The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-01-03
GENERAL MENTION.
BRIEFS GATHERED FROM THE
WIRES.
startling Reports Have Been Received
from Cuba Telling of the Insurgents
Approach to Havana and How They
Eavo Outgeneralled the Spsniards.

Recent dispatches from Havana and
Tampa told of the rapid progress OF
the cuban insurgents into the province
of MatanzaS in spite OF all efforts of
the Spanish troops Later advices
give the startling news that Gen. Max
imo Gomez. at the head of the insur-
gent army-about l2,0J0 men OF all
arms, 1arly supplied with art llerv-
turned the fanK of Capt.-Gen. Mar
tinez dc Campos, in command of the
spanish forces at Colon, attempting TO
stop the u vance OF the enemy upon
Havana, and were well To the west
ward Of Colon. and threatening to pass
MatanlaS to the southwark and strike
directly at llavana. The receipt of
this startling news has caused the
greatest excite ment in Havana. After
the Cubaus defeated the Spaniards at
! lguara some three weeks ago they
maize q wonderful movement through
Santa Clara, passing through the
flower OF the Spanish army, said
/ to number about 5000 men there.
Campos made strenuous efforts to
cheek tn em, but in spite of slight re-
| pulses the Insurgents pressed onward
and passing PlacetaS, Santa Clara.
San Juan dc Las, eras, Ra -huelo and
other towns, pushed for the frontier
of Matanzas. Then cam, the news
that the insurgents had entered tle
| province of Matanzas at Palma Sala.
Gen Iampos had changed his head
I quarters to Colon and commenced hur-
riedly cDncentrat .ng his forces there,
! intending to compel Gen. Gomez to
fight q pitched battle before passing
| that place. in day or so the insur-
gents caused a scurry in Colon. Fir
ing was heard at a iuica, about Is miles
from the place, and reiufor .ements
were sent to the front from colon; but,
this turned out TO te little more tIan
an out. lost affair, and while the
| Spanish troops w're pushing for
that point the main body of the
enemy passed southwark of Colon.
near the line of the railroad
and headed steadily for the frontier
of the province of Havana. thus turn
ing the flank of the captain general
who, with the bulk of the Spani Ia
forces, was now well to the rear of the
insurgent columns, but in d badly
demUraiized condition.
Gomez next appeared at Jovellanos,
well to the rear of Colon and com
manding the railroads to Carlenas,
| hlatanZas and Havana. The move
ment of the insurgents was an eX.
ample of splendid generalship ac-
| complished under the mos trying
! circumstances and in the face of over
| whe lining mum bers of Spanish troops
| commaueed by the best o Ulcers of
| Spain. The Cubans were divided into
| three columns, one under Laceretc
AMI Suarez, numbering over 1000 men,
another northwarI under Antonio
Maceo, numb ering over 5000 men. and
the center, the main body of the in
surgents, numbering over 6,00O men,
under Gen. Gomez Ahead of these
| three columns was the vanguard of
| the insurgents, composed of 1000 men
and commanded by Gen. Perez. The
insurgents burned the railroad sta
tionS, cut off telegraph communica-
tion and destroyed the railroads be-
hind them, to prevent the advance of
the Spaniards upon their rear. Gen.
Campos moved his troops to Cardenas,
| b tween Matanzas and Havana, and
engaged the insurgents in battle on
the Coliseo plantation. After some
hours of fighting tho Cubaus retreated
and the Spaniards thought they had
won a victory, but it soon became APP
parent that only a wing of the Cuban
| my hob cOVh hSiiS OiuSi w
check Campos until the main army
pushed on southwark. The loss on
each side was about 100 men killed
and many more wounded.
The insurgents marched rapidly.
destroying plantations, railroads and
bridges and In every way obstructing
their rear. Campos hurried to Ha-
vana, and that city was thrown into
great excitement An effort was
made to keep the news from the pop
ulace, but without success. All the
troops which could be spared were
sent to the front and all the marines
and sailors who could DO spared from
the Spanish feet have been landed at
Havana and the former are now doing
duty as artillery men wherever their
services are needed. All the volun-
teers available are under arms and
every male inhabitant, capable Of
active service, has been called upon TO
bear arms. Whether it is the iuten-
ton of Gomez to attempt to capture
Havana or merely a raid upon the
plantations is not known positively,
but sure it is that the insurgents are
continually overcoming all obstacles
and are gaining in numbers daily. 1t is
said that the Spanish troops are suffer
ing from climatic illness and poor food
and arc almost dishearteped.
|