The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-02-14
FIGHTING in CUBA
BATTLE BETWEEN SPANIARDS AND
\ INSURGENTS


New York, Feb. s. ~ The news
brought to this city to-day by the Ha-
vana steamer was cheering for the
friends Of Cuban liberty. The letters
Of the secret agents Of the revolution
ary party in Havana spoke Of split
among the Spanish parties on the
island; Of jealousies among the milf
tary; Of starvation in the city and OF
. crisis In the commercial situation.
Mr.. f. G. Pierra translated one of the
most important letters. Parts Of 1t
were as follows:
'"There is very decided division be-
tween the conservative and reforlnist
parties Of the Spaniards and they are
pouring hot shot into each others
ranks through the columns Of the
press. AS proof Of this l send you
the papers Of the Conservative party
in which the editorials are written in
a particularly bitter strain against
their former allies. The RefOrmist
party were in favor of the mild policy
Of Campos, while the Conservatives
believe in fire and bloodsncd. The
situation is most critical one, and no
one recognizes this fact better than
the Spaniards. The excitement in
Havana is increased by the fact that
the government does not allow any
news to be printed except that given
out from the official bureau. Span
tards as well as Cubans know that the
better part of the news given out is
fabricated"
The correspondent then goes on to
detail several engagements in one Of
which a whole troop Of 300 Spaniards
III kns3
however, was Of tremendous Span
ish victory. The letter says that the
insurgents are doing about as they
ward Havana.
Cold-Blooded Massacres.
Key West, Fla, Feb. 5.-Some time
ago when the insurgents entered Sas
banilla, the Spanish official report
stated that they were driven out byl
the garrison, and that, unfortunately.
'three women were killed by stray
bullets" The truth Of what happened
there has just been learned, and it
shows the Spaniards are acting as bar
barously in Cuba as the Kurds In Ar
menia. Sabanilla, which Is an i'm
portant town in Matanzas province,
was entered by 400 insurgents under
0SbASAAs AAC 0p0uA0u IS&s UluIS IClICAC-
ed to the barracks and made no resist
ance. The Spanish volunteers, how
ever, retreated to the church and fired
turned the fire, killing five volunteers.
Inhabitants received the insurgents
had eaten nothing but Canc were fed
by Garcia, who made the merchants
open their stores and told the people
to take food. Thirty stores were loot,
ed Of provisions, and one storekeeper;
was shot for resisting. The insurg-
ents then retired. Az soon as they
were gone the Spanish volunteers
came out Of the church and opened
fire upon the people in the streets.
Forty-six were killed, thirty of whom
were women and children. Their only
offense was cheering the insurgents
and taking food to save themselves
from starvation. After shooting these
people the volunteers took ten CIbans,
who surrendered on promise of am.
nesty, and shot them in cold blood.
Havana, Feb. Ga report has been
received that IN important engage
ment has taken place at Consolation
del Sur, east Of the city Of Pinar del
Rio, between the Spanish forces un-
der Gen. Luque and the insurgents
under Antonio Maceo. The loss of
the insurgents is said to be sixty-two
killed and over 200 wounded. The
loss on the Spanish side is not stated
beyond the fact that Gen. Luque was
wounded, how seriously it is not
stated.
A detailed official report has been re-
ceived of the engagement between
Gen. Luque and the forces of Antonio
Maceo, which corroborates the first nc
count already cabled from here as to
the number of killed insurgents. name-
~, sixty-two. The battle was fiercely
contested and the advantage is
claimed to be all on the side Of the
Spanish as result. But it is signifi-
/ can't fEof hf0oooss Fowooc S.,r&oo.1 -