Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-06
VALDEZ DRIVES MACEO BACK
Pitched Battle Fought in Which the Insur-
gents Are Inoontinently Routed.
SPANISH LOSS is RlDlculoUsLY SMALL
Poor Workmanship OF the Rebels Re-
sponsibIe for Immunity Enjoyed
by the Kings Troops, Who
Crossed n Field Under Fire.

begram--Special Telegram.)-The Spanish
column under General Suarez Valdez met
Antonio Maceo December at La Reforma
cattle estate In Puerto Principe province
about twenty miles from the eastern border
of Santa Clara province Maceo had united
forces with Gomez December 1. With him
were the officers Of the newly formed Cuban
republic. The total insurgent force is esti-.
mated at 1000, including 24O cavalry. Cen
oral Valdez had the Valladolid and Cuban
battallons, about seventy cavalrymen, and
section Of light artillery.
Gomez adopted his usual tactics. He threw
out a skirmish line, and firing continued for
some time, General Valdez advancing until
he occupied the camp used by the rebels the
previous night. General Valdez followed the
retreating rebels, and was Joined between
Jicotea and Rio Grande by column 5000
strong under General Aldecoa, who continued
the pursuit.
General Valdez, in his dispatch to General
Campos, extols the conduct of Lieutenants
Churchill and Barnes of the British army
who were with him.
Gomez and Maceo moved in the direction
OF Mount Quayos The Spanish loss was
ridiouously small The rebel loss is un-
known Jose MILAN was among the killed.
BRAVE STAND OF FORAGERS.
The most remarkable fight of the war took
place December at the sugar estate Tran
quilidad, three miles from Manzanllo in
- Santiago province. Twenty-eight mounted in
fantry of the Second battalion of Isabella
la Catolica regiment, under FIRST Lieutenant
AQuillar. went out for forage for their horses.
-Four men sent in advance were attacked by
large body of mounted insurgents, who
summoned them to surrender. The Spaniards
replied by firing and their comrades came to
ther rescue. Then there was a fight in
which the little band displayed traditional
Spanish courage. wire fence in the rear
prevented retreat Lieutenant Aquiar
formed his men in semi-circe. The rebels
charged in front and on both fanks. Ma
chetes were used. and three soldiers were
taken prisoners Tha soldiers fought like
tigers. One man broke through the rebel
lines, reached plantation, secured ammuni-
tion and returned safely. The rebels finally
retired, when troops from Manzanillo came
up. OF the little band of twenty-eight one
was killed, eight were wounded and three
were made prisoners. Lieutenant Aguilar
was shot through a lung. number TO rebel
dead were left on the field. and fifteen dead
horses including the horses of the rebel
leaders, Salvador, Rica and Gonzales.
THIS GENERAL STILL LIVES.
General Aldave falsely reported killed in
bogus battle at Jaguasco, is fastening after
Macao through country of dense forests, in
tsrspersed with open praiTe and clearings.
Cattle raising is the only industry at La
Refcrma. II was favorte spot with Gomez
during the former war. He named his
Santo Domingo property after it. The rebel
leaders, Lacyet and Sancho Perez, have ap-
psared in the country west of Cienfuegos, a
short distance from Yaguaramus 1t is sup
posed they ale trying to get into Matanzas
province at point between Palma Sola and
Amarar. General Prat. at the head of a
Spanish column, left Yaguaramus yesterday
to search for them.
General Campos arrived In Havana today
WILLIAM SHAW BOWEN.
LIEUTENANT CHURCHILI.S REPORT
Lieutenant Winston Churchill, son OF
the late Lord Randolph Churchill, arrived
here tonight from the field. At the re-
quest of the World correspondent he sends
the following signed statement
To the Editor of the World: 1 Joined
General Suarez Valdez's column at Santo
Espiritu and proceeded across the border
into Puerto Principe province to meet
Antonoi Maceo. We had very difficult
marches, through wild country, amid rains
and heat After some preliminary skirmish-
ing we met Gomez and Maceo, December 9,
at La Reforma plantation, where battle
fought. The country is open and the
battle field. half a mile broad, was fanked
by dense forests. The enemy was behind
hedges with forest In the rear. Spanish
infantry proceeded slowly to within thirty
yards of the enemy's position, where upon
the latter replied,
General SuareZ Valdez In full uniform
and on white horse, rode up close behind
the infantry. He was a conspicuous target.
General Garcia Navarro commanding the
advance. exposed himself In a manner no
commander is justified in doing The in
surgents are bad shots. 1t appeared to me
that tons of lead passed over the heads OF
General Valdez's staff, with whom I was.
Three orderles were wounded. The Spanish
loss would have been heavy had the enemy's
shots tod. for the troops. marched in close
order through the open country towards
the protected position held by the insur-
gents.
was much impressed by the patience
the courage and, may add. the Indifference
of the Spanish infantry. The men laughed
and sang under fire. Their obedience was
like that of the Russian soldiers-implicit
Twenty-Five sharpshooters, said to be
filbusters were the only good shots the
insurgents had. Rolof narrowly escaped
capture
returned via Ciego de Avila to Jucara,
thence hy gunboat to Clenfuegos. ! was
treated with much courtesy by General
Valdez. My impression is that European
methods of warfare are almost out of the
question in n wild country, where the Cuban
army operates. Cavalry as cavalry, is use
less except for marching
WINSTON CHURCHILL.
Lieutenant Fourth Hussars, British Army.
REINFORCE EMENTS FOR ROTH SIDES
HAVANA. Cuba, Nov. 2G.-.tNew York
World Special spondenoe.) .)-The Spanish
mail steamship Alfonso XIII arrived here
today bringing l.i00 soldiers. forerunners of
the $4,000 relnforcements that will arrive In
the next two weeks Generals Toral and Rey
ief' Spain for Cuba today, and General Sal
code, who was given leave OF absence by
C neral Campos, Will soon follow them.
There Il no longer doubt that the expcd- |
t'onp of General Carrlllo and Colonel Aguirre |
reached the eastern coast OF Cuba safely and |
Joined the insurgent army In the Interior |
Tha ha5