The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-20
WELL FOUGHT BATTLE
General Gomez Makes a MastsrIy Attack
Upon Spanish Detachment.
FIERCE FIGHTING LASTING ALL DAY.
The Spantards Report n victory but
the Indications are That the Bat
Raging in the Island and Dynn.
niters arc ut Work.

| Havana; June 19--Prlvate advices
| from Casmaguey are to the effect that the
rebel loss in the battle of Najasa was
only II Killed and 40 wounded instead OF
| 900 killed and wounded as wals stated In
the oflic.al report The opnioln is gain
| ing ground hsre that the Spanish re-
ports of a victory were untrue.
| ut Is said that MaXimo Gomez, the
| rebel commander in chief, Is marching
| towards the railway between Nuev.tas
and Puerto Principe, his intention being
| TO cuu off communication between the
| two cities.
Advces from Manzan:llo, province of
Santiago de Cuba show that numerous;
parties of rebels belonging TO the COM
mands of Rabi and Jose Maceo. are con-
centratlng in the vicinity of that city
| Every precautiom Is being taken by the
| Spanish commander there to prevent or
| repulse an attack on the city
Havana June II, via Tampa, Fla,
June 19.-The event of the week has been
Gomez's splendid victory at Najusa.
| Puerto Principe. This Cubans have rea-
! son, for being pioud of their leader. as
| he has again demonstrated his great
capacity not as a simple "guerrillo" as
| the Spaniards give him credit for being,
but a military tactician in the fun sense
| of this word. The last achievement OF
| his in routing sthe Spanish forces greatly
superior in numbers, in open field. led
| by one of their Oldest generals, is suiii-
! Client to p:ove that the "old Chinaman."
as the CubanS fondly nickname him. Is
| a match for the Spanish on any occa-
| sion, and that hs can ou.general them
whenever he pleases. The details re-
ceived so far are meagre, the best re-
| POM received here up TO the present
being Varela's correspondence. publish
| ed in Discussion, the best informed in
| UpnRndRnt
| that General JimineZ Cashsllanos left
| Puerto Principe on the Sth with 2,ll4
| men, 342 horses, five mounted pieces of
artillery and section for the same.
On the 9th they carnped at cattle
rancher named Saratoga after exchang-
ing random shots with rebel skirmishers.
About O'Clock p. IN. the attack COM
| lnenced by a cahrge of 1000 rebel cav
cEymen, with machetes. which the
Snan.arda admit was made with great
decision. From that moment until the
| mc.ning OF the 18th the insurgents con-
unuing harassng the troops. killing and
wounding many.
The story of Ca:tellanos, who com
| manded the Spaniayds, is that the Gu
ban charges were repelted either by ar
tillery fire or by forming the famous
hollow squares. which the Spaniards
| considerable unbreakable. Still Castel-
| lanos confesses that there were moments
of great danger, and only by displaying
the greatest valor could the Spanish
succeed in iepeliing the attacks of the
enemy. He also admits the number of
wounded Spanish troops obliged him to
erect his camp headquarters in the
farmhouse of the ranch, a brick and
tiled-roof structure, which was so rid
died with bullets that some of the wond-
ed men were struck after being placed
inside. Ca;tellanos likewise acknowl-
edges that General Godoyes arrival was
very oppoltune, since the forty-two
hours fighting had exhausted the troops.
In view OF the loss inflicted on the troops
Generals Codoye and Caseellanos decid-
ed to return to the city without pursu-
ing the enemy, who had already inaugu-
rated the retreat on Godoye's approach.
Narela also states that the Spanish
troops fired $4,000 cartridges and 30
shells, and the rebels $4,000 shots Nat
urally he figures the Iebel fosso: from 400
to 500 and the Spanards at 80, of which
only four were killed and the res
wounded, more or less, including two ofIi-
GERS, but he candidly confesses he has
not been able to obtain information of
the number of horsels or pack mules
killed or wounded. He concludes his
story by simply announcing the arrival
OF bo.h columns III Puerto Principe.
without stating In what condition they
entered the city, whether all their com
Hidltulhs OhiceIS Oh nlSn or low rank re-
turned, or were missing
Now this is the Spanish side of the
fight. which has been accepted by the
government as true since the official
report tells the same story. 1t can be
said that the original document has new
er been made public.
From other sources-althoueh LACKING.
In important details-it IL known that
Gomez had only 1,SOO men. 1t was
known in the city that Gomez was en-
camped al NajaSa, with that number or
men. In the first charge the Spanish
admit tina there was only 1000. The
Spaniards increased 1t to 5000. General
Ca;tellanos' forces amounted to $500
men. Gomez knowing of his rivals an
proach, placed his mem In convenient
positions, dividing his forces In small
groups of 300 men esch. As soon as the
Spaniards We're comfortably encamped
in the ranch. preparing for the next
days attack on Gomez's stronghold MT
Najasa. the Cuban chief suddenly made
his appearance, attacking their position
simultaneously on all sides. Taken un-
awares and completely surrounded. all
they could do was 10 defend themselves
from the continued charges, which, with
marvellous military precision were kept
up night and day without affording the
Spae iards moments rest Thanks to
General Godoye's timely appearance
with $500 men, Castellanos was saved
from complete disaster, as undoubtedly
he could never have aytrioa tod hiros ~