The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-26

copyright, lS9S by tho Associated Press)
HAVANA. Dec. sS.-Further details
reached here to-day from MatanEaa, of
tho rapid advance OF the insurgent
army, numbering about 1900 men, up
on Havana. after forcing It's way
through the province OF Santa Clara
and Into the province OF Matanzas, in
spite of the Efforts OF Captain Martinez
de campos and about 10000 troops at
his disposal In the territory trayersed
and invaded.
The reported important battle yes
terday between the SpaniRr1s under
Campos and the insurgents at C0liSeo
plantation, twelve miles from CRrdenns,
does not appear TO have been very Sc
we're engagement. Cardenas Is a sea-
port (Qulte an important place for Gu
bal OF about 1000 Inhabitants, Is only
twenty -one miles from Matanzas, cap-
itol OF the province Of that name and
the largest town between cardenas
and Havana
The Spanish forces do not appear to
have encountered the main body OF the
insurgents, as at first announced. The
fight at the Colieso plantation was be-
tween q portion OF the northern coll
uInn, OF the three insurgcnt columns
now pushing through the province OF
MatanIas and instead OF turning out to
be q groat victory for the Spnnlards,
the result OF the engagement was vir-
tually defeat for Campos's forces, for
the Cuban army pushed onward un-
checked and Is still advancing on this
city.
The fight took place amid burning
cane. underwood, tall grass and trees
and was OF the usual guerilla nature.
At times both the troops and the In
surgents were surrounded by walls OF
fame and the smoke waa so dense over
certain portions OF the ground contest
that the Cubans and the troops. tTrTs
able to SEQ each other. kept banging
away at open spaces. wasting vast
qtihntities Of good ammunition. 1t "
true that this irdIscriminate, hrlng was
more noticed upon the part Of the
troops than on the side OF the lnsur-
gents; but for one insurgent killed ht
luast 1000 shots must have been fired.
A Cuban Victory.
The cubans, following their custo-
mary tactics. seemed to melt away Into
the distance so soon as the troops got
within sighting distance Of them and
nearly all the firing was at very long
range, although the soldiers made sew
eral gallant charges through the burn
ing territory. This style OF ightinl is
termed a defeat Of the Insurgents: but.
as they succeeded In accomplishing
their object. holding the Spaniards In
check while the Cuban army pushed
on southwark. the result was really
Cuban victory.
The captain general was as near the
front as possible. throughout the bat
tie, encouraging the troops by word
and action.
one OF the captain generals order
lies. who was sitting on his horse by
the side OF Martinez de campOs. re-
celved bullet In his chest and fell TO
the ground severely wounded. The shot,
no doubt. WAS Intended for the Spanish
commander.
The correspondent OF Correspondent
ella, Manuel Escobar. was decorated In
the Held Of battle by the captain gem
eral for gallant conduct at the battle OF
Engenadn de La Mora, and II may here
he added that several other newspaper-
men hnye displayed good deal OF
general under fire. Cnmpos seems 10
have q supreme contempt for the bull
let's f the Insurgents; but he ls rapidly
learning 10 admire their tnctIcs.ln spite
Of all the veteran Spanish commander
does the Cubans arc marching through
his forces. with but few sklrtnlBhcs
here and there, and no seems TO be ut
tnriy unable 10 concentrate ahead OF
them forces sufficient 10 draw the ch-
Gmy lnto q pitched battle. When Cam
pOs establishes headquarters and lays
out q place OF battle the Cubnns seem
by some myAteriOus means 10 hear OF Il.
for. pretending to fall Into the trnp,
they push O body OF men forward,
Hkirmish with the troops. draw tho
Spanish forces upon them. and then
the Cuban army proper Outiianlts tho
Spaniards and pushes steadily onward
towards Havana.
Ruin In u,o Wake.
The admirers OF the captain general
claim that this is his plan Of campaiTn;
that, no IL allowing the Cubans to got
by Nm and nearer and nearer 10 Hn-
ynnA, only for the purpose Of falling
upon them In the four and scattering
them 10 all the points Of the compass.
Tbls sounds plausible enough; but tho
Insurgents arc destroying all bridges,
railways and plantations behind them.
Tho route they have followed In marked
by blarkened hwnth ~ smoking ruin
and deBolnton, md the SpnninrdA VIII
have q very dlnlcut task 10 push on
after their fleet footed enemies
liesidea. within two weeks, CnmpOa
has changed hiB hchd1unrtrH from
Hnhta Clara 10 ClOnfueRos, from Glen.
iuogOB 10 phlmlllna. from pnlnlllnH 10
colon, from Colon 10 JovollnnOn from
JUyellnnOH 20 hmOnnrg and from III
monnrc 10 Gunnabann, whore he Blopt
last night
All these changes wOrn direct rctrrntn
befofr tho nnoiny In the h6po II W true.
N being nbiu 10 bring about u pllchel
lnitln. Tht Htrina 10 BE- the secret ~
'ho fliitfe NJ the Hpnnlarda 10 check
the advance NJ the CubnnH.
~ this dispatch " sent, nbout mon,
ihn exact whnredbhlltu ~ The captain
general IN not known, but ho IN report
M 20 hnyc made another change " base
ana ~ bo making nnoihcr nttcinlt 10
engage tho enemy All tho Rpnnldli
generals In tho rom NJ tho inhurfnnt
army hnvO been instructed iu hurry
ufinf Tim enemy with all possible
Hpvod
spnnlRrds wtah polnL
Here howoyor, comUf In the wcakrnt
feature NJ the chmpnlgn NJ The Ppnn-
iutdu 'The Bd,fifIV. fad half. RfuYu luun,