The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-24
FOR CUBAN FREEDOM
THE INSURGENTS VICTORIOUS
IN A NUMBER OF HARD
FOUGHT BATTLES.
SPANISH SOLDIERS DESERVING


COurt-Martialed and Sentenced to
Receive 400 Lashes and BE Shot in
Revenge for a Defeat at the Hands
of the RebeIs-~He Died Shouting for
Cuban Liberty Making
Effective Use OF Dynamite Bombs.
New YORK, Sept. % News of a bat
tie, in which the Spanish were defeated
by the Oubans and lost 300 men. was
received today by President Palma. 1t
came in letter written September IA by
Pedro R0vira, Cuban private who de-
serted the Spanish ranks at Pera Lem0
when Campos was defeated.
In later engagement Ro7ira was cap
tuTed by the Spanish, court martialed
and sentenced to receive four hundred
lashes and to be shot The sentence was
carried out while Rovira was shouting
for Cuban liberty The Spanish were
greatly incensed against him, as he had
killed three of their men before being
captured.
The letter says that all Santiago,
where the execution took place, was in
oensed against the Spaniards and then
goes on to describe a hard fought battle:
"A man who was sick in a hospital
at Casimbra escaped to Guantanin in
August and told the Spaniards that Gen.
Jose MaceO was sick in the Casimbra
hospital and had only thirty men with
him. On the thirtieth of August Maceo
heard that 1900 men, one battalion
corps, asquadron of cavalry with pieces
0fartillery, were marching on him. Maceo
mounted his horse and from the noun
tain of Santa Maria viewed the enemy's
position. He ordered eight of his men
to keep up firing from ambuscade to de-
ceiye the Spanish, and meanwhile he had
word sent to his brother, Gen. Antonio
Maceo.
"On August 81, the Spaniard8 captured
Francis, and Gen Jose Maceo fortified
his few men in a plantation house near
the hospital. He wished to guard the
right side Of the road leading to Bacca-
lano, which skirted the hospital. The
Spanish were slowly closing in on him
when Gen. Cebreco and a Cuban regi-
ment came to his relief and made the
enemy evacuate their position.
"a hot engagement followed in which
the Spanish regained their position but
were unable to hold it long, as Gen. An
tonic Aaceo suddenly appeared on the
scene and with Cebreeo and Col. Mieu
mint succeeded in wrestling it from Can
ale and GarTido who commanded the
Spanish. The Spanish now made bril-.
liant charge and for the third time man
aged to secure the position, bat in the
engagement the Spanish captain"of ar
tillery was mortally wounded and they
slowly withdrew, the Cubdns fighting
them back"
This battle lasted from five o'clock a.
m. to one o'clock p. N. 1t was resumed
in the early afternoon, however, and is
described as follows:
"Gen. Antonio Mace0 cleverly turned
the Spanish column and gained the pass
of Bacpano. He then massed his troops
before;the Spanish vanguard, while Gen.
Jose Maceo got his regiment in the rear.
"a very desperate encounter ensued.
1t ragged until 9 o'clock at night, when it
was discontinued until the dawn of the
next day, September 1. The Spanish
then commenced to retreat until they
reached the Igubanabano field, where
they were able TO use their cavalry, which
was impossible on the mountains of
Santa Maria.
"They did not gain any advantage,
however, and after burning their prOvis
ions they continued to retreat to Noun
amin which place they entered in scat
tered groups.
"The Cubans had no cavalry but made
effective use of dynamite bombs which,
the /, tier states struck terror to the
enemy.
In the engagement the Cuban loss was
40 men wounded and killed. The
Spanish loss over 300 men, 40 horses
and large store Of provisions and muni-
tions Of war. The Cubans are still cap
turing stragglers and picking up arms
near Molnanin.
Antonio Maeco returned to his camp (; t
-Escandel. Three miles away at Caney,
the Cubans can see their flag floating
over his camp. Eg.2 9
"Col Pegeda, at the head of /, 900 Span
iards, we'll provisioued, left Santiago for
Combre to day, Sept. 14)
''Spaniards are desertlng every day and
jOluluS bu5 OuDduS' InC ppHGIdlLC dL-
ter the battle sent cable to Spain
headed The defeat and capture of
Jose Maceo,' and also asked for the re-
ward and advance of the officers in the
engagement"
A Desperate Fight at Nei.
HAVANA, Sept. % News has been
received at military quarters here OF a
desperate fight at Nefi, near Palma sela,
Province of Santa Clara, between 800 in
surgents, led by Bermudez and Pleites
and detachment of government calvary
under Capt. Riestra. The vanguard Of
the calvary, consisting Of a sergeant and
seven priyates, were first surrounded
by the insurgents, and in the engage
ment every one of the vanguard was
killed, By this time Captain Restra,
with the main body Of cavalrymen,
thirty-fye in number, came up and eE
gagged the insurgents, whom he forced to
retreat, leaving three of their number