The Yale expositor., 1895-10-11
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS
CHRONICLE OF
GENERAL NEWS MATTERS.
Cuban Insurgents Win Some Important
engagements and Receive Some Re
verses Spanish Soldiers Desert to the
Insurgent Ranks-War News,

The Gu ban war Tor freedom from the
oppressive yoke of Spanish rule and
cruelty continues to grow in interest
and the patriots cause is constantly
receiving the sympathies Of civilized
and Christian people, especially in the
United States The fact that so many
civic, patriotic and religious societies
have extended their sympathies shows
the trend of popular feeling and will
undoubtedly result in congress recog-
nizing the Cuban government as
belligerent, inasmuch as Spain recog-
niZed the Confederate states as such at
tie very first opportunity. a great
many dispatches are received regard
ing the movements of the insurgent
and Spanish troops in Cuba and all in
all the former seem to be continually
gaining ground and winning battles.
A New York World correspondent in
Cuba, who visited the provinces of
Santa Clara and Santiago in June and
again this month, says it is astonishing
to see the growth of the insurgent
army and their splendid training dur
ing that time. Gen. Antonio Maceo
has 20, 900 troops in those two provinces
alone, and the entire Cuban army num-
bers about go, 900 men. All but two of
the provinces are practically in control
of the insurgents Notwithstanding the
fact that there are over 100, 900 Spanish
troops on the island under the COM
mand of Capt. Gen. Campos, supposed
TO be one of SPANS most able fighters.
The Spaniards do not fight with brav-
cry and will only stand battle when
they have overwhelming numbers.
But they can scarcely be blamed as
they are poorly drilled, badly discl-
plined, meanly clothed, have wretched
food, are marched hurriedly here and
there without any apparent plan of
campaign and are unaccustomed to the
climate. Scores of them die weekly
from climatic disorders and as many
more desert to the insurgent ranks.
The insurgents are feeling good over
the sinking of another Spanish cruiser,
the Cristobal Colon, which sank in the
gulf of Guadiana, where she was sta
toned to prevent the landing of fill
busters The crew of 200 men were
nearly all saved. The warship Infanta
Isabella ran aground off Baya Honda
while on her way to relieve the ship
Cristobal Colon. The machinery of the
wagship Condo de Nenandito is said to
be in very bad condition. All this
has forced Spain to order the cruisers
Alfonso y and Marquis de Ensenda
to proceed at once to Cuban waters.
Reports of recent battles show that
the most important were won by the
Cubans One the hottest was fought in
the province of Santa Clara in which
the Spanish troops lost $50 killed and
the insurgents so killed and wounded.
The defeated Spaniards withdrew to
the city of Santa Clara and soon after
IT. r
with other officials. Scarcely had he
gone when Gen. Sanchez, with force
of Cubans, swept down upon the city,
taking the troops by surprise and kill
ing many, besides capturing arms, am
munition and provisions, and then re-
turning into the country, destroying
railroad and telegraph communication
as they went. This brave and daring
attack caused great excitement at
Havana and elsewhere.
A Havana dispatch says that Gen.
Echague, with 1,s0O men, defeated
Antoio Maceo near the River Guayaba.
The insurgents abandoned their camp
and a quantity of ammunition and
arms fell into the hands of the Spanish
troops. Maceo was carried from the
field wounded. The reports of losses
differ, but the number of the killed
appear TO have been few. Private
advices state that Maxine Gomez has
left Camaguey at the head of 1,500
men to invade the district of Las Viii
las. He left 5000 men at Camaguey.
An uprising is reported at La Guira,
and it is expected that patriots in
Pinar del Rio will soon take up arms
Numerous small skirmishes are re-
ported but scarcely any damage is done
in these brushes. From FL Pueblo
Oyo Colorado 80 men joined the imsur-
gents after being enlisted and equipped
as Spanish volunteers. From Alquiz
As more joined the insurgents. This
is 40 miles from Havana. Col. Jose La
Crete, insurgent, has burned Encru-
iada, which is near Sagua la Grande
and destroyed the railway station and
tracks. Gen. Mello, with Spanish
Sept 10, for Santiago province. Moth
ing has been heard from him since,
and fears are that the whole detach-
ment has been lost are entertained.
Storms in the Vuelta Abajo district
destroyed vast amount of new to-
bacco and damaged railroads about
$500, 900. But worst of all nearly
three score souls were drowned by the
inundation of the country, and over
100 families are made homeless.
1t is reported that Spain will send
from 100, 900 to $50. 900 more troops to
Cuba, together with several prominent
officers TO engage in active campaign
ing.