The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-11
MANY SPANIARDS SLAIN
Insurgents Claim That They
Yet Have a Chance
to Succeed.
MINOR DEFEATS FOR THEM.
Spain, However, Is Determined tc
Crush the Rebellion in
Short Order.

NEW YORK, N. Y, May 10.-A special
to the World from Songo, Cuba says: A
World correspondent interviewed General
Maceo, who was found in his camp in the
forest league from Jaragueca and forty
miles from Santiago.
General Maceo gave out some details of
the fight at Hondo Creek, near Guantana-
mo, in which his brother. Jose Maceo, who
is not dead after all, had sharp encounter
with 500 Spanish soldiers of Simanceo's
regiment, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Bosch.
The Spaniards were attacked from am
bush. Jose Maceo had 700 followers. The
Spaniards admit loss of sixteen killed
and several officers wounded According
to letter just received by General Maceo
from his brother the Spaniards suffered
severely. The Cubans used their machetes
with deadly effect when the Spanish sol
diers had fired away their ammunition.
Maceo placed his men in position in
thickets along the bank of the Hondo,
which at that point is stream about
thirty feet wide. Colonel Bosch APP
preached early in the morning along the
bank of the creek, and on receiving the
fire of the rebels drew his men into posi-
ton in a canefeld. The firing continued
until 1 o'clock. AS usual, the Spaniards
wasted much ammunition needlessly. and
when it was exhausted Jose Maceo
charged across the river and cut many
down with the machetes. One of Maceo's
lieutenants, a French half-breed named
Alcide de Verger, rode recklessly to the
creek, calling on his men to use their
machetes. A shot from the Spaniards
killed the daring man. The Spanish regu-
lars were aided by 200 volunteers from
Guantanamo. Colonel Bosch's men with
drew when they had fired away their am
munition. This is fatal fault of the
Spaniards.
The officers appear to make no effort to
prevent the soldiers from banging away as
fast as they can. When armed with
swift breech-loadipg magazine rife like
the Mauser it does not take long to throw
away the 100 rounds with which each man
is provided.
Jose Maceo was left in his position, and
he still held it when the steamer left this
morning for Santiago.
TAMPA, FLA, May 10.-Passengers ar
irving on the steamer Mascotte say the
condition of things is encouraging to the
Cuban insurgents. 1t is said that Cana
guey has been invaded by Gomez, who,
with 1000 insurgents, besieged Guimaro
on Monday. There were about 1000
Spaniards in the city. After the fighting,
which became disastrous for the besieged
regiment of Cadiz numbering about
$500 arrived, attacking the Cubans in the
rear.
Gomez quickly recovered from the first
onslaught. While small force kept up
the conflict with the forces of the city his
main body faced the new enemy
The fighting was very fierce, but it is as
serted that the strategy of Gomez and
valor OF the insurgents resulted in VIC
tory. The regiment of Cadiz, it is said,
was cut to pieces.
The city, the passengers say, is in the
possession of the insurgents. The Cuban
loss of killed and wounded is put at 700
Spanish loss 5000.
Smallpox and yellow fever are very
prevelant. Campos is said to be greatly
displeased with the situation and the in
surgent leaders are hopeful of another
crisis in the Cabinet, which will require
Campos to return to Spain.
Inc CuDanS assert UldG DISSATISFACTION
exists among the troops over the execu-
ton of Gallego. On this account Lieu
tenant Mahey, who was taken to Havana
for execution, was not executed, but was
decorated with medals for valor.
MADRID, SPAIN, May 10.-The defeat of
the Cuban insurgents under Matagas has
been officially confirmed.
The rebels set ire to the railway bridge
between Caminos and San Luis.
More troops have arrived in Cuba, and
the campaign will now be more actively
pushed. The report from Tampa of re-
pulse on Monday of Spanish force at
Guimaro by the rebels under Gomez is de-
MED by the officials here, who say that no
open engagement occurred.
Senior Castellane, Colonial Minister
stated in the Cortes to-day that Captain
General Martinez de Campos was author
lied to introduce reforms in Cuba the
moment he deemed the time opportune.
A dispatch received here from Havana
says the Spanish troops operating against
the Cuban rebels have dispersed two bands,
one commanded by Matagas and the other
by Castillon, capturing their arms and
ammunition.