New-York tribune., 1895-12-31
HARD FIGHTING IN CUBA.
THREE DEFEATS OF INsURGENT FORCES
REPORTED.
THE COMMAND OF GOMEZ AND MACEo DIsIODGED
WITH THE LOSS OF 200 KILLED OR WOUNDED
A CUBAN CAVALRY CHARGE REPUIaED
THE MAIN BODY OF THE INsUR-
GENTS RETREATING. PURSUED
ISH FORCE,

ISH FORCE
Havana, Dec. 30-Two thousand Ius,us~... -.
airy who were ambushed on the Godinez estate,
near Calimete Province Of Matanzas attacked a
Government column Of 500 men, comma nded by
Lieutenant Colonel Perera. Though taken by
surprise the troops made a brave resistance
The insurgents charged them twelve times,
but the troops held their ground and the insur
gents finally retired.
A strong insurgent force under Gomez and
Maceo was attacked at Batey by Government
troops The insurgents had taken up position
which they had barricaded with rails and boilers
from plantations. They made a desperate re-
sstance, but were dislodged after a fight lasting
three hours. The Government loss was two Of
fcers and eighteen prlvates killed and one Of
ncer and thirteen privates wounded. The in
surgent loss was 200 killed wounded. The in
surgents retreated.
Colonel Navarros column had an engagement
that lasted one hour with an nsurgent band.
The insurgents were dispersed. They left five
dead on the field. The loss the Government
side was one sergeant wounded The insurgents
on retreating to the cemetery at Manquto met
the column of Colonel Valdes. which was coun-
termarching, ami found their line Of retreat
cut off.
At o'clock this evening train arrived bring
ing the dead and wounded from Colonel Pereras
column The dead will be buried tomorrow.
The Red Cross Society has furnished thirty beds
for the wounded.
Madrid Dec. 3O.-A dispatch TO the "Imparciar'
from Havana, under to-day's date says that the
main army Of the insurgents is retreating rapidly
lefore the Spanish forces.
later dispatch to the same paper says that
the principal insurgent army has recrossed the
Hanabana River. re-enterng the province Of
Santa Clara al point a short distance north Of
the Cianaga Oriental de Zapata. General varin
in command Of a strong force. has started from
the city Of Santa Clara to intercept them their
retreat eastward.
Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 2O via Key West Dec
90-The Spanish army has lately received a Sc
we're blow. Colonel Macas. who left San Luis
for Palma Sorrento on December is with 900 men,
had a disastrous engagement that day between
the two towns with the insurgent leaders De-
metric Castillo and Pancno Sanchez command
ing 800 men. The insurgents attack was so inn
petuOus and they used the machete so hercey
that the Spanish Colonel ordered hasty retreat,
leaving forty killed and IA wounded Cn the field
Of battle. The Spaniards also abandoned ten
mules laden with provisions and munitions.
Seventy Spanish soldiers deserted 10 the Cubans.
The Spanish wounded were cared for by the in
surgents whose loss was insignificant.
The burning of sugar estates In this neigh
borhood and Guantanamo Is increasing in a
most alarming manner. and the planters have
aba andoned all hopes Of grinding sugar cane
Since Northumberland Pando began his
campaign here. the Imprisonment Of prominent
persons Of this city has increased considerably.
In consequence Of this harshness men join the
insurgents by hundreds thus strengthening the
Cuban army. which is already large in this