The San Francisco call., 1895-11-15
But the Insurgents Retrieved
Themselves in Their
Stronghold.
FINALLY ROUTED THE ENEMY
international Complications to Follow
the Seizure of an Americans
Hotel.

BOSTON, MASS, Nov. 14.-A dispatch to
a morning paper brings the details of some
severe fighting in the vicinity of Puerto
Principe. On the 5th inst. large body of
regulars under General Vicaza attacked
the headquarters of the insurgent army OF
the east near Santiago de Cuba. They out
nun bered the rebels three to one and had
some very heavy artillery.
The fighting lasted all day and at night
fall the insurgents were forced to retreat
on their second line of forts, near Puerto
Principe The victorious Spanish followed, +,
but when in the mountains to the south
east of that city were met with stubborn
resistance from the insurgents and were
slaughtered fearfully.
They retreated, followed by the in
surgents, who had received heavy re-en-
forcements. On the retreat many were
killed. The insurgents recaptured their
first position, and drove the regulars into
the shelter of the walls of Santiago de
Cuba. The loss of the Spaniards was
over 600.
General Vicaza was badly wounded, and
will have to return to Spain. The rebel
loss was almost as large. 1t is reported
that General Antonio Maceo was severely
wounded. A later dispatch, however, de-
MES the latter report.
Another dispatch from Havana says
that information has reached that city that
Judge James b. Walsh of Connecticut
has filed at the State Department at Wash
ington a claim for 5000, 900 damages against
the Spanish Government and asks that it
be recognized as the claim of an Ameri-
can citizen. The circum stances are similar
to those connected with the famous Mora
claim, only on a smaller scale. The
claimant is John Repko, an Italian, but a
naturalized citizen of the United States.
He is proprietor OF the Grand Central
Hotel, the largest hotel in Cuba.
Since the opening of the war the Span
ish officers and considerable numb Der of
soldiers had taken possession of the hotel
by right of eminent domain, at the time,
however, stating that Repko would be
paid his usual charges. They stayed for
six months, preventing any one else COM
ing, and when asked refused to pay for
their board.
One night during the summer Repko
and his family were driven out OF the
hotel and the whole property confscated,
on the pretext that Repko was a sympa-
thlzer with the insurgents. lie had con-
siderable difficulty in even leaving the
country, as the Spanish officials strived to
prevent his doing SO.
He Immediately placed his case before
the proper authorities and in addition to
the troubles and the old scores which they
have to settle with the United States the
Spaniards will doubtless have another in
tern ational question to settle.
American residents in Cuba are eagerly
awaiting the action of the Government, as
of late the Spaniards have shown dispo-
sition to injure Americans in every pos
sible way.
A dispatch from Cohre Dibre says that
another attempt was made to Blow up a
troop train near that place, but was unsuc-
cessful. General Campos has given orders
that all insurgents caught in the act shall
be shot at once without trial.