The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-06

New York Mai and Exprees
Havana Cuoa. June y, via Tampa fla.
June 2-The event OF the week has been
Gomez splendid victory at Natass. Pusrto
Principe The details ara nezgcr. the best
reports received being frorn the corre-
sPondenS OF Ia Discussion. which is r.
gArded as the best informed independent
pager n Havana He says that Gen Jim
snez CaSteiianos left Puerto Principe On
the Sth inst with 1.I1s men. 80 horses and
i've mounted pieces of artillery. On tho
9Th they encarrped at = cattle ranch called
Sarafosa. where. about O'Clock p. m.
the attack commenced by charge %
about Lon rebel cavalrynen. with ma
chetes. From that moment until the
morning Of the nth the insurgents ccntin-
ued harassing the troops. killing and
woundtng many.
The story Of Gen. Casteilanc@. who COM
manded the Spaniar1s. Is that the Cuban
fire or by forming hollow squares. which
the Spanieris consider unbresk2ble. Stiii
Casteiianos eonfesses that there were mo-
nsents OF great danger. and only by dis
playing the greatest yaior could the Span
iarsis succeed In repelling the attacks OF
the enemy.
He admits that the number Of wounded
Spanish troops obliged him to erect his
camp hospital IN the farm house OF thu
ranch. a brick and tile-roofed structure.
which was SO riddied with bullets that
some OF tia wounded men were struck
after being placed inside.
Castellanos also Acknowledges that Gen.
Godoy's arrival was very opportune. since
the forty-two hours had exhausted his
troops Ia view OF the loss Indicted on the
forces. Gems. Godoy and Castelisncs de-
cided to return 10 the city without pursu-
ing the enemy, who had already inaugu-
rated their retreat on Godoy's appear
ance.
varela, the La Dascusison correspond
ent. also states that the Spanish troops
fired 600 cartridges and thirty shells and
the rebels 5000 shots. He figures the
rebel losses from 40 10 600. and the Span
iards at IS, OF which only four were killed
and the rest wounded, more or less, IN
Guiding two officers. He concludes his
story by simply announcing the arrival OF
both columns in Puerto Principe. without
stating In what condition they entered the
city. whether all their commanding Officers
of high or low rank returned. or who were
missing.
This il the Spanish side Of the fight
which il borne out by the official report
from other sources Incomplete and
lacking important details, II Is shown that
Gomez had only 1850 men. Gen. Cas-
tellanos' forces amounted TO $500 men,
de. knowing OF his rivals approach.
placed the men In convenient positions.
dividing his forces in small groups OF
800 men each. As soon as the Spaniards
were comfortably encamped on the ranch.
preparing for the next days attack on
Gomez stronghold at Naiasa. the Cuban
chief suddenly made his appearance. at
lacking their positions simultaneously on
all Sides. Taken unawarss. and complete
" surrounded, all they could do was TO
defend themselves from the continued
charges, which. with marvellous military
precision, were kept up night and day.
without affording the Spaniards mo-
ments rest. Thanks to Gen. Godoy' .
timely arrival with $500 men. Casteilanos
was saved from complete destruction IL
Is said that II Godoy had delayed his
march six hours longer Castellanos would
have surrendered. as he was already too
weak to stand much fighting longer.
The actual losses on both sides have
not been ascertained yet. IL Is only known
that the Spaniards brought with them
SEQ wounded from the field OF action. and
whether they left any behind is not known.
Report has 1t that the total Spanish loss
In killed, wounded and missing was over
1000.
The sanitary condition Of the island 10
getting worse every day. Reports are
coming In from every town and city re-
counting ravages OF yellow fever. small
pox and other diseases.