Evening star., 1896-11-03
THE FIGHT AT ARTlMESA
General Maceo Was Not Defeated There g,
Reported.
Town Partially Destroyed - sIacee
Does Not Yet Desire 10 Cross
the Trocha.

PRIVATE letters received from Havana
throw some light upon recent events in the
iSidiii OF cuba, and prove some of the
statements sent out by way of the cable
al'ef DeihG edited 10y the Spanish censor to
"' laIS'- ohe letter in particular deals
with late occurrences in Pinar del Rio. and
gives a very hopeful view of the present
CEhan situation.
ms letter says that Antonio Macco.
G' 'neral Of the second army, Cuban rei,ul,li-
can forces. has not attempted TO reach Ha-
Fahi province, and that although ne rladi
an attack upon the city OF Artimesa, which
"as partially destroyed. he did not en-
deaNor 10 force a passage of the famous
;rOcha. ON the other hand il is stated i'm
tli'- communication, which is from CAPT
i'eeardo who re entity was in Phila aI,.lphia
anu VINO Is an officer of Gen. Maceo's staff
II at the rebel army in Pinar del Rio proI--
hice Is not GeSIrOuS of making war in Ha-
Ni-ld anu Matanzas at this time Botn of
tLtse provinces are compare lively lov: and
nat, and the effect OF the cop:ous rains
upon The soil is still detrimental to the
proper handling of an army.
News From the Cubans
The letter reads: ITO be with the Cuban
army in Pinar del Rio does not mean that
one is entirely cut off from communication
with the outside world. The mail system
oI me Republic Is not in operation in this
province, bat the carriers OF our com
nlander reach Havana as regularly as do
trains in the Grand Central station Of New
/ ork. The Havana papers reach Gen
Maceo every day, ard he reads with min
2ied JOY and contempt the funny articles
d-dt are written concerning The forces IL.
operation.
Among the accounts thai furnished MS
win the most amusement was that ,,ub-
iiHiirl IN the Diaflo de la Marina con-
Ttthi"s an attack upon Artimesa a few
'"NS ago L hear that the same account
was sent 10 the nitcG States and pul,liSb-
ed as authentic EcwS. Siill after my ,.isit
10 New York, Philadelphia and NNasbi,l--
ven, feel that the readers of Amer,i.ar ,,s.
!"fS nave learned TO discern th.. diff,.r..i,c,
between Spanish and CUBAN news II is al
very 1unny Ior US here. who knoy m.
1arls TO read the gartled reports sent eut.
but let M" tell you. my dear friend
II al Inc army of liberation is hy no ms
discouraged. 1t has maintained its ,,,psiiiI.,
~ Inc mountains Of this province ,II,,i,,r
tfe long and rainy summer 1t has I..n a
us summer mere, too. although I was
- area a part OF it by having h.rn sem az,
me m.sSion of which You know. SIM rbs
4oitc mat was sent against Gen. Mace
was ol SUFFICIENT size 10 Keep him CONSTANT
~ ANXIOUS and watchful
Many fights have occurred and I'm ,.o,.-
cidl cases We were defeat, ted i,ut on ~,
"Aole' The army OF liberation has NOT suf-
lttel, ana ihe winter before us will. in my
y -.
S''uSe or our cherished island
The Fight at Artimes..
AT Artimesa the fight was We'll carried
on and some Of our heavy guns Chose
which We're landed by Liete VidaD were
used 10 splendid advantage. We did not
attempt TO pass the troch ha, for it was not
a part of Gen. Maceo's program
Artlmesa was quite strongly intrenchcd,
ana oyer 1000 men were there garrsoned.
Mdceo did not attack with his entire force
but desired 10 give practice to the artillcry.
Ihe enemy was amazed, | am sure for
during nearly TWO hours time. there u-3s
no response from the town. We heard fir
inS o1 cannon to the north and the sourh
alOilS me NHe OF the trucha. but we kn.yy
lhat that was only for effect as none OF
our troops were attacking at any other
point.
Cen Maceo personally directed the at
tack, and he WAS much pleased when he
81" HrtS starting in various parts of the
town, and Vet there WAS no reply from rha
many Spanish guns. Nc retired in sood
oTder about midnight, after the artillery OF
the enemy had Shell"d our Iosition 4 do
rot KNOW the cHcmA'S : loss. bl,f our killed
numbered eighty. We left no dead on tbe
ntld, but carried all the bodies au-,,.
Among the killed WAS Mai Perez. who
You know well. and who has been one Of
our best officers "
Maceos force does not now amount to
so much cavalry, but il ilas haen inc raas,J
over 2>uo since the arrival of rho tu,, -
p.ditlofls. Our commander is i'm jipa s-,ir-
l's' ana the army is ready 10 follow him
10 inc Very gales of Havana uhon ~,
proper tim. arrives '