The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-15
Willy FOES.
Troops Kept Busy by Unexpected
Moves Of insurgents
THE AMALeAMATIoN OF FORCES
Has Aided tho Cubans to a
Great Extent.

news rom the 'front.' Us In q shape which
prevents It's accuracy from being denied.
The sound OF continued artillery firing
was heard yesterday south OF Rlncon, not
far from Bejucal, the town which was at
tackled by tho insurgents Monday. with
tho result that, according To the official
statement Of the affair they were forced
20 retreat after heroic resistance upon
the part OF the government force defcnd
ing that place, the battle lasting, IL Is
claimed, five hours.
But 1t is admitted that the insurgents
plundered stores In the outlying streets OF
Bejucai. burned n number Of houses and
destroyed the railroad depot by fire Pre-
vious 10 this they had burned tho town
of Salud, quite large place sand partly
destroyed Quivican, n smaller place.
In spite of denials, people who are I'm q
position TO know claim that this Is Co
mez's force, aud-tfcy believe that the ar.
tillery firing heard yesterday was from the
column of Spanish troops commanded by
General Eneras, and believed 10 10 In tho
neighberhood of Salud. Consequently, IL
Ia believed that an important engagement
may be taking place, and further infor-
nation Ia anxiously expected
The next news OF Importance is a con.
firmation OF the report from the eastern
provinces that the insurgent leaders Rab,
Jose Maceo, Chongo Riyero and others at
the head OF strong forces OF insurgents
from the province OF Puerto Principe aro
moving eastward. apparently with the in.
tention OF reinforcing the insurgents now
operating In the neighborhood of Habana.
spsnisrds Change Their Tactics.
The presence OF this additional force OF
Insurgents moving through the province
of Santa Clara and In the direction of tho
province OF Matanzas will naturally pre-
vent the Spanish commanders from send.
ing into the Habana district all the troops
they intended to draw from Santa Clara
and Matanzas, with the intention OF
crushing the insurgents in this vicinity,
and eventually driving them into the prov
ince OF Pinar del Rio, westward, until
they were all caught In position which
would enable the Spaniards to either ex.
terminate them or else force them to sur.
render.
This movement Is serious drawback
60 General Campos. and he has had to
meet 1t by sending back toward Santa
Clara several columns OF troops which
were on their way through the province OF
MataDzas TO REINFORCE his forces i'm this
vicinity.
Several insurgent bands, numbering
from 100 TO 300 men, are reported TO have
gathered In the provinces OF Colon and
Matanzas, and all of these, 10 is under.
stood, will help 10 swell the Rabi- Maceo
forces. In any case, it does not seem
possible to deny that the insnrrootion H.
increasing In importance every day, and
practically the whole interior of the
island. from east 10 west, with the ex.
ception of the large towns, Is I'm possession
OF the insurgents.
IL Is stated that General Antonio Maceo
has plundercd san Diego de Nunez. quite
AN important town little 20 the eastward
and southwark OF Bahia Honda. There
seems no reason 10 doubt that this report
Is true, and it shows that the insurgents
are extending their operations from tho
small towns to much larger places I'm the
province Of Pinar delNRio.
The Spanish version Of the attack made
by Gomez's forcessipoD Bejucal is that in
spite of.all the damage done by the enemy
in burning houses, stores and railroad
depot, after five hours OF fighting and y
heroic defense upon the part OF the garr-
son, only two OF the latter were killed and
10 wounded, while Gomez retired with nu.
merous losses, after completing his days
work with burning passenger train.
Cepero n Prisoner.
The Spaniards made an important cap
Sure in the person of Jose Cepcro, the
second in command, of the Cuban column
commanded 10y General Rego Cepero, IL
appears was on his way from Cienfuegcs
IN the province OF Santa Clara, 10 Bata-
bano, the port south Of Habana, with inn
portant communications from the santa
Clara insurgents to Gomez aud Maceo
The insurgent leader Was travelling on the
Spanish steamship Gloria under the name
OF Lorenzo Dupuy, and had papers upon
him In that name, and showing on their
face that he was an American citizen
travelling in Cuba Oh business.
Among the officers W no came on board
the Gloria at Batabano was certain
Lieutenant Monasterio. The latter and
Ccpero were old acquaintances--Ceper
having promised, some time ago. TO hang
Lieutenant Monnsterio mt the first 0ppor.
tunity for having pushed Cepero's insur-
gents very hotly in pursuit which tho
Spanish troops under the lieutenant car
ried ont in Santa Cla.H
Cepero was aries a., and denied his
identity, claiming he was Lorenzo Dupuy,
an American citizen, and threatening his
captors with the vengeance of the United
States All denials, however. were i'm
vain. The lieutenant said; And so you
promised Co hang me, CepcroY Well, we
will see II we cannot hang You instead"
The papers found upon him are said 10
he of the greatest importance, aud will
probably lead To the arrest OF n number of
prominent citizens, including several now
residing in the province OF Santa Clara.
Communication Cut on.
NEW YORK, Jan. 10. The Western
Unions central cable office announces
that all railroad communication with
Batabano province Of Habane, is inter
rupted, thus cutting Oft all means of cop.
munication south of Habana IL is be-
leved that this interruption I'm the south.
ern lines Of communication may be- one OF
the results Of the battle which Is believed
TO be In progress in the direction of Salad,
not far. from Bcjucal, both places being u
the lines OF railrond leading south FROM
IIabana, and Beiucnl being on the rail.
~oad leadin~ - pntai,anc.