The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-15
REVIEW OF THE WAR.
Only Real Battles Have Been Won ny
the Insurgent Forces.


the Insurgent Forces.
NEW YORK. Aug 1.-THE Sun prints the
following letter from Havana, under date of
Aur. I: To those to whom the Cuban rebel
lion against the Spanish government is OF
any interest, and who. wishing to know the
turth trust=epfireis TO Official news, or, on
the other hand, give credit TO stories OF
filibustering sympathizers, perhaps mis-
taken on account of verbal transmission,
the conflicting nature of the news brings
only uncertainty.
The difference exists that while the rebels
communicate exclusively through verbal
messages, acting as an army on foreign ter
ritory the Spanish government, in posses
sion of the wires. the post, and the railroad
lines, ruling with powerful hand in the
quiet cities of the island, exercising on the
newspapers a strong censorship, omitting
the reports from the interior that tell of
the rebels lawful treatment Of prisoners,
their organization and resources, their
movements and victories, publishing rec
ord of crimes as the main deeds of the
rebels, has In its hands all the material nec-
essary to give out those made-up stories OF
the campaign that astonish the reader by
the extraordinary phenomenon of an enemy
always dispersed and torn to pieces, though
gathered and hostile next morning; of
nation winning every military action,
though still sending troops by the thousands
to fight against the vanquished.
Since February great many scattered
encounters have occurred Of no consequence
whatever, though both parties proclaim
them to be serious engagements. involving
heavy losses to the other side and no harm
to themselves; but. apart. from these slight
skirmishes, in the four real battles fought,
FL Ramon, Jobito, Cacao ana PeraleJo, VIC
tory has shown upon the SINCE star banner.
morning. lasted until I p. m, and eighty
free by the insurgents after giving up their
arms and ammunition; the battlefield, a
cemetery, helped the Cubans.. At Jobito the
troops were caught in dehle. losing three
hundred men, but aided by reinforcements
expressly sent for from the town. Command
er Robes made a gallant retreat at p. IN; m; ;
GERS lost their lives there. The battle or
Cacao has been told OF lately, and at
Peralejo, Gen. Fidel Alfonso Santoseildes,
his aids seven officers and over 100 men
were killed the Spanish side. The Cuoans
lost three officers and one hundred men,
but held the ground. and though the troops
reached Bayamo at p. m, they had no
time to cut a wire fence that gave way un-
der the pressure of the retreating men.
Raek g mules S foree wss AGES
dentally seized by the rebels, and the
treat has been considered by intelligent OBJ
servers a wonderful feat of skill and good
War ,rs at s Madrid, he said: Never did 1 see
SHOWER Of of bnllets IT. But events ike efthis this
must happen il the quality of the enemies
is borne in mind. On one side strong.
war, sa knoWing win ' every inch Of the 9 GROUND. ud.
and thus able TO act separately, with no
other burden than the native machete. car
~s<@A and r-fA G<tx
with the enthusiasm that the desire for
freedom gives, against raw recruits. forced
by discipline to go forward without inter-
ing sun, to which they are unused, the load
OF their ammunition. bayonets, rifle. blank
cts and knapsack; and, and Obliged to follow
hunger and death. When ready for battle
fifteen thousand insurgents must face fifty
two thousand spasn:ara,s, c,. ana @ II all the law
and the "guerria'' system was abandoned,
perhaps Spain would have an easy task:
but with the Cubans constantly harassing
the troops. gathering In great numbers to
strike a sure blow, scattering when the
cannon sounds firing heavily as soon as the
charge. the advantage is plainly on their
side, and has 10 be marked one, for the
life of Cuban Is more to the Insured
tos" than ten men to the troops, replen-
ished every day by new arrivals from Spain
In short, so far, the native and the expe-
ditionary armies are on equal terms; at
ever they are ready. and land successfully.
When the Cuban rebellion broke out Spain
looked on IL with disdain, stigmatizing the
mere sport; but matters went on, General
CaIleja was recalled and blamed for not
checking the war at the beginning, and
as the truth was not TO be told. he apollo
gized. wishing Campos TO straighten out
everything. Spain had In Cuba three thou
sand regulars; the rebels numbered as many
in the western province. Spain had eighty
thousand volunteers that would not leave
the cities for the battlefield. and, IL forced
to. would revolt. Now Spain has on the