The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-27
CAMPOS OUTWITTED.
THE CUBAN INSURGENTS NOW NOV
ING ON HAVANA.

Within Fifty Miles of the Capital, Leaving
Behind Them Some Very lad Roads for
the Spanish to Trayel-Possibiiity That
Havana's Christmas Gift May BE a Siege.
HAVANA, Dec. 25.-[Copyrighted, 1895,
by the Associated Press. shortly after
noon Tuesday the startling news was re-
ceived from Mantanzas that General Max
limo Gomez at tho head of the insurgent
army said to number about $4,000 of all
arms, fairly well supplied with artillery,
had by a feint turned the flank of Captain
General Martinez do Campos, in command
ofithe Spanish forces at Colon, who was at.
tempting to stop tho advance of the enemy
upon Havana, and that the latter were
well to the westward of Colon and threat
ening to pass Mantanzas to the southwark
and strike directly at HAVANA, The re-
ceipt of this startling news caused the
greatest excitement here, both in official
and unofficial circles. The insurgents, a
little over two weeks ago, entered the
province of Santa Clara from the province
Of Puerto Principe at Iguara, and there
defeating Colonel Segura and a Spanish
column they made most wonderful adj
vance through the province.
How Gomez Turned Campos' Flank.
These rapid movements caused Campos
to change his headquarters to Colon and
he began concentrating his forces there,
intending to compel Gomez to fight a
pitched battle before passing that place.
A day or so ago the insurgents caused a
scurry in Colon. Firing was heard at
| A..;oo .Io.t afkoon .-tloa fro,~ kLok
place, and roinforcements were sent to the
front from Colon, but this turned out to
be little more thar an outpost affair, and
while the Spanish troops were pushing
for the point the main body Of the enemy
passed southwark of Colon, near the line
of railroad, and headed steadily for the
frontier Of the province of Havana, thus
turning the flank of the captain general,
who with the bulk Of the Spanish forces in
the island Of Cuba is now we'll to the rear
of the insurgents columns, the latter NOV
ing much more rapidly than the Spanish
troops, who are utter unused to travelling
in this thickly wooded country without
regular roads and with heavy grass and
low bush wood to interfere with every
movement.
Outgenerels the Spaniard.
Gomez, by a beautifully executed coun-
termarch, has turned the flank of the
famed Spanish commander, and Monday,
with his army, made his appearance close
to the town of Jovellanos, we'll to the rear
of Colon N commanding the railroads to
Cardenas, Matanzas and Havana. The
movement of the insurgents was an ex-
ample Of splendid generalship accom-.
p1ichod 1nHar tho y,nct trvinn oirc,,,n-
stances and in the face of overwhelming
numbers of Spanish troops commanded by
the best officers of Spain. The insurgents
burned the railroad station of Quintin,
eastward of Jovellanos, and destroyed the
railroads behind them to prevent the adj
vance of the Spaniards upon their rear.
The last news received is that they arc
pushing for the railroad which connects
Matanaz as with Havana,
1t seems that there is nothing likely to
prevent them from besieging Havana
within the next few days, for tho Spanish
commanders appear to nave entirely lost
their heads, and unless General Campos
has accomplished a miracle of daring
strategy in allowing Gomez and his forces
to slip by, in order that the Spanish troops
may be hurried after them and catch them
between two fires, the insurgents are mas
tiers of the situation. The odds against the
Spaniards being able to press on after the
triumphant insurgent army -.are, very
heavy, for of course Gomez is doing every
thing possible to make pursuit Of him diff
flcult and slow.
What the Spanish General Expects.
General Campos has ordered the Span
ish commanders nearest to the insurgents,
Generals Valdes, Alrocoa and Navarro, to
do everything possible to attack the in
surgents under any and all circumstances.
Campos has managed to get out of Colon
and has placed himself at the head of the
Spanish forces at Limonar, twenty miles
east of Matanzas, where he expects to
be able to strike at the insurgents.
Thousands of people from all parts of the
country around Matanzas are 6ocking in
terror into that city; according to official
dispatches. But other reports say that
they are in the main Offering to join the
insurgents.
SO Christmas Eve was ushered in with
something worry like dismay in the city,
and there Is apprehension hourly gaining
ground that Havana will be besieged by
armed forces before Christ mas day is over. |
The advance of the insurgents seemed at
latest advices to be uninterrupted, thus
contradicting a report sent out during the
afternoon that they had been turned back
in a pitched battle by Campos himself, and
were striving to make their way back into
Santa Clara province. This rumor stated
in great detail that General Campos in
person, at the head of the Spanish forces,
had succeeded in coming face to face with
Gomez and his forces at the plantation of
Coliseo, which was in flames. This plan |
tation Is situated twelve miles from
Cardenas. and twenty-one miles from
Matanzas.
The insurgents, it was said, were
hemmed In and were compelled to fight,
all retreat being cut off. A desperate en-.
gagement took place, the combatents be-
ing surrounded by the flames of the burn
ing plantation. The insurgents, it is said, |
were dispersed, leaving 700 dead and
wounded on tho field. The troops loss
was, 1t was reported, comparatively in |
significant, being only fourteen, and Gen.
erals Valdes and Luquo had already |
started to Sabinalla del Incomdadum |
supported by several other columns in
pursuit of tho flying insurgents, who were
supposed to be making their way back to |
Santa Clara province at their best speed. |
This report had tho effect of greatly re-
-