The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1895-12-28
THE INSURGENTS GOT BY HIM
r.o ARMY Moves Closer and Closer to
Havana, Which Prepares
Tor DcICnse.

army. numbering ABOUT 1l,UVV men, On
Havana, after forcing it's way through
the provinces Of Santa Clara and Ma
tanzas in spite of the efforts of Captain
General Martinez De Campos and about ,
sOOO troops at his DISPOSAL. The report |
cd important battle yesterday between |
the Spaniards under Campos and the |
insurgents at ColiseO plantation, II
miles from Cardenas, does not appear
TO have been a severe engagement. Car
denas is a seaport and quite an import
ant place for Cuba, Of about 1000 inhab-
itants, only 81 miles from Matanzas,
capital of the province Of that name,
and the largest town between Cardena
and Havana. The Spanish forces do
not appear to have encountered the
main body of insurgents, as at first an
nounced.
A SPANISH DEFEAT.
The fight at the Coliseo plantation
was between a portion of the northern
column of three insurgent columns now
pushing through the province of Ma
tanzas, and instead of turning out to
be great victory for the Spanish re-
serves, the engagement was virtually
defeat for the Campos forces. for the
and is still advancing on this city The
fighting took place amid burning cane,
underwood, tall grass and trees, and
was Of the usual guerilla nature. At
times both troops and insurgents were
surrounded by wall of flame and the
smoke was SO dense over certain por-
tons of the ground contested that the
Cubans and troops were unable to see
each other, banging away at open
spaces, wasting ammunition. 1t is true
this indiscriminate firing was more no.
ticed upon the part of the troops than
on the side of the insurgents; for one
tnsurgent killed at least 1000 shots must
have been fired. The Cubans, following
their customary tactics, seemed to melt
away into the distance so soon as the
troops got within fighting distance OF
them, and nearly all the firing was at
very long range, although the soldiers
made several gallant charges through
The burning territory. This style or
nghtlng is termed defeat Of the 1nsuf-
gents, but as they succeeded in accom-
pushing their object, holding the Span
lards in check while the CubanS pushed
on southwark, the result was really a
CUBAN victory. The captain genera
was as near the front as possible
throughout the battle. encouraging
troops by words and actions. One OF
the captain generals orderlies, who was
sitting on a horse beside Campos, re-
celVed bullet in his breast and fell u
me ground badly wounded.
Inc correspondent Of Correspondent
ca, Manuel Escoba, was decorated on
.he Held Of battle by the captain gen
eral for gallant conduct at the battle OF
Ihsenada de la Mora, and 1T may OF
mere added that several other neWspa.
per men have displayed good deal o.
puck with the captain general under
fire.
AN ELUSIVE ENEMY.
eampos seems to have supreme con
.einpt for the bullets Of insurgents, bu
4'e IS rapidly learning to admire thel
.actlcs. In spite of all the veteran Span
sn commander does, the Cubans arr
slarchlng through his forces, with pu
~" sklrmishes here and there, and NJ
teeihs to be utterly unable to concen
'e ahead of them forces sufficient Z
va NV the enemy into a pitched battle
mnen Campos establishes headquarter
lays out plan Of battle the CUBAN
~ e. ~ oy some mysterious means to hea
~ ~ and, pretending to fall into tn
SIP push body of men forward Z
.liiish with the troops, draw Spanlsl
oes upon them, and the Cuban arm.
p p,,. outfianks the Spanish an
r ~, onward toward Havana.
ne admirers Of the captain genera