Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-27
A FIGHT IN PINAR.
QUITE A VICTORY, ACCORDING TO
THE SPANISH.
A LOT OF KON-C0l BA ANTS KILLED.
This, According to Anti-Govern-
ment Accounts-Rebels Fire on
Ter Marches-Whithers

| w
| HABANA. December 26.-News from
Mantua. in the province of Pinar del Rio,
gives le details of an encounter on De-
cember 10Th between Lieutenant Llamio.
commanding n body OF local guerillas
and volunteers. and a force of insurgents.
The Spanish force. arriving at place
called Rancho, found an insurgent camp,
from which they were fired upon. The
soldiers returned the fire, whereupon. the
rebels fed In great disorder. leaving
twenty-three dead on the field. The
arms and effects OF the insurgents were
| captured and their camp was destroyed.
| Eight of the dead rebels were Identified.
| The government force sustained no loss.
This information comes from a Spanish
source. and It IS added that by the de-
feat Of this band Of rebels. the zone in
which they we're found is entirely cleared
| of insurgents 1t is learned from other
sources that the affair was similar 10
others. where unarmed men were killed,
and that the alleged dead rebels were
! simply pacihcos who had no means Of
| defending themselves against the govern
| ment troops.
Christmas. the time set by Captain
| General Weyler. In a recent interview in
! this city. for a decisive turn In the south
| ern department, has come and gone, and,
| to all appearances. affairs are, with the
! exception OF the death OF Maceo. In eX-
actly the same condition they were when
! General Weyler made this statement.
! Last night, bands Of rebels fired on the
! towns of Santiago de Los Vegas. Rancho,
! Boyeror, and Zarabara, all in the pro-
| vince OF Habana The attacks caused
| great excitement among the inhabitants,
who feared that the insurgents were
| about 10 raid the towns and give them
to the flames. After firing a few shots,
| which were productive Of no result be-
| yond soaring the people, the rebels with
drew.
The latest reports concerning the
! movements OF General Weyler. who was
| encamped near san Cristobal. IS that he
marched to-day. No information IS given
| regarding his objective point. He has
/ had no encounter with the enemy since
! his return 10 the province Of Pinar del
Rio from Habana. notwithstanding his
elaborate plan Of campaign which ne
cessitated the use Of 5000 men.
STILL DISCUSSING MACEO.
HABANA. via KEY WEST. Deem
| Der 26-Maceos death IS the leading
| topic Of conversation among the people
| of Habana Many stubbornly persist In
| denying the truth OF his death, espe-
! cially after reading an anonymous sheet
| circulated the other day announcing that
| Maceo is alive and only dangerously
wounded. and II carefully attended Is
| expected TO survive. and appear some
| day at the head Of his beloved troops.
This mysterious paper has deeply i'm
| pressed the credulous people, and mas
| given them a CLEAN Of hope, while IL
! has revived their respondent spirits.
That AIaceo was fouly dealt with no
| doubts exist. and even honest Spaniards
! admit the fact and express their indig-
| nation at a treachery repulsive 10 their
| chivalrous feelings. II IS said that one
! OF the reasons why General CchandO re-
| signed was that he declined 10 obey Wey-
ler's orders 10 entrap Maceo. Weyler
then out OF spite, circulated the news
! in Madrid that Ochando had dealings
| with Macoo. and revealed government
| MANS. also that Ochando allowed Maceo
| 10 cross the trocha into Pinar del Rio.
il is recalled now that Ochando
| prouised that he would make important
| revelations I'm the future, which will sure
~ throw much light on the subject
| Weyler's campaign Of bloodshed and
| devastation III the + llAaA ANA ~ -
! vince continues more vigorously than
| ever. All official reports clearly indi-
| cate this fact Those reading between
| the lines know that the reported cap
ture of "prefecturas" and camps means
| simply the destruction Of hamlets' nuts,
! and unofendng peasants All OF the
male inhabitants are killed without
/ mercy. The situation is most horrible.
WEYLER's HORRIBLE METHODS.
II is known from good authority that
| Wevler has issued secret orders 10 con-
| slider as bandits all found outside town
| or city limits, and that they be there
fore shot on the spot Many honorable
| officers are protesting against this or
der. and requesting passports to return
70 Spain. They say they came TO nsht
| Cubans. and not to kill innocent people.
The representatives Of the Heraldo ana
| the Liberal at Madrid have wired their
! papers. strongly protesting against Ney-
! lev's horrible methods Of carrying on the
war The people OF Habana are surprised
| that these butcheries should be committed
] al their very doors and reported by the
/ nopers. while no attention is paid 10 the
/ butcheries by the Washington authorities
or word sent to Spain to stop the MUIR
ders.
SITUATION IN PINAR.
! Dio As not so serious as Weyler alleges,
and q party of 800 Of them recently
! crossed the trocha from Habana province
into the former IL is a fact that the
rebels have entrenched in the hills at
least 1900 well-armed and munitoned
| troops. The Spaniards admit the presence
of 5000 and cannot understand Weyler s
declaring the section pacihed while so
! many are still existing.
GARCIAS OPERATIONS.
If Is now known that CaliXto Garcia
captured the whole convoy which General
Rey escorted to Bayamo. This is said 10
be the most important convoy ever sent
to that place.
Another convoy sent TO Jiguani, escOrted
| bv General Bosch, was forced 10 return
as they found the place besieged by rebels
| under Garcia. There are no details az
| vet IL Is only known that the govern
! ment is rushing troops TO that section
give battaiions left Batabano this week.
| Yesterday the rebels burned the town
Of Calvario. close to Habana, and are
| stW very active around the city. 1t Is
! known from reliable Information that "a
| 600 sick Spanish soldiers are in the nos
! pitals of the island without counting the
| many thousands i'll in the ranks. The
| Habana hospitals alone have over lSOv.
! Communication with the country is difii-
! cult and the censorship more rigorous
than ever Nothing is known or printed
! Of the rebel movements. As 10 Gomez
| location. opinions differ. IL Is only known
! that ne Il steadily advancing Numerous
sbarp fights in Santa Clara province this
week point to his whereabouts, or at least
show that large masses OF rebels are in
that province.