The record-union., 1896-12-09
Report That the Rebel Commander Was
Killed in Battle Near Havana,
Though It is Accepted With Reserve
by Madrid Officials.
President Cleveland's rlessage Relat-
ing to the Cuban Question Causes
Bad Impression in Spanish POliti-
cal Circles-OppOsitiOn Papers AS
sert That Spain is Fully Able to
Avert Any Interference on the
Part of the United States.


Part of the United States.
MADRID, Dec S-The Havana
correspondent of the "Imparcial'' has
sent dispatch to that paper which
has caused considerable interest here.
The correspondent claims that he has
personally made an investigation of
the reports current in Havana of the
death of Antonio Maceo, second in COM
mand of the rebel army, and the son of
Maxine Gomez, the rebel Commander
in-Chief, and found them to be true.
In official circles the report is accepted
with reserve.
The correspondent briefly gives the
details of the defeat by a Spanish force
of 1000 rebels near Punta Bravo, about
twelve miles west of Havana. The in
surgents' loss is placed at forty killed.
1t has already been officially an
nounced about six times that Antonio
Maceo had not been killed, and there
have been rumors innumerable to the
same effect. Heretofore it has been the
custom of the Spanish officials in Ha-
vana to announce the death of Maceo
whenever he defeated the Spaniards
either in strategy or open battle. No
recent reports have been received of
the death of the Cuban leader, and it is
conjectured that the American corre-
spondents in Havana, knowing the
ways of Spanish officials, placed so little
credence in the report that they have
not mentioned it in their dispatches.
The dispatch says: The body of a
we'll dressed man was found among the
dead rebels, on which We're documents
which lead to the belief that the man
was the son of MaXimo Gomez. Among
the papers found was one on which
was written with a leadpencil the con-
fession that the writer had committed
suicide rather than abandon the body
of Antonio Maceo. The war diary of
Maceo was also found. In 1t was an
entry which says the rebels crossed
the trocha on December 4th. 1t is con-
cluded from these circumstances that
Maceo was killed in the engagement
with Ciruiedas command. The news
of his death has caused the greatest
kind of sensation in Havana.
The Government officials vouchsafe
no information as to how Maceo, with
an overwhelmingly superior force op-
Grating against him, and supposed to
be watching his movements, could have
eluded the Spanish forces, doubled on
them, crossed the trocha at what has
been supposed the strongest part of it
and reached the Province of Havana,
without any known interference until
he had nearly reached Havana.
Major Cirujeda is now in the city
and it has been proposed to hold
great demonstration in his honor. In
the cafes and all other public places the
Spanish residents are congratulating
each other on what they believe to be
deathblow to the rebellion, and it is
predicted that Captain-General Wey-
Ter will now have an easy task of de-
feating the insurgents under Gomez
and the minor leaders. For nearly two
years there has not been such joy in
Havana as there is now, and the speedy
establishment of peace is confidently
looked for. 1t is thought that when Go
meZ learns of the death of his chief
Lieutenant he will be disposed to treat
with General Weyler for a cessation oee
hostilities.'
The officials here declare that while
they believe that both Maceo and Co
mez's son are dead, they lack official
information, and wait confirmation of
the report
The message of President Cleveland
tc Congress, wherein tie treats of the
Cuban question, has created bad i'm
preston in political cirlces and de-
pressed the Bourse. In Government
circles great reserve IS maintained
none of the officials displaying willing
ness to discuss the subject at any
length although some satisfaction is
expressed that the message does not in
any way advocate the absolute inde-
pendence of Cuba, and does not support
the proposal to recognize the insurgents
as belligerents The opposition papers
ere greatly irritated by the threat of in
tervention on the part of the United
States unless Spain speedily suppresses
the rebellion. They declare that Spain
is fully able to avert such action
NO MENTION OF MACEO'S DEATH.
HAVANA, Dec. S.-Major Ciruiunda
having received information that 4
force of rebels had arrived in the vicin-
ity of Punta Brava, in the Havana
Province, stared with his command in
the direction the rebels were believed
to be. The Spanish troops met the
main body of insurgents, 1000 strong,
al San Pedro, and engaged them in bat
tie. The insurgents intrenched them
selves behind stone fences. where they
held the position until nightfall. when
they were dislodged and compelled to
retire. The Spaniards then returned to
Punta Bravo. They lost in the fight
three privates killed and three Lieu
tenants and twenty-eight privates
wounded. Over forty of the rebels were
left dead upon the field
Reports received here state that Cen
eral Figurve's command has had an en-
gagement whit the rebels at Rio Hondo,
near San Jose de las Lajas. in the Ha-
vana province. The Spaniards came up
on the outposts of the rebels and imme-
diately opened fire upon them The
rebel outposts were captured. and the
position Occupied by their main body in
the Morales Hills was then attacked. A
cavalry charge by the Spaniards was
repulsed, but the insurgents were finally
driven from the field, leaving behind
them over sixty of their number dead