The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-26
Capt. Gen. De Campos Apparently Out
witted by the Hardy, Fleet-Footed
and Willy RevolutiOnists.
NO GREAT BATTLE FOUGHT
sPANIARDs DEFEATED IN THE SKIR-
MIsH NEAR CARDENA.
Sudden Return Of the Captain General
to the Capitalize IL Said to be Pre-
pairing to Crush the Enemy.

Copyright, 1895, by the Associated Press)
HAVANA, Dec. 25- = Further details
reached here to-day from Matanzas or the
rapid advance of the insurgent army. num-
bering about twelve thousand men, upon
Havana, after forcing its way through the
province of santa Clara and into the pro-
vince of Matanzas, in spite of the efforts of
Can't. Gen. Martinez de Campos and about
eighty thousand troops at his disposal in the
territory traversei and invaded.
The reported important battle yesterday
between the Spaniards under Campos and
the insurgents at Coliseo plantation. twelve
miles from Cardenas. does not appear to
have been a very severe engagement. Car
denas Is a seaport. quite an important place
for Cuba. of about four thousand inhabi-
tants, is only twenty-one miles from Matan-
zas, capital of the province Of that name
and the largest town between Cardenas and
Havana The Spanish forces do not ap-
pear to have encountered the main body of
the insurgents, as at first announced. The
fight at the Coliseo plantation was between
a portion of the northern column. of three
insurgent columns now pushing through the
province of Matanzas, AMI. instead of turn
Ing out to be a great victory for the Span
iards, the result Of the engagement was
virtually a defeat for Campos's forces. for
the Cuban army pushed onward unchecked
and is still advancing on this city.
The fighting took place amid burning cane,
underwood, tall grass and trees, and was of
the usual guerrilla nature. At times both
the troops and the insurgents were sur
rounded by walls Of flame, and the smoke
was so dense over certain portions Of the
ground contested that the Cubans and the
troops, unable to see each other, kept bang
ing away at open spaces, wasting vast
quantities of ammunition. 1t is true that
this indiscriminate firing was more noticed
on the part of the troops than on the side
of the insurgents, but. for one insurgent
killed, at least two thousand shots must
have been fired. The Cubans, following
their customary tactics, seemed to melt
away into the distance as soon as the troops
got within sighting distance of them, and
nearly all the firing was at very long range.
although the soldiers made several gallant
charges through the burning territory. This
style Of fighting is termed defeat of the
insurgents; but, as they succeeded in ac-
complishing their object, holding the Span
iards in check while the Cuban army pushed
on southwark the result was really a Cuban
victory.
The Captain General was as near the
front as possible throughout the battle. en-
couraging the troops by word and action.
One of the Captain Generals orderlies, who
was sitting on his horse by the side of
Martinez de Campos. received bullet in
his chest and fell to the ground severely
wounded. The shot, no doubt, was intend
ed for the Spanish commander. The corre-
spondent of Correspondents, Manuel Esco-
bar, was decorated on the field Of battle by
the Captain General for gallant conduct at
the battle of Ensenada de la Mora, and it
may here be added tha. several other news
paper men have displayed a good deal of
pluck in remaining with the Captain Gen.
eral under fire. Campos seems to have a
supreme contempt for the bullets Of insur-
gents, but he is rapidly learning to admire
their tactics. In spite of all the veteran
Spanish commander does, the Cubans are
marching through his forces. with but a
few skirmishes here and there, and he
seems to be utterly unable to concentrate
ahead OF them forces sufficient to draw the
enemy into a pitched battle. When Cam
pos establishes headquarters and lays out
a place of battle, the Cubans seem by some
mysterious means to hear Of 1t, for pre-
tending to fall into the trap. they push a
body OF men forward. skirmish with the
troops, draw the Spanish forces upon them,
and then the Cuban army proper outfianks
the Spaniards and pushes steadily on to-
wards Havana.
The admirers OF the Captain General
claim this is his plan of campaign; that he
Is allowing the Cubans to get by him and
near and nearer to Havana. only for the
purpose of eventually falling on them in
the rear and scattering them to all the
points of the compass. This sounds plaus-
| BILE enough but the insurgents are destroy
ing all bridges, railways and plantations be-
hind them. The route they have followed is
marked by a blackened swath OF smoking
ruin and desolation. and the Spaniards will
have a very difficult task to push on after
| their fieet-footed enemies. Besides, within
| two weeks Campos has changed his head
quarters from Santa Clara to Cienfuegos,
| from Cienfuegos to Palmillas. from Palmil-
| las to Colon, from Colon to Jovellanos. from
| Jovellanos to Limonare and from Limonare
to Guanabana, where he slept last night.
All these changes are direct retreats before
| the enemy. in hope 1t is true. OF being able
| TO bring about a pitched battle. This seems
| to be the secret OF the failure OF the Span
| iards to check the advance of the Cubans.
THE SPANIARDS' WEAKNESS.
| AS this dispatch is sent about noon. the
| exact whereabouts of the Captain General
! Is not known, but he is reported to have
| made another change of base and to be
making another attempt to engage the en-
| envy. All the Spanish generals in the rear
| of the insurgent army have been instructed
1 TO hurry after the enemy with all possible
| speed. Here. however, comes in the weak
| est feature Of the campaign Of the Span
iards. The poorly fed. half-grown lads.
| shipped here from Spain, are suffering ter
| rfbly from the effects OF the climate and
| unusual exposure. in spite Of the fact that
| this Is the so-called healthy season In
| cuba. yellow fever. smallpox and malar-
IA, fevers have told terribly on these un-
| fortunate troops. and. in addition. they are
| utterly unfit for campaigning In this land OF
| bad roads, high grass. swamps and low
| bushwood. They simply have not the
| strength to push steadily on after the Cub
| ans who. a rule. are thoroughly ac-
! climated men, accustomed to the country,
| familiar with all it's pecuiiarities and able
to bear long marches without suffering too
severely Then again the Spanish troops
are thoroughly dispirited their hearts are
not In the fight. In spite of the gallant man.
ner in which they respond TO '.viva Es-
pana." and dash at the enemy. only TO b