The herald., 1895-12-26
HAVANA YET UNFRAMED
But Insurgent ForcesPress
Steadily Forward
THE CUBANS FIGHT and RUN AWAY
But the Flight is Always To-
ward the Capital
THE BATTLE is IMMINENT
Which Will Decide the Fate of the
Cuban Revolution
The Havana Campaign Must Succeed
Promptly or Fail Altogether
Forts Are Being 0arrisoned, Entertainments
Thrown Up and Reinforcements Sent
to the Front-The Population
Is Apprehensive
THE BATTLE is IMMINENT
Which Will Decide the Fate of the
Cuban Revolution
The Havana Campaign Must Succeed
Promptly or Fail Altogether

Associated Press, Special Wire
HAVANA, Dec. 25, Copyrighted, 1895,
by the Associated Press Further details
reached here today from Matanzas of the
rapid advance of the insurgent army, num-
bering about $4,000 men, upon Havana,
after forcing it's way through the province
of Santa Clara and into the province of
Matanzas, in spite of the efforts of Captain
General Martinez de Campos and about
5000 troops at his disposal in the territory
invaded. The reported important bat.
tie yesterday, between the Spaniards under
Campos and the insurgents at Coliseo PLAN
tation, twelve miles from Cardenas, does
not appear to have been very severe en-
gagement. Cardenas is a seaport and
quite an important place for Cuba, of about
1000 inhabitants, is only twenty.one miles
from Matanzss, capital of the province Of
that name, and the largest town between
Cardenas and Havana.
The Spanish forces do not appear to have
encountered the main body of the incur
gents, as at first announced. The fight at
the Coliseo plantation was between a pcr-
ton of the northern column of the in.
surgents' columns, now pushing through
the province of Matanzas, and instead of
turning out to be a great victory for the
Spaniards, the result of the engagement
was virtually defeat for Campos' forces,
for the Cuban army pushed onward until
checked, and is still advancing on this city.
The fgbtirr t~nk rlarc amid burning
cane, underwood, tall grass and trees. At
times both the troops and insurgents were
surrounded by walls of fame, ard tue
smoke was so dense over certain p,'tions
of the ground contested that the Cubars
and the troops were. unable to see each
other, but kept banging away at open
space. 1t is true that this indscrimina,e
firing was more noticed on the part of the
troops than on the side of the insurgents,
and for one insurgent killed at least 2OOO
shots must have been fired. The Cubans,
following their customary tactics, seemed
to melt away into the distance AS seen as
the troops got within fighting distance of
them. and nearly all the firing was at very
long range, although the soldiers made
several gallant charges through the burn
ing territory. This style of fighting is
termed a defeat of the insurgents, but as
they succeeded in accomplishing their OBJ
ject. holding the spauiards in check while
suit was really Cuban victory. The cap.
was as near the front as possi-
BILE throughout the battle, encouraging the
troops by words and actions. One of the
orderies, who was sitting
on his horse beside Campos, received
bullet in his breast and fell to the ground
badly wounded. The shot was no doubt
intended for the Spanish commander.
The correspondent of Ell Correspond
encia, Manuel Escobar, was decorated on
the field of battle by the captain general
for gallant conduct at the battle of Ense-
NADIA de la Mora, and it may be here added
that several other newspaper men have
displayed q good deal of pluck with the
captain general under fire.
Campos seems to have a supreme con-
tempt for the bullets of the insurgents, but
he is rapidly learning to admire their tao.
tics. In spite of all the veteran Spanish
does, the Cubans are march,
ing through his forces, with but few skir-
mshes here and there, and he seems to be
utterly unable 10 concentrate sufficient of
their forces 10 draw them into pitched
battle. When Campcs establishes head
quarters and lays out plan o. battle the
Cubans seem by some mysterious means
to hear of it, and, pretending to fall into
the trap, they push body of men forward,
skirmish with the troops. draw the Spanish
forces upon them, and the Cuban army
proper outflanks the Spaniards and pushes
steadily onward toward Havana.
The admirers of the captain-general
claim that this is his plan of campaign:
That he is allowing the Cubans to get by
him and nearer and nearer to Havana, for
The purpose of eventually failing upon
Them in the rear and scattering them to all
the points of the compass. This sounds
plausible enough, but The Insurgents are
destroying buildings, railways and planta-
lions behind them. The route they have
followed is marked by blackened swath
Of smoking ruin and desolation, and the
Spaniards will have very difficult task to
push on after their heet-footed enemies.
Besides, within two weeks Campos has
changed his headquarters from Santiago
70 Cienfuegos, from Cienfuegos to Palmil-
as, from Palmillas to Colon. and from
Colon to Jevollanos. All these changes
we're direct retreats before the enemy in
he hope of being able to bring about
pitched battle. This seems to be the secret
If the Spaniards, to check the advance of
he Cubans.
As this dispatch is sent, about noon, the
exact whereabouts of the captain-general
8 not known, but he is reported to have
made another change of base and to be
making another attempt to engage the
,nemy. All the Spanish generals in the
ear of the insurgent army have been in
to hurry after the enemy with all
possible speed. Here, however, comes in
he weakest feature of the campaign of the
JPdIlldIuns uc ROOIly 1cus kTOWu
ads shipped here from Spain are suffering
erribly from the effects of climate and un-
natural exposure, in spite of the fact that
his is the so-called healthy season in Cuba.
Yellow fever, smallpox and malarial fevers
AVE told terribly upon these unfortunate
roops. and in addition they are totally
Unfit for campaigning in this land of bad
oads, high grass. swamps and low brush-
vood. Thsy simply have not the strength
o push steadily on after the Cubans, who,
10 rule, are thoroughly acclimated men,
to the country, familiar with
III its peculiarities and able to bear long
marches without suffering severely.