Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-30
STRONGHOLD FALLS.
Cuban Insurgents Win a Great
Victory Over the Spanish.
They Drive Troops from Pinar del
Rio and Burn the Town.
Americans and Their Rapid Fire Guns Help
Garry the Day.

Havana March 29-Pinar del Rio has
fallen The stronghold of the Spanish
army in the western part of the island
was taken by the insurgents Friday.
There was desperate fight and many
men on both sides are killed and
Wounded.
only the meagre news of the battle
has been received in Havana, and the
details cannot at this moment be at
tanned. What news has been received
was sent to the Captain General by the
officer in charge of the garrison at
Pinar del Rio, after his troops had
been utterly routed and while the in
sursents We're applying the torch TO
the city.
At the palace absolutely nothing has
been given out and the most that can
be obtained there is confirmation of the
story that here was a fight. The Span
ish officials will not state the result Of
the battle nor have they furnished the
local papers with an official note of it
This in itself is sufficient to confirm the
report Of Spanish defeat for the au.
thorities never lose any time in giving
out the complete details of victories for
their side.
The Cuban Sympathizers have re-
ceived information from the scene of
battle. The report made to them state,
that Generals Antonio Maceo and
Calixto Garcia We're in command of
the rebel forces.
The hot fighting was done by the
American artillerymen who came to
Cuba on the Bermuda filibustering eX.
petition for the express purpose IF
working the Iiotchkiss ana Calling
guns brought on the steamer.
Without the assistance of the Ameri-
cans Pinar del Rio would not have
fallen. Ii was only their deadly 1rA
sent into the town by the Calling ami
Hotchkiss guns that saved the day for
the Insurgents
Pinar del Rio is situated about two
thirds of the distance across the island
at the north and in the extreme west
ern province. 1t was a city of some
1000 inha bitants, and the Spanish had
relied upon it to give them a base for
operations in Pinar del Rio during the
rainy season
The Spanish garrison consisted of
1000 men, and the attacking force had
fun 5000 men besides the shareholders
and other skilled men of war who
came on the Bermuda.
Following his usual policy. General
Maceo did not hold the town He
simply destroyed it, and then passed
out to some other place
Exactly where he is at present is not
known. The Spanish troops in the
province of Pinar del Rio are now
without refuge from the rains. ma
laria and yellow fever, which sweep
over that part of the island during the
rainy season and which are so fatal to
those who are not acclimated.
1t is predicted that if the war ex
tends far into the rainy season that
yellow fever will carry off the Spanish
troops in groups
The news of the fall of the city was
brought into Havana by mounted
courtiers. They must have ridden for
their lives to get here as they did for
the scene of the action is close to 100
miles from this city
At meeting of the leaders of the
Autonomist party. today. it was de-
c1ded to take no part in the approach
ing election of members of the Cham
Der of Deputies, but to vote for only
two senators, one to represent the Uni
Versity, and one the Economical So
ciety. The decision is causing com
ment
Continued on page 2.