The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-01
ssThe Second Invasion.
Maceo's Triumphal Progress
Through Pinar Del Rio.
Mail and Express.

Outgeneralilng the OPaniaros WIN O
completeness which would be ludiereus
if the horrors of the Spanish attempt
at brutal conquest were not always pres
ent in ones mind.
Maceo's invasion of Piuar del klo
has already attained such Importance
that it is designated 1.-The seconc ipva-
siop." Although he has not started oo
his return brief summary Of the
events which have already occurred will
show how important this Invasion is to
the issue of the war. The first event
occurred two weeks ago when Maceo,
who had been moving eastward through
Matauzas, turned back toward the west.
The seven Spanish columns. which J
have so often referred to. were suddenly
called upon to check him. Gen. Wey-
ler's staff planned maneuver which
would briug all the forces into con.
junction surrounding Maceo's army at
a point one mile from Colisea. The
orders were sent by telegraph to Gems.
Prat, Linares and Aldecoa and Col.
Hernandez requiring them to make that
place at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The
telegraph operator let the message go
correctly to Gen. Prat, but changed the
hour to 6 iu the other message; and
when Gen. Prat came upon Maceo he
had about $500 men and the rebels
over 5000 cavalry. Gen. Prat wae
forced to retreat with the column badly
shattered.
A second combination was attempted
two days later near Limonar, where
Maceo was apparently intending to cross
the line into Habana province This
also failed, for the reason that Col. Tort
with the Almaucea battalion, newly
arrived body of green recruits from
Spain who had never seen fighting, at
tempted to hold the vital point on the
lines. Maceo's veterans swept down
upon them and broke through the com.
biuation with fierce fight which wiped
out the Almancea battalion.
The Spanish retired in the direction
of LimoDar, carrying about 100 wound
ed aud, besides the 10 dead they car
ried away, left seven on the field. which
the rebels buried. With these victories
.Maceo's road was clear, and after few
engagements of minor importance came
the burning of the important towns of
Batabaua. What the Spanish did to
defend it is best told by their owu re-
port:
"When We saw the establishment,
Ell Canon, belonging to Mr.. Ricardo
Ganidera. the first house burned, was
in flames, the troops, 10 anticipation of
what might occur. retired to the forts. "
They were so whipped out that Gen.
Weyler. the day after the burning OF
the city. ordered the payment of $40
to each man in the garrison to enable
him to buy clothing. Here gunboat
Law out 10 the barbor aud shelled the
town while the insurgents we're burning
it, but Qaintin Bandera happened to
have four canuons. and when these un
expectedly opened upon the gunboat
she put out to sea.
10 this fight the cannon shots we're
passing over the roof of the little cable
station where the line drops of shore,
and the operator had to, stand outside
waving lantern constantly to enable
the gunners on the water to direct their
shots over him or to one side. He bad
to take his chances with the rebels
when their cannous began to take part,
and at one time be get down his lantern
long enough to telephone TO HabaDa
"Good- bye, boys. It's all up with US,
and -'' There the wire was cut. He
waved his light again until be saw the
gupboat leaving, and then lay fat down
on the ground and waited. 1t was
three days before the line was repaired
aud be was able to seDd word that be
was still alive.
While this vas going on the Spanish
we're setting a third line iu comblna-
ton of troops to keep Maceo within
Habana province and out of Pinar de!
Rio at any cost. Col hernandez and
Col. Inclap, with nearly 5000 men,
we're hurried!y sent 10 front of Maceo
by trains down the western railway.
Gen. Ocbando. the chief of Gen. Wey-
ler's staff, said that morning. the 18th:
"Tbey have entered the province
again, but I have just given orders to
bar their way into Piuar del Rio, and,
although I don't know whether they
will succeed in getting there or not. If
they DO they will never come out
alive"
Two days later Maceo's forces de-
feated Hernandez and Ipclao at the
estate Neptune, uear Mangas, between
Artemesia and captured the mules With
the ammunition aud ratioos.
The next day occurred oue of the
hA