The San Francisco call., 1896-11-26
MACEO STRUCK
FOR CUBA L-|BRE
Crushing Defeat of Wey-
ler's Army Near Mt.
Rubia.
Why the Spaniard Hastened
Back 10 His Stronghold
at Havana,
Revenged for His Defeat by the Muir.
der of Pacificos and Wounded
Prisoners.

brought some interesting news of the en-
gagement which occurred near Mount
Rubia between the Spanish troops and the
insurgents headed by Maceo.
Last Saturday the Government organ,
La Lucha, called for trains to convey 1000
wounded and sick soldiers from Candida
ria to Havana. This was the first intima-
ton that had been received that the en-
gagement had been serious in its results.
One of the passengers on the City of
Washington, who for obvious reasons did
not wish to have his name mentioned,
gave an interesting account of how the
battle was fought, and this to great ex-
tent, it is thought, explains why General
Weyler returned to Havana so soon.
Mount Rubia is twenty-six miles west of
Havana and about twelve miles from the
northern coast of the island General
Weyler had spread his trocha across the
island IN its narrowest part TO prevent
Maceo's forces moving toward the east.
Then the remaining forces were divided
into three detachments. one of 5000 men,
another of 10. 900 and the third of O,000,
the latter being led By General Weyler
himself. These detachments moved to-
ward the mountains from different direc-
tions.
The detachment of 5000 reached the
mountains first, and after heavy fighting
was repulsed by Maceo's forces with 700
wounded and it is not known how many
dead. When the second detachment of
10000 men, under com mand of General
Echague arrived and began 20 storm the
mountain they found that the enemy had
disappeared. General Weyler who APP
preached from the trocha, aid not have
chance to smell powder.
Details are lacking, but it appears that
Maceo had another engagement west of
Mount Rubia, in which 1000 of the Span
ish troops were wounded. Five hundred
of the wounded were brought into Ha-
vana by rail and 200 were brought by
water. leaving 1000 sick and wounded stiu
on the field. Weyler's failure to locate
Maceo would appear to have been the
cause OF his hasty return to Havana.
William Brown, a subject of Great
Britain recently released from a Cuban
prison, where he had spent a month for
the alleged offense of shouting in the
streets of Havana "Cuba libre," and who
was a week ago expelled by order of
Captain-General Weyier, said he did not
care to go into details regarding his treat
ment by the Spanish authorities, except
10 say that the treatment was brutal in
the extreme. and that if he had not had
papers proving him to be British sub
ject he would yet be in Spanish dun
geon.
Cuba, in my mind, is lost to Spain.
The latter country is now on her beam
ends and the storm on the little island
will soon engulf her, he said.
Mr.. Brown declared that no political
prisoner in Cuba knew what he was ar
rested for until he had been in a prison
cell for some time. While declining to
give details in his own case, he talked
freely of Spanish cruelty in other in
stances. Some of his stories are almost
incredible. He said:
LET me tell you something of Weyler's
system. Honore Laine was captured by
General Maceo OF the Cuban army, about
nine months ago. He was detained but a
few days. After his liberation Laine re-
turned to his home in Havana. Later he
was arrested at the instance of personal
friend, particular friend of Weyler. Sew
eral months after his arrest he was tried
before jury composed of Weyier's own
creatures and declared innocent.
-
bit. He is still held a prisoner and his
case has been referred to Madrid. WeyIer
showed his feeling toward the court that
declared Laine innocent by sending them
into the field as punishment. Mr.. Laine
is Frenchman ana is trying to get his
case to the attention OF the French Govern
ment.
"Weyler has had many foreigners ar
reSfa6 Ha
i. cases have rever seen the light of dav.
because of the Spanish system of placing
them so that their respective Governments
never learn of their subjects misery
Finally they drop out of sight. 1t saves
Gu ban gets short shrift.
''lt Is sufficient to know that he is q
sym mpathizsr in the cause. That is his
death-warrant. If the unfortunate one
has friends his trial is farce His con-
viction is all absolute certainty, and by
the first steamer he is sent to Chafarna or
some other penal colony.
s.Here is a story related by prisoner
now confined in the prison in which was.
Colo mel Moline in one Of his recent raids.
while endeavoring to locate an insurgent
hospital. met a 14-year-old boy-Carlos
Hernanda. He demanded from the youth
the location of the hospital. The boy did
not know.
"Moline struck him on the head with his
revolver. causing the blood to flow. A
repetition of the question, bringing the
. same reply. resulted in the boys eye be-
ing forced from its socket by a blow from
the Spanish officers pistol. Not satisfied
with this he struck the boy again, Killing
him, and undoubtedly reported a gallant
victory to Weyler.
"This same butcher Moline murdered a
whole family Gonzales by name, the same
day, for refusing to inform him of the di-
reclion taken by the insurgents.
These acts of murder and cruelty are
in marked contrast TO the Christian spirit
shown and practiced by General Calixto
Garcia. the insurgent chief, who sent the
wounded Spanish prisoners captured from
Guiomore to Puerto Principe.
LA Lucha in its edition OF November 81
informs the people of Cuba that Colonel
Fons Deyela SURPRISED and DESTROYED a