The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-18
THE CAUSE LOST.
Brig. Gen. Crombet Killed on the
Field at Palmarito.

Gen. Maceo, the Leader Of the Cuban Rev.
olutionists, Taken Prisoner-Capt.- Gen.
Calleja Jubilant Over the Defeat Of
the Rebels Description of Battle.
HAVANA, April 15.-Cuba's cause is
lost. Brig. Gen. Crombet is killed 1nd
Gen. Maceo is captured. On the bat
tlefield of Palmarito are buried the
dearest hopes of Cuban leaders, and
the Pearl of the Antilles is still fet.
tered by the chains of Spanish domina.
tion. In a desperate conflict at Pal.
marito Saturday the spaniards de-
feated the insurgent forces. Crombet
was not only killed but his body was
mutilated by sword thrusts Of the vim.
dictive Spaniards, who spat upon him
after he was dead.
Without the two leaders, Crombet
and Maceo, the Cuban revolution dwin.
dies to merely a hlibustering expeii-
ton. Gen. Campos' services will not
be needed. The rebels whom he came
to conquer are rebels no longer. The
spirit of liberty fed from this tyrant-
ridden land when Crombet died and
Maceo was put in chains.
Everything seems to indicate that
the war is ended. Reports from the
scene of battle are meager, but enough
is known to show that the patriots
cause is lost forever.
Spanish authorities, as soon as the
news was received, hastened to post II
on their bulletins, and royalists in
Havana celebrated Sunday night the
ending of the revolution. There will,
of course, be some fillbustering parties.
but without Crombet and without
Maceo there can be no real war.
The Cuban army met the Spaniards
forces amounted to little more than
1000 men. while that of the Spaniards
was about $1,000 A desperate battle
followed. The fighting, according to
official reports. lasted about two hours,
and at the end of that time the rebels
retreated. They were pursued by the
| Spanish troops and Maceo was cap
tured. His secretary was also taken,
and all the personal and private papers
of Gen. Maceo were confscated.
Flor Crombet, Maceo's chief adviser,
was killed on the battlefield. 1t was
he who was chiefly instrumental in
organizing the provisional government
at Guatanaro, Marti, the president of
| that government is said to have fled
to the United States.
The battle at Palmarito, which is the
last conflict of any consequence which
will take place during this revolution,
was one in which the insurgents
fought desperately against odds. The
Spanish soldiers were disciplined and
| roo;c<ad NTH wan, h1o po m
onslaughts of the rebels.
Maceo and his army had been in the
mountains, and their scouts were on
the lookout for the Spaniards. 1t is
supposed that the number of soldiers
was underestimated by these ennis
saries.
The rebels rushed down the noun
tain side and endeavored to engage the
troops in hand to hand conflict.
Spain's regulars waited until the in
surgent army was close at hand and
then poured in their volley with dead.
ly effect. A number of Cuban officers,
one of whom was colonel, were
killed.
| Maceo was leader of the rebel
forces with Gomez during the last rev.
olution. Though but youth he
achieved considerable distinction. At
the outbreak of this revolution Maceo
landed at Puerto de Barancoa, March
81. With him were the following off,
GERS of the new rebel army: Brig. Gen.
Flor Crombet, Gen. Jose Maceo, Col.
Augustin Celreco, Col. Patrice Corona,
Frank Agramonte, Pedro Duverger
and Jose Marti.
Capt. Gen. Calleja, when called on
him at the palace Sunday evening, said
that he had received the official news
that Crombet had been killed and that
Maceo had been captured. He added
that the Spanish had only lost a, few
soldiers, while that Of the insurgents
was heavy in the extreme. He said:
''Tel the Americans that when they
know that the Spanish authorities on
this island have put down the revolu.
tion themselves they will see that they
have greatly exaggerated the revolu.
tionary sentiment which prevailed in
Cuba"
The war seems to be practically
ended. There may be few filibuster-
ing parties, but so far as real and
sincere struggle for liberty is con.
cerned, all is over.
Consul General Williams is making
preparations to leave the island soon,
and Vice Consul Springer will assume
the duties of the office at once.
The damage done by fire at Matanzas
is now estimated to be more than ST.
100000. The government authorities
accuse the revolutionists of setting fire
to the buildings.
| Trainman Radlv lnirred