The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-26

Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
havana, Dec. p - Further details
reached here today from Matanzas OF the
rapid advance OF the insurgent army
numbering about 1900 men. upon Havana
after forcing its way through the province
or Santa Clara and into the province Of
Maianzas. In spite OF the efforts OF Capt.
Gen. Martinez Campos and about s0.Oel
troops at his disposal in the territory in
Vaded
The reported important battle yesterday
between the Spaniards under Campos and
the insurgents at coliseo plantation
twelve miles from Cardenas. does not ap-
pear to have been a very severe engage
ment cardenas is a seaport and quite an
important place for Cuba of about 400 in
ha0ltants II is only twenty-one miles from
Matanzas, capital OF the province Of that
name, and the largest town between Car
denas and Havana. Ihe Spanish forces do
not appear TO have encountered the main
body OF the Insurgents. as at first an
nounced. The fight at the Coliseo planta-
ton WAS with portion OF the northern
column OF the inSurgent columns now
pushing through the province of Matauzas
and, instead OF turning out 10 be a great
victory for the Spdniards. the result Of the
engagement was virtually a defeat for
Campos forces, for the Cuban army
i
vancing on this city. The fighting took
place amid burning cane. underwood. tall
grass and trees, and was of the usual
guerrilla nature. At times both the troops
and the insurgents We're surrounded by
walls OF flames. and the smoke was 50
dense over certain portions Of the ground
contested that the Cubans and the troops
were unable 10 see each other. and kept
banging away at open spaces. wasting
- ANN srvNf~ Hs4v. gr.
discriminate firing was more noticed upon
the part of the troops than on the side Of
the insurgents. but for one insurgent
killed a. least 2000 shots must have been
hred The Cubans, following their custo-
mary tactics, seemed to melt away into
the distance as soon as the troops got with
in ughting distance OF them. and nearly
all the firing was at very long range. al
though the soldiers made several gallant
charges through the burning territory.
This style of fighting is termed a defeat of
the insurgents. bat as they succeeded in
accomplishing their object of holding the
Spaniards in check while the Cubans push
cd on southwark, the result was really a
Cuban victory.
The captain general was as near the
front as possible throughout the battle
encouraging the troops by words and ac-
tion- one Of the captain generals order
lies who was sitting on his horse beside
Campos received bullet in his breast, and
fell TO the ground badly wounded. The
shot was no doubt intended for the Span
ish commander. The correspondent OF II
orrespondencia, Manuel Escobar. was
decorated on the field OF battle by the cap
tain general for gallant conduct at the
battle OF Eusenada Dc Ia Mora, and il may
be here added that several other newspaper
men have displayed ii good deal OF pluck
with the captain general under fire.
Campos seems Ia have a supreme con-
tempt for the bullets OF the insurgents:
but ne IS rapidly learning 70 admire their
tactics In spite OF all the veteran Span
ish commander does. the Cuhans are
marching through his forces with but
few skirmishes here and there. and ne
seems 10 be utterly unable 20 concentrate
ahead OF them forces sufficient TO draw
the enemy into a pitched battle When
Campos establishes his headquarters and
laws out plan Of battle the Cubans seem
by some mysterious means 10 hear of IT,
and. pretending 10 fan into the trap, they
push a body II men forward. skirmish with
the troops draw the Spanish forces upon
them. and the Cuban army proper out
tanks the Spsniaris and pushes steadily
onward toward Havana. The admirers of
the. captain general claim that this is his
plan of campaign that he is allowing the
Cubans 10 get by him and nearer and near
er 70 Havana only for the purpose of
eventually falling upon thfm IN t1o rear
and scattering them TO all points of the
compass
TINS sounds plausible enough. 0ut the
Insurgents are destroying an the b1lt-
.uzs. railways ana plantations heh,ul
them The route they have followed IS
marked hy oa-ktuel sWatb of smok ng
RAN and dfSojat.aU. ana the : au ards u
have very difficult Task 80 push on arr