The record-union., 1896-02-10
THE WAR IN CUBA.
General Marin Says the Insurgents Are
Not an Honorable Body.


told in these dispatches on Friday last,
the rebel forces under Antonio Maceo
were defeated at Candelaria, province
of Pinar del Rio, by General Canellas
ard compelled to retreat in the direc-
ton Of San Cristobal. On the same day
Colonel Segura, with 600 men belonging
to General Canellas column, which was
in pursuit of the retreating rebels,
came upon more than 5000 of the in
surgents. The Spanish column had been
divided in order to more effectively
pursue the rebels, and the troops under
Colonel Segura followed the road from
Candelaria toward San Cristobal, which,
as the event proved, was the route
/ taken by the rebels. AS soon as the
troops came up with the rebels the
latter formed in a circle. The troops
formed into squares and continued the
advance, keeping up an incessant fire
| that played havoc in the rebel lines.
/ When nearing the village of Pezeo
Honde the troops directed their attack
upon house that was occupied by a
number of rebels and dislodged them.
The building was then turned into a
hospital for the troops. All this time
the rebels We're lowering about the
|
with him a piece of artillery, used it
with good effect.
| At this juncture three squadrons of
cavalry, under command of Colonel
Ruiz, and two companies of infantry
opportunely arrived and broke through
the rebel circle, thus saving Colonel
Segura's column from what would have
undoubtedly have been an overwhelm-
ing defeat
The Spanish losses are given in the
official report of the engagement as
eight killed and thirty-five wounded,
while the supposed losses of the rebels
are placed at 100 dead and 300 wounded.
The above accounts of the fight are en-
tirely official.
Acting Captain-Genera1 Marin re-
turned to Havana to-day. In an inter-
view with the correspondent of the
United Press he said: MY campaign has
been a continuation of the plans previ-
ously followed. / have had some en-
counters with both Maceo and Gomez,
but can throw no more light upon them
than is contained in the reports that
have been published of the fights"
When asked, having been in the field.
what he thought of the military organ
said: ''I have not altered my previous
opinion The insurgents can never be
recognized as an organized army, be-
cause the first consideration of such a
body is honor, whereas the insurgents
think it is no dishonor to flee from an
enemy to avoid an encounter. A reg
ular military body would think it
dishonor to attack defense1ess soldiers,
La ;yoly
of it. They do not hesitate to force
men into their ranks during their pas
sage through the country, which re-
suits in the impressed men becoming
targets for the Spanish army. In one
word, what the insurgents organiZa-
ton is is a question
1T is said that the Spanish army is
rapidly being changed from infantry to
cavalry. Is that policy to be contin-
ued?'
mo infantry has been changed into
cavalry. The regular cavalry bodies
here have been mounted as fast as
horses could be procured"
'If the Spanish had more cavalry,
would the result up to the present time
have brought the war nearer an end?"
''If the Spanish had had more cavalry
the insurgents would have adopted
other means of warfare. Their great
force lies in a policy of deviating from
all lines of warfare In other words,
war with them is mere anarchy. If we
had. had plenty of cavalry they would
have resorted to ambuscades and sur
prises. They would have waited for the
cavalry to come up and then de-
stroyed them. Whenever we have an
encounter there is never any doubt Of
the Spanish defeating them four to one.
The insurgents run away. That is
their strength. There was an illustra-
ton of this day before yesterday in the
encounter we had with them near San
Cristobal, where 600 Of our men were
attacked by 1000 or 5000 insurgents,
and our men defeated them"
What is your opinion after your in
spection of the army in the neighboring
provinces?"
Il am satisfied that the men are well
cared for"
In your opinion. how long is this rev.
olution likely to last2"
Il can hardly say; but I believe that
the insurgents will be wiped out, mas
much as a vigorous policy has been in
augurated, replacing the benevolent one
that has obtained, not a policy of
cruelty, but a rigidly military policy"
What, in your opinion, is the value
of the trocha as d strong line to prevent
the passage of the insurgents?"
II have never placed much reliance
upon the trocha as a means Of prevent
ing the insurgents crossing in either di-
rection have regarded it only as an
observatory of the movements of the in
surgents. It's value is chiefly strategic
for the quick mobilization of troops at
any point along the line. and Of course
to inconvenience the passage of the in
surgents as much as possible"
do you regard the revolution as now
losing strength or gaining?'
1T is on the decrease. We are con-
ouering little by little
General Marin added that he intended
to leave for Porto Rico Tuesday.
LONDON. Feb. 9.-The STANDARD
tomorrow will publish dispatch from
Madrid saying that Immediately on
landing in Cuba General Weyler, the
newly-appointed Captain-General. viii
negotiate with the Autonomist, Re
formist and Conservative leaders to in
duce those parties to take part in gem
eraI election in March. concurrent with
the elections in Spain, so that Prime
Minister Canovas del Castillo can get
a parliamentary majority in April to
vote fresh supplies to carry on the war
in Cuba. The present available re-
sources will be exhausted in April Be
side a revision of the tariff, the Gov
ernment plans 70 double the capital of
the Bank of Havana, enabling it to
issue several hundred millions of dol