The record-union., 1895-09-18
CUBAN INSURRECTIONISTS.
SPANISH EVACUATE BANES, An
IMPORTANT FRUIT PORT.
The Soldiers Made Feeble Effort to
Defend the Place, But the Rebels
Were Too Strong for Them.

BosTON, Sept. 1S.-The Spaniards have
evacuated Banes. the most important
fruit port on the eastern coast OF Cuba.
The Spanish soldiers made feeble at
tempt to defend the place, but the rebels
were too strong for them. This is a very
serious matter for the Spaniards.
The British steamer Taft which ar
rived at this port to-day with cargo of
bananas, brings the first account of the
evacuation at Banes, and also brings re-
ports OF most seriOug state OF affairs IN
that part of the island. Senior Demoines,
who practically owns the town of Banos,
! sent to the Spanish officials at Gibara,
about forty miles distant. an urgent re-
quest for troops, and he placed the Iaf
al the disposal of the Government for the
transportation Of soldiers.
The commandant at Gibara has his
hands full, as the Insurgents are attack
ing him every day, and Gibara itself,
which is one OF the strongest and best
| fortified cities on the coast is in peril
Gus position. The Spaniards have be-
tween seven and eight Thousand soldiers
at this point, and two men-of-war III the
/ harbor.
About hundred soldiers were hastily
put ol board the Taft aud shipped to
Banes. but after they arrived there they
! found that the rebels had already sack ed
! the town, and were camped on the out
! skirts to the number OF about B. 900. There
were about seventy-five Spanish soldiers
! in the Tort OF Banes while the rebels were
/ attacking the place, but they remained
| carefully under shelter, and did not dar @
! to show themselves.
When the TAFT arrived with the rein
| forcements council of war WAS held, and
| it was decided to at once evacuate the
I H.. hole III 70
| attack the ortiflca.ion, which the officers
of the Taft say is a crude affair anyway.
The rebels have cut all the telegraph
and telephone wires, and the Spaniards
at Gibara were practically cut oil from all
communication with the rest of the
| island.
The officers OF the Taft say that while
/ favors the rebels. The bulk of the male
population have joined the rebel ranks.
It is also stated that all the rich planters
are in sympathy with the rebels.
There was d rumor at BaneS and Gibara
when the Taft left these places that the
! Brazilian rebel Admiral Mello was eX-
pected any day with a war vessel and 800
men 10 aid the insurgents.
The Taft left Banes on the 10th.
REBELS ROUTED.
HAVANA, Sept. IA dispatch from
! Guantanamo says force Of Government
| troops made al attack yesterday upon
a camp of rebels 500 strong, under COM
mand of the insurgent leader Gil at La
| Peiro. between Feicidad and Rio Secou.
The rebels fled, leaving eight of their
number on the field together with guam
THY OF arms, provisions. bombs. etc. The
Government loss was eight wounded.
A dispatch received here this morning
says that in the battles which took place
last week in the vicinity of Puerto,
! twenty-five rebels were killed and rebel
| leader Sanchez was wounded. The
leader, Cantero, who led the attack upon
the plantation of Altamira. was killed.
a rumor is prevalent in Santiago de
Cuba that Jose Maceo. the General COM
mauding the rebel forces in the vicinity
| of Guantanamo, is dead.