The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-09
INSURGENTS.
Lost Nearly Three Hundred Men 10
a Fight Near ManzaniIIo.
PREPARED A TRAP FOR TROOPS.
The Foresight of Spaniards
Turned the Scale.

HAVANA, July GA severe engagement
took place between tho Spanish troops
under the command of Colonel Azuar, and
General Rabi, the insurgent commander,
at the head of "a large forco OF revolution
lists. Two hundred and eighty of tho lat
ter were killed
1t appears that Major Sanchez received
Information that foroo of 1900 insur-
gents, under the command of Rabi had
occupied strong positions near Manzanillo.
The major sent "a message To Colonel
Azuar, proposing To tho colonel that they
should join their forces and make an at
tack upon the insurgents. The messenger,
however, fell into tho hands OF the insur.
gents, who hanged him and sent word 10
Major Sanchez, in the name of Colonel
Azuar, to make an attack upon tho insur-
gent position from point which com
PEELED the troops To. approach tho insur-
gents through narrow thoroughfare.
Major sanchez, recognizing tho difficulty
OF the movement he was apparently di-
rectcd by his colonel to executc, sent for
ward two advances piolScts Of IL and 80
men, respectively, under the couimand Of
two sergcants, with instructions TO push
forward tn the right and 20 the left of the
hhioW thOiOuEuiift 10, ana
be CAREFUL To take up advantageous posi-
tions from which they could protect the
advance OF the main body of the troops
under Sanchez's command. Tho sergeants
clcvorly followed out the instructions
given them. Major Sanchez then ad-
vanced carefully upon the insurgents
position.
A Desperate Conflict.
Ruf ne ha oil tho
sooner Inside the defile than the insur-
gents attacked them In force. The first
charges of the insurgents were made with
enthusiasm, 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 fol-
low.
But 1t was here that the two advance
pickets under the two sergeants came to
the rescue. From their elevated positions
they kept up a continuous and we'll
directed tire upon the insurgents within
range, and eventually, assisted by charge
OF the Spanish troops, compelled them to
retreat outside Of the deflle.
The troops pushed forward after them,
and, once In the open, charged the insur-
gents and compelled them TO retreat has
tily. Tho insurgents then sought refuge
In the strong position they had previously
left In order TO attack the troops, but tho
soldiers carried this position and put the
enemy To flight, with the loss of $50 killed.
The troops lost 30 men in killed and
wounded.
In another fight reported from Voguita,
che insurgents, under Rnbi, lost five killed
and had many wounded. while on the sido
OF the troops one officer and four soldiers
were wounded
Battle at BeIlamotas.
News of another battle Of the insurgents
pas reached here from Bellamotas Bel |
amotas was garrisoned by an officer and |
. soldiers, who occupied fortified build |
ng. The place was attacked by the in |
,urgcnts under Castillo. The enemy |
built large fire to windward of the bar |
racks, and the flames communicated to |
that building.
The insurgent leader then sont word TO |
the officer in command of the garrison. |
the soldiers forming part of the Union |
notifying him TO surrender un-
der pain of being burned alive with his |
men. The officer sent word to Castillo |
that he preferred to die fighting or be
burned to death than surrender TO the in |
surgents.
In the meanwhile some Of the soldiers |
succeeded in extinguishing the flames,
and wbilo they were doing so the re-
mainder of tho garrison kept up IA con-
Iinuous fire from thoir guns on the in
The latter replied from every
point, but the garrison held out galantly
Tor two hours
The news of tho insurgents attack had
n the meanwhile been communicated 10 N
attachment of Spanish soldiers i'm the
neighborhood, and they pushed forward To
he relief of the garrison of Bellamotas.
The moment they reached that place
)risk fire was opened upon the insurgents,
md the latter Immediately retired leaving
many dead and wounded on the field On
ho side of the troops only three were
killed and four wounped.
The insurgents have burned a church
lear Banao, in the Santi Espiritus dis
rict OF che province of Santa Clara