Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-25
ADV ANCE ON hABANA
II II Is Being Made Senior do LOms
Doesn't Know Of Il.
CAMpos ENGAGES MAxIMO GOMEZ.
The AnnIr Horrible Beeause Ii
Takes Place I'm the Midst of Burn
ing FIeIds-Insurgcnt Success
Thought Impossible.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. December "a
II the Cuban insurgent forces under
Generals Maceo and Gomez are advancing
on Habana. with the prospect Of reach
ing that city by tomorrow, as has
been reported this afternoon. Senior de
Lone. the Spanish Minister to the
United States has no information there
on. He gave out a cablegram tonight
to the Southern Associated Press from
General Ardreas, the acting Governor
General OF Cuba. This cablegram was
written at l o'clock this afternoon, and
was received by Senior de LONE few
minutes before o'clock. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
81 have just had a conference with
General Campos. He reports that yes
terday he overlook the forces of Maxine
Gomez and had an important engagement
with him. II was a horrible affair." be-
cause Of the fighting being in the midst
OF burning fields. Twelve OF the nifty
troops were wounded and were sent
TO the hospital at Matanzas. Maxine
Gomez's forces retreated ia small bodies,
according TO their usual tactics The
commander-n-chef has just at this mo-
ment started for Guanabana, where he
will pass the night. The forces under
Generals Nildez and Luque are In front
Of the insurgents, but remain in COM
munication with the commander-n-chief."
GUanabana IS strategic point south
east of Matanzas. The government
has quite a large force there.
In the face OF the receipt Of the fore
going statement In (.apqra1 A rlrla = 9
cablegram, that the rebels had retreated,
Mr.. de Lone does not believe that they
are making "A movement on Habana. He
said the Cubans are lighting after the
fashion OF our own Indians, who caused
the government so many years of trouble
before they were conquered.
The advance of the insurgents" he
continued. lis for the purpose of devas-
tating the cane-felds and preventing the
gathering Of the sugar crop. They do not
intend to risk a pitched battle. as the
consequences would not be favorable to
them considering our military equipment
and weil-trained soldiers. The insurgents
are not now any more powerful because
they are in the province Of Santa Clara
than they were in the other provinces
1t is nothing more than a guerilla raid
as they advance IN small bands, and
through unpopulated parts of the country
1t is 10 be expected that they should
be more familiar with the country than
our troops. and they are.
CAN'T BE VICTORIOUS.
But there Is no use talking about their
being victorious. as such a thing is out
of the ques ion. They have not taken a
single town. and it is not likely that
they will be able to do 50.
Il have received a cablegram under
date of the 23d. which is similar in ma
ture to others l have received. which are
intended to keep me fully advised"
The telegram referred to says: Gene
raj Campos left Colon on the 22d. The
bands Of Maceo and Gomez are advancing
in a tortuous way through the unin-
hablted portions of the island. trying to
avoid engagements. and occasionally
burning some cane-helds. The engage
ments lately have been very satsfac-
tory TO our forces. The rebels have not
entered Matanzas nor any other town.
| They wander in the fields Of the province
for the destruction Of property and the
prevention of the gathering of the sugar
| crop"
Senior de LONE says that the reason
that the government troops never cap
ture any rebel stores is that they never
/ have any.
REBELS COMPELLED TO RETIRE.
HABANA, December 24-The govern
ment troops had a severe engagement
yesterday at Andas with the insurgent
/ force under the command of Maxine
/ Gomez. The rebels were compelled 10
retire. Their loss i'm killed and wounded
| is not known. Twelve of the Spanish
troops were wounded. They were sent
| to the hospital at MatanZas. Generals
Suerez Vildes and Luquer have been dis
| patched 10 take positions held by. the
/ vanguard OF the enemy.
Captain-General Campos slept last night
at Limona, near Matanzas