The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-11
REBELS BEAT THRICE.
The Spanish Soldiers Winning
f. Vic. ories In Cuba.
ONE A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.
The Insurgents Entrap the spaniards In
q Narrow Defile-- Deploys Of Pickets on
the Sides of the Pass Prevent Defeat.
Many Killed In Battle.

HAVANA, July "a severe engage
ment has taken place between the
Spanish troops under the command of
Colonel Azuar and Rabi, the insurgent
commander, at the head Of q large
force. Two hundred and eighty of the
latter were killed.
1t appears that Major Sanchez re-
ceived information to the effect that a
force of 1900 insurgents, under the
command of Rabi had occupied strong
positions near Manzanillo, province Of
Santiago de Cuba. Consequently the
major sent messenger to his superior
officer, Colonel Azuar, proposing to the
colonel that they should join their
forces and make an attack upon the in
surgents.. The messenger fell into the
hands of the insurgents, who hanged
him and sent word to Major Sanchez in
the name of Colonel Azuar, to make an
attack upon the insurgent position
from point which compelled the troops
to approach the insurgents through a
narrow thoroughfare.
Major Sanchez recognizing the diff
Guilty of the movement he was appar.
emily directed by his colonel to execute,
sent forward two advance pickets Of IL
and 30 men respectively, under the
command of two sergeants, with in
structions to push forward to the right
and to the left of the narrow thorough
fare referred to, and TO be careful to
take up advantageous position from
which they could protect the advance
Of the main body of the troops under
Sanchez's command. The sergeants
cleverly followed out the instructions
given them. Major Sanchez than ad-
vanced carefully upon the insurgent
position, protecting his men by every
inequality of the ground. But, as he
expected, the troops were no sooner in
side the defile than the insurgents at
tackled them in force. The first charges
of the insurgents were made with en-
thusiasm and their machetes played
havoc among the troops, who were
hemmed in and unable to deploy on ac-
count of the narrow road they had to
follow.
But it was here that the two advance
pickets, under the two sergeants, came
to the rescue. From their elevated
position they kept up a continuous and
well directed fire upon the insurgents
within range and eventually assisted
by charge of the Spanish troops, COM
PEELED them to retreat outside of the de-
file. The Spanish rushed forward after
them and once in the open they charged
the insurgents with great courage and
compelled them to retreat hastily. The
insurgents then sought refuge in the
strong position they had previously left
in order to attack the troops, but the
soldiers carried this position and put
I 20 airvl,
the field of $50 killed The troops lost
| 30 men in killed and wounded.
| In another fight, reported from Ve-
guita, the insurgent under Rabi lost
| five killed and many wounded, while
on the side of the troops, one officer and
four soldiers were wounded.
News of another defeat of the insur-
gents has reached here from Bellamotas,
in the province of Santa Clara. Bella
motas was garrisoned by an officer and
| 90 soldiers, who occupied a fortified
barracks building. The place was at
tackled by the insurgents under Castillo.
The enemy built large fire to wind
ward, and the flames communicated to
that building. The insurgent leader
then sent word to the officer in COM
mand Of the garrison, the soldiers form
ing part of the union battalion notify
ing him to surrender under pain of be-
ing burned alive with his men. The
officer sent word to Castillo in reply
that he preferred to die fighting or be
burned to death than surrender to the
insurgents. In the meantime some of
the soldiers succeeded i'll extinguishing
the flames, which threatened to con-
sumo the barracks. and other troops
came to the rescue. The insurgents re-
tired, leaving many dead and wounded
on the field. On the side of the troops
only three men were killed and four
wounded.
The insurgents have burned church
near Banao, in the Santi Espiritus dis
trict of the province of Santa Clara.
Twenty y-nine persons have been sent tC
the Island of Pinos for participating in
political conspiracies.