The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-25

Runor that General Campos Has
Routed the Insurgents.

Routed the Insurgents.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press.)
HAVANA, Dec. A-Christmas eve is
ushered in with some lnng very like dis
may In the city. and apprehension is hour
ly gaining ground that Havana viii be be-
sieged by armed forces before Christmas
day is over. The advance of the nsurg-
ents seemed, at latest advices, to be un-
interrupted, thus contradictirg a report
sent out during the afternoon that they
had been turned back In a pitched battle
by Campos himself and were striving to
make their way back into Santa Clara
province. This rumor stated in great de-
tail that General Campos, in person at the
head of the Spanish forces, had succeeded
in coming face TO face with Gomez and his
forces at the plantation Of Coliseo, which
was in flames. This plantation Is situated
twelve miles from Cardenas and twenty
one miles from Matanzas. The insurgents,
it was said, were hemmed in and were
compelled to fight, all reterat being cut
off. Desperate engagements took place, the
combatants being surrounded by the flames
of the burning plantation. The insurgents,
it was said, were dispersed, leaving 700
dead and wounded on the field. The loss
Of the troops was, it was reported, COM
paratively insignificant, being only four
teen, and Generals Valdez and Luque had
already started to Sabinilla del Encomen-
dadum, supported by several other col
umns, in pursuit OF the flying insurgents,
who were supposed to be making their way
back to Santa Clara province at their best
speed This report had the effect OF greatly
restoring confidence here. and it was gen.
orally believed for time that 1t indicated
Il; arloi,r for
lack of support In g-MAtanzas.
The details of this engagement had hard
ly become disseminated through the city.
however, before there came further re-
port that the insurgents were marching
towards Guanabana and that Captain Gen.
eral Campos had hastened to that point to
oppose the advance, thus once more moving
his headquarters westward and nearer
Havana, as he has had to do so often with
In the last few days. Guanabana is only
about five miles out of Matanzas and ten
or fifteen miles west of Coliseo plantation,
where General Campos was said to have
won his important victory over Gomez in
person. 1t became evident that the reports
of General Campos's successful stand and
the rout of the insurgents was either un-
founded or that the force that he had met
was merely a wing of the insurgent army
sent to make a diversion, while the main
columns pushed on to the westward
All Is confusion Of mind here and the
authorities are apparently all at sea as to
what will be the next step of the insurg-
ents, whether MatanZas Will be besieged or
whether the advance on that point Is mere
ly feint to hold the Spanish forces there,
while the insurgent forces make "a way
once more in the west for Havana, which
is less than fifty miles from Matanzas.
The near approach of the insurgents to
Matanzas has, in fact. had the effect Of
concentrating all the available Spanish
forces at that town, and the country peo-
pie from miles around have focked into
Matanzas. -i-----.--