Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-17

IN ftnor 0et ks1O rev Days Ago
Maceo's Attack ON the Alfonso XIII. Rat
TALON Declared . Costly One for the
Rebeis-Anerican Ministers Arrested.
HAVANA, April l7.-Further details of
the fighting between tho Alfonso XIII
battalion and the Insurgents under Maceo
a. San Claudia, near the northern ex-
tremity of the military line, across the
province Of Pinnr del Rio, shows that the
Spanish grsnboat Alert which so oppor-
tunely went to the assistance of the troops,
found that .he latter had been compelled
to retreat before an overwhelming force
OF 5000 insurgents. Although the latter
cutnumbered the men of the Alfonso
XIII battalion by over ten to one, and in
spite of the fact that fhe soldiers were led
in pursuing the retreating vanguard of
the onemy into the'position which almost
enabled the insurgents to surround them
from neighboring heights. the Spanish re-
treated in good order, fighting stubbornly
as they cid So
Made tho Retreat In Good Order.
During this retreat the government
troops inflicted heavy loss upon Maceo's
forces and succeeded In maintaining cor
rect formation until, after q seven hours
light. the harbor of San Claudio was
reached and the troops barricaded them
selves in the best positions possible and
determined to fight to the last During
this long and harassing retreat the AL.
fonso XIII battalion only bst one officer
and four men killed and had only thir-
teen men wounded. The fire OF the troops
was so we'll delivered and tho movements
Of the battalion were 80 efficiently ordered
and promptly executed that the 5000
Cubans We're unable to achieve any ad-
vantage further than compelling the
greatly over-matchod body of Spanish in
fantry to retreat in good order.
Made the Mistake of the War.
Besides, it is claimed, even this retreat
would not have been necessary had it not
been for the supineness of General Ecln.
varla, who was in command Of a much
stronger Spanish column operating in
conjunction with the column of Colonel
Devos Cthe Alfonso XIII battalion). and
IN the latter's immediate neighborhood.
Generals Echavaria, Suarez and Ynclan
left Muricl, north Of the line. with the
Alfonso XIII battalion on Monday by
different roads In an attempt to engage
Maceo's forces. The Alfonso XIII bat.
talon became engaged. as already de-
tailed, and should have been promptly
supported by the nearest Spanish column,
that of General Echavaria; but. the latter
not only failed to support Colonel Devos
as prony.aiy as he should have done, but
sceins to have delayed notifying Generals
Suarez and Ynclan of the location of Ma.
coos forces whom Tho latter had attacked
the Alfonso XIII battalion In force;
nfhnrxricp ~ ~
the Spanish troops might have resulted
in crushing Maceo's army and possibly
cxtinguish!ng rebellion ut the same time.
AIcrta Arrives I'm Good Time.
Tho Alerta heard the firing while erals.
ing OF tho coast and headed for San
Claudio, where the warship found the
Alfonso XIII battalion hastily barricaded
in houses, warehouses, etc. Colonel Devos,
while determined to hold San Claudio to
the last, was caring for its wounded to
the utmost, and under the fire of the
enemy he succaeded in cmbarking the
thirteen injured soldiers in small boats
from which they were transferred to q
small schooner which was at anchor near
the landing place when the battalion en-
{ t,rcd the place. When the gunbpas got
within range OF the insurgcnts-who were
swarming in large numbers over the hills
in the vicinity of San Claudio-a hot fire
from her guns and riilemcn was opened
upon Maceo's forces. A few we'll directed
shells exploded In the enemy S ranks caus.
Q much disorder.
Echavaria Called on to Explain.
Then when the troops under General
Ynclan arrived and opened fire on the in
surgcnts the latter Eeat n hasty retreat
over the hills and finally disappeared
whereas, If the Spanish columns hid acted
we'll in concert the result might hay,
been a most disastrous defeat for Macco
General Echsvrla has since been relieved
Of bis command and Is now in this city
| trying to explain his inaction, to the salts
faction Of the captain general. 1t is un
derstoed that he claims to have acted as
promptly as possible under the circum.