The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-01
, ON TO HABANA!
VIGOROUS MOVEMENTS OF THE
CUBAN COMMANDERS.

out Resistance--.The Insurgents Destroy
Many Sugar Plantations---OtherN News o.
Importance.
KEY WEST, FLA, Dec. 26.-Advices
received from Cuba today state that g
battle occurred yesterday afternoon
between the vanguards Of the insur
gent and Spanish armies and that the
Spaniards were repulsed. Col. Prat,
who commanded the Spanish van.
guard. was killed. Martinez Campos
was present and directed the retreat Of
the Spanish to Jovellanos. Campos
forces are now entrenched at that
place, expecting to be attacked by 60.
mez's main army. Campos has armed
all the civilians in Jovellanos and is
forcing them to do military duty.
Advices received by Cuban leaders
via Olivette, confirm the report of the
capture of the town of Ell Rogue by
Gomez, as announced in these dis
patches last night. With Gomez were
Serafn Sanchez, Aguirre and Quarez.
The Spanish regiment stationed at FL
Rogue surrendered without firing a
shot. All of them were paroled, ex.
cept 12 who were charged with having
poisoned the water in the reservoir of
the town. They were tried, convicted
and shot. ~ ~
After taking all the arms, provi-
sions, etc., found in the town, the in
surgents set fire to it and then left,
going in the direction of Quintana
and Jovellanos. They also destroyed
the sugar plantations near San Vicente
and La Antonio. The vanguard OF
.Gomez's forces under the command OF
Lacret has entered the town of Quin-
lana between Matanzas and Colon and
destroyed by fire the largest sugar
plantation on the island. -
The train that left Colon for Matan
zas was detained at Quintana by the
insurgents. Columns of smoke could
be plainly seen from Jovellanos. The
general supposition is that all planta,
tons in that district have been de.
stroyed.
Maceo and his forces have encamped
ut the plantation La Harmonic and
Gomez has established his headquar
ters at the plantation La Espana, be.
longing to Romerony Robledo of the
Spanish cabinet. ALI telegraphic
communication between the Las Villas
district and Habana has been de.
stroyed by the insurgents and no
trains have passed over the road since
Saturday last.
The railroad stations at Madana and
Toca belonging to the United Railroad
Company have been destroyed by fire.
The insurgents under Nunez have
encamped at the plantation Revido
and destroyed all the cane. The
forces of Antonio Maceo, and Quintin
Bandera compose the rear guard of
the army under Gomez. -,
The Spaniards prohibited all public
entertainments on the 25th and Or
dered all saloons closed at 10 o'clock
at night. .
Lacret, with a large force, is march.
ing towards Guines.
The insurgents assert that no crops
will be gathered this year, Gomez
has notified Campos that it is his in,
tention to destroy all the sugar cane
to prevent its being gathered. The
sugar being exported now is taken
from the warehouses and is part OF
last years crop. + E. K. "a
THE OTHER SIDE.
HABANA, Dec. 26. Despite the state.
ment contained in the 2, 500 word al.
legged cable dispatch from this city
published in the American papers tax.
] & the reports of the Chicago Asso.
lated Press, that Maximo Gomez,
with u, 900 Cuban patriots was march
ing upon this city, driving everything
before them, the following are the
facts:
Gomez with an army of from 1000
to 5, coo men, has succeeded by avoid
ing an engagement with the Spanish
forces in marching to Coliseo, a point
80 miles from Habana. He burned a
number of fields of sugar on his way
and at Coliseo and vicinity he burned
some more, his acts of vandalism eX.
citing great indignation through
out the country devastated. When
he arrived at Coliseo, Gomez
was stopped by Spanish troops, who
checked his advance and prevented
further burning of cane fields. 1t is
believed that the rebels have greatly
injured their position, it being appa-
rent that the only purpose of their
leader is to destroy the sugar crop.
This is the actual situation, and the
Chicago Associated Press ''cable" had
no further foundation.
CAMPos AT HABANA. 4 .s5.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The Span
ish minister tonight received the fol,
lowing cablegram from Acting Gov
ernor General Arderius at Habana:
''HABANA, Dec. 26, 1S95.-General
Campos yesterday arrived at Habana.
He was met at the railway station by
a large committee of political parties
of the city composed of the Liberals,
Conservatives and Home Rulers, and
by the most prominent members of
Habana's societies, all leaders of the
volunteer militia. He was cheered
with great enthusiasm and was fol-
lowed by the crowds to the governor
generals Office. There the leaders of
the three political parties addressed
him, rendering to him the most enthu-
siastic support. Gen. Campos has the
unlimited confidence of the Spanish
government and the support of all the
loyal element of Cuba.