer
and nearer 10 Havana only for the pur-
pose OF eventually failing upon them In
the rear, scattering thom IN all points
OF the compass. This sounds plausible
enough, but the insurgents are de-
stroying all bridges. railways and
plantations behind them. The route
they have followed Is marked by a
blackened swath OF smoking ruins and
difficult task TO push on after the fleet
footed enemies. Besides within two
weeks campos has changed his hend-
quarters from Santa Clara to cien-
fueRos, from cienrucgos to Palmilas.
from Palmillns to Colon, from Colon TO
Jovellanos. from Jovellnnos to Iimore,
and from Llmore to Guanaba, where
he slept last night. All these changes
were made In the hope OF bringing
about pitched battle. This seems TO
be the secret Of the failure OF tho
spaniards TO check the advance OF tho
Cubans.
All the Spanish generals in the rear OF
the Cuban army have been instructed
to hurry after the enemy with all pos
sibie speed. The poorly fed. half-grown
lads shipped here from spain and un-
usual exposure, In spite OF the fact that
this IL the so-called healthy senson In
Cuba, IL the cause Of the Spanish fall
ure. Yellow fever, small pox md ma
larial fevers have told terribly upon
these unfortunate troops md In reality
they are utterly unfit for campaigning
In this region OF bad roads. morasser,
and swnmps. They simply have not
the strength 10 push steadily on after
the Cubans. who as rule are thor.
10 deal with all It's pecullnrities and
able to bear long marches without
suffering too severely.
Generals Valdez and Luuue are push
Ing on for Sabnnillo del Encommendado
eouth Of Matnnzas. at the head OF the
best troops In that army. but the Gu
ban army IL believed TO be 10 the west
ward OF Hnbnnillo. After tho battle OF
Collseo yesterday the insurgents. u IS
definitely known. moved rapidly west
ward. passing TO the south o. Limore,
while some OF them were engaged with
the troops commanded by Campos.
The Cuban army went via co,lseo.
MADAM. Tosca and sumederio, burn
ing the plantations OF Perez, Atrivi-
dco. Siento, Guavalejos. Alinmissal,
Aguedlta. Rabatarizan as they swept
The Insurgents are believed to have