New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
cpANIARDS BADLY BEATEN.
-, ovEI, DEBOSS BATTALION MEETS
MAcEO AND js DEFEATED
..,rxs TO FORCE AN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
! INSURGENTS TURNS OUT D1sAsTRoUsLY FOR
THE KINGS TRooPs-coLoNEL ECHE-
vARRIA ARRIVES TOO LATE TO AID
THE DILAToRY OFFICER RE-
IIEvED OF HIS COMMAND.

,s.arid April 14-The Havana correspondent
:. The "Imparcal" telegraphs that the advance
.rd of Maceos force has had an engagement
..r Iechuza with the Battalion Alfonso KILL
rs. Standards were compelled to fall back upon
.s.,r main body near San Claudio The troops
r.t four killed and fourteen wounded.
Havana. April 14-News has been received
A.ra of a battle near Lechuza between the Bat
s.uon Alfonso XIII. under command OF Colo
~, Debos. and the insurgents under Maceo.
Colonel Debos reports that his battalion, In
Aombinaton with other bodies Of Spanish troops.
i.f Mariel in the Province Of Pnar del Rio for
she purpose of giving the enemy battle They
80, the advance guard of the insurgents. con-
.e,,nr of a force Of 200 cavalry, who opened
rre upon the Government column. The Span
sords continued their march toward Lechuza,
although opposed at every step. and every ele-
cation being occupied by them at the cost OF
q fight
IYnon arriving in the vicinity OF Lechuza they
Soynd the insurgents gathered in strong force,
and the enemy made an attempt to surround
,ns Spanish column. The Spanish troops fought
nth great desperation against heavy odds. but
'~sre defeated with losses of many killed or
wounded.
D,vining the intention Of the enemy to encir-
ala his column, Colonel Debos ordered a re-
v,,at In the retreat Captain Tort deserves
,,eat praise for maintaining the formation OF
n. rear guard though attacked by a greatly
,uperior force of the encmy's infantry The
isnanish column retired to the San Claudio es-
tate on the north coast where the troops forti-
A.d themselves, awaiting the arrival OF other
government columns. General Inclan arrived
nth his column very opportunely, and the
t,ops under Colonel pebos were also protected
hy the gunboat Alerta, which kept the enemy
Nbay.
Colonel Debos estimates that the force OF the
Insurgents. who charged upon his command
numbered 5000 men. The official report says that
the losses of the enemy must have been very
great, as many men were seen 10 ran oeIore
the fire OF the Spanish troops.
The Government column. according TO the Of
Acial report lost four men killed and one or1cer
and thirteen soldiers wounded; but the fact IS
that the Government losses were very hedVy,
the details being withheld by the authorities
A civilian who volunteered to carry the news
Of the predicament OF the Government column
10 the nearest fort. ran the gantlet or the reDel
fire and was compelled to jump into the water
twice TO save himself.
General Inclan reports that upon his arrival at
Colonel Deboss camp he compelled Maceo to re-
treat from San Claudio.
Further details OF the engagement that nave
been made public show that the Spanish column
occupied two hours in advancing from Mariei
to the point where II met the main body OF In
eurgents. The retreat to the San Claudio estate;
which is some distance west Of Mariei, occupied
seven hours. On their retreat the troops were
exposed to a constant fire from rebels In their
rear. and were frequently compelled TO form
Squares TO resist the charges OF the enemy. II
was necessary to use cannon to open way for
the retreat OF the vanguard.
I The wounded Spaniards were embarked upon
B schooner under the hre Of the Aerta.
Il According to the military authorities here.
Colonel Sanchez Echevarria who had received
orders to act In combination with Colonel Debos
and General Inclan, failed TO arrive in time TO
assist the other two bodies Of Spanish troops.
The authorities say that had he arrived In time
Maceos forces would have been badly whipped.
Colonel Echevarria has been relieved OF his
command and ordered to appear for trial be-