The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-07
A GREAT VICTORY
Reported Def"at of the Spanish
Army at Pjnar Del Lilo
Confirmed
BY a Cipher Dispatch Received
From General Garcia's
Son.
Over Eight Hundred Spaniards
Killed. Great Amount of War
Material Captured.

NEW YORK, April THE World
says a long cipher dispatch from Carlos
Garcia, son of General Calixito Garcia,
the leader of the Bermuda expedition
to Cuba, has been received by M. Stern
in this city. The dispatch was written
at Manzanillo, which is about 30 miles
east Of Santiago, on April 2. The dis
patch says hat the men and artillery
were landed from the Bermuda in a
bay between Bahia Honda and Muriel,
which is about 80 miles west of Havana
in a straight line. There was abso-
lutely no interference. The two Hotch.
kiss guns and the six other heavy pieces
of artillery were taken of, with the
ammunition for them. The ship, with
the remaining arms and ammunition,
was sent to Santiago. 1t went around
the north shore of the island, through
the Bahama channel.
"The lOS men in the expedition were
landed on the morning Of March ~.
They made a march of 40 miles inland,
where they were met by General Maceo,
thus carrying out the plan to the letter.
Decided to Attack Pinar Del Rio.
at was decided that an attack
should be made upon Pinar del Rio,
which is the largest inland town, and a
Spanish stronghold. Maceo had
caused the report to reach the
Spanish garrison that he had started
on a long march. The message says
that Maceo and Garcia, with 5000
men, swept down upon Pinar del Rio
early ON the morning Of March %,
and it was a complete surprise. The
Spanish troops numbered about 5000
and they were thrown into q state of
panic by the onslaught. The use of
the heavy artillery which Garcia had
brought added to their terror.
Cub IA Victory Was Complete.
The message says ''consternation
reigned and Spanish troops thrown in
wild disorder. Officers could not form
their men. Captured two pieces Of
heavy artillery. 100 Mauser rifles.
], 200, 900 cartridges, $500 swords and
storec. Burned 800 houses, sparing the
weak. Spanish lost $50 killed and 200
wounded. Cuban loss 100 killed and
wounded.
After this victory, which 10 n Of
the most important that the Cubans
have won. inasmuch as it will be al.
most impossible for the Spaniards to
find q shelter for their troops in the in.
terror during the rainy season. Gen.
eral Garcia took 500 men ON horseback
and started eastward, making the hard
est possible marches.
Garcia Raising An Army.
Carlos Garcia says that they had not
the slightest difficulty in passing the
Trocha, which is a line of Spanish
troops, and they went on swiftly to the
eastern part of the island. Many
volunteers joined them. When they
arrived near Santiago, they found that
the Bermuda had landed her ammu-
milton in a bay a few miles east of
Santiago. The ship arrived on the
night of March IS, but the landing was
not made until the following morning.
There were Is coat loads Of rifles,
cartridges and swords.
General Garcia has gone to the east
ern end of the island because that is
his old home and the people living
there are his loyal friends.
Jose Gomez, General Gomez's broth
er, is with him. General Garcia will
do nothing for a month but organize an
army of picked men. He expects to
have an organized army Of volunteers
which will number 80, 600 men and a
regular force Of 10. @ men.