Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-19
BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY
--latest Engagement in Pinar del Ric
Province is Short but Bloody.
SPANISH AMBUSHED BY INSURGENTS
Maceo nnd Bnndern Make n Joint At.
tnck on n strong Govcrn-
mcnt Force and Are
Driven or.

Copyright 1896. by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA Cuba, March 1S.-(New York
World Cablegram-Special Telegram.)-Ma-
ceo's band, now concentrated in Plnar
del Rio met the columns of Colonel Her.
nandez and Colonel Candelaria yesterday.
Maceo had been Joined by Bandera. Alto
gether the insurgents, nearly 5000 strong,
opened fire from dense thicket on the
troops under Colonel Hernandez and as the
latter was proceeding at gallop. The Span
ish leader threw out strong sklrmish line,
consisting OF the Tarifa battalion and the
Victoria squadron OF cavalry, and rallied.
The insurgents being greatly superior in
numbers, outhanked the Spanlards. who,
nevertheless, maintained fire. the artillery
using shrapnel. A portion Of the Luchana
battalion and other squadrons of the Victoria
cavalry charged fercely and the insurgents
fell back The retreat was a short one, how
ever, the insurgents rallying to second
charge. The Spanish troops met the on
slaught firmly and compelled their assai-
ants to retreat second time. In the con-
fusion the Spanish troops used their bayo-
nets, killing and wounding many of the In
surgents. Darkness ended the hostilities.
Mlaceo met with a heavy loss. The highest
ranking Spanish officers killed were Captain
Torrojas and Guerrero The total Spanish
loss six killed and wounded The en-
gagement was the most serious which has
occurred being no mere skirmish, but
formidable contest of the opposing forces.
The lieutenant colonel commanding the Luz
chana battalion and the major commanding
the two companies of the Tarifa battalion led
the charge in front of their men. They will
be promoted. Colonel Yuclan has been rec
commended by Weyler for promotion as gem
eral of brigade. He was formerly a mem
Der Of Weyler's staff.
The insurgents have disappeared from the
railway lines running to Matanzas, Jovellanos
Union de los Reyes, Batabano and Guanajay,
and trains are proceeding to those points
this morning without obstruction for the first
time in many days.
WANTON DESTRUCTION REPORTED.
The insurgents recently visited the farm of
John Flallo, in Banta, and demanded money.
Being refused they afterward returned and
burned the house, outbuildings and cane
fields. Many animals were destroyed. From
different parts of the province of Havana
come stories Of the destruction of corn fields.
have received from Pnar del Rio specific
instances Of the burning of the property OF
non-combatants by insurgent bands in that
province during the past fortnight.
The railway station Of the Western road
at Las Obas new building which cost
$15,000 was burned, together with large
hardware store, and nearly all the houses OF
the village and number of farm houses in
the vicinity. This was done by band Of
negroes. There was no military reason for
the act The place was without garrison and
defenseless The railway is English property.
On the same day a large store at Rio Hondo
was burned, and the villages of Remates,
Martinas and La Grifa were completely de-
stroyed. These places contained neither SOL
dlers nor volunteers.
In Guane number of houses were burned
and three of the most prominent citizens
were hanged. No fight occurred, but the
hanging was done in cold blood Many houses
In the country about Guane and Portales de
Guane we're destroyed. The railway house
in Paso, pretty village three miles from
Guane was burned by negro band.
At the village OF Punta de la Sierra the
stores were ransacked and everything was
stolen and they were then set on fire.
All shops and residences in the district Of
Los Acostes were pillaged and burned. No
fighting had occurred and no troops were
present.
All the houses in the district OF Teneria
were burned, fifty In number, and all the
shops We're robbed.
The insnrgent leaders who did the work
are Manuel Laza, Leopold Perez and Gallo
Sosa.
The value OF private property thus de-
stroyed by the insurgents during the war
Is over $3,000,O00.
CONGRATULATE DE LONE AND HALE.
fhe Spanish club cabled Minister Dupuy
de LONE at Washington today congratulate
Ing him upon his intelligent and patriotic
defense of Spain, and felicitating Senator
Hale and other senator's upon their fairness
In the discussion Of the belligerency ques-
tion. AS I have frequently stated in my
dispatches. the bitter Indignation among the
Spanish element toward the United States
is not due so much to the question Of the
granting of belligerency as to the violent
personal attacks upon Weyler by several
senator's and the dense ignorance displayed
in many instances in the United States re
garding actualities In Cuba
The Produce exchange today cabled SEN
ator Hale expressing the good feeling pro-
duced among the business men by his fear
lessness in telling the truth on the floor of
the senate. WILLIAM SHAW BOWEN.