The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-15
THEY FIGHT LIKE men
The CubanS Under Maceo Leave Many
Dead and Dying on the Battle Field.
COL. ECAEVARRlA FAILED TO ARRIVE.
The Spanish Authorities Siill insist
ing Upon Sending Ont TO the World
Doctored Reports-C Col. Debos Puts
the Insurgents Numbers at 5000
Men-Compelled Maceo to Retreat.

Havana, April a. News has been re-
ceived here of battle near Lechuza be-
tween the Alphonse XIII. battalion,
under command of Col. Debos, and the
insurgents under Maceo. Col. Debos re-
ports that his battalion In combination
with other bodies of Spanish troops. left
Meriel, in the province of Pinar del Rio
for the purpose of giving the enemy
battle. They met the advance guard of
the insurgents, cosstlng OF a force OF
200 cavalry, who opened fire upon, the
Government column.
The Spaniardi continued their march
toward Lechuza, although opposed at
every step. and every elevation being oc-
cupied by them at the cost of n fight
Upon arriving in the vicinity of Le-
chuza they found the insurgents gath
cred in strong force. and the enemy
made an attempt to surround the Spanish
column. The Spanish troops fought
with great desperation against heavy
odds, but were defeated with losses of
many killed and wounded. Divining
the intention of the enemy to encircle
his column, Colonel Debos ordered a re-
treat.
In the retreat Captain Tort deserves
great praise for maintaining the forma
tion of the rear guard, though attacked
by greatly superior force of the enemy's
infantry The Suanish column retired
to the San Claudio estate, on the north
coast, where tn" troops forfeited them
selves, awaiting the arrival of other Gov
ernment columns General lnclan ar
rived with his column very opportunely
md the troops under Colonel Debos were
also protected by the gunboat Alerta
which kept the enemy atbay
Colonel Debos estimates that the force
OF insursent who charged upon his
command numbered 5000 men. The
official report says that the losses OF the
enemy must have been very great, as
many men were seen to fall before the
fire of the Spanish troops.
The Government column, according to
the official report lost four men killed
and one officer and thirteen soldiers
wounded. but the fact is that the Gov
ernment losses were very heavy. the
details being withheld by the authorities
A civilian who volunteered to carry
the news of the prcdicament OF the Gov
ernment column TO the nearest fort ran
the gauntlet of the rebel fire and was
compelled to jump into the water twice
to save himself.
Gen. 1nclun reports that upon his ar
rival ut Col. Debos'S camp he compelled
Maceo to retreat from San Claudio
Further details of the engagement that
have been made public show that the
Spanish column occupied two hours in
advancing from Mariet TO the point where
II met the main body OF insurgents Th.
retreat to the San Claudia estate occu-
pied seven hours. On their retreat the
troops We're exposed to n constant fire
from the rabelS in their rear and were
frequently compelled TO form squares to
resist the charges of the enemy. 1t was
necessary to use cannon TO open Il way
for the retreat of the vanguard.
The wounded Spanards were embark ed
upon Il schooner under the fire of the
Alerta.
According 10 the military authorities
Col. Echevarria, who had received orders
TO act in commission with Col Debcs and
Gen. lnclan. failed to arrive in time to
a ssit the other two bodies of Spanish
troops The authorities say that had he
arrived I'm time. Maceo's force would have
been badly whipped. Col. Echevarria has
bacn relieved of his command and or
dered TO appear for trial before court
martial.
y band of rebels attacked a number of
laborers who were employed in cutting
sugar cane on the Constancia estate
The guerrillas who We're guarding the es
tate went to the aid of the laborers and
In the fighting that ensued four OF the
guards and seven wCrkngmen were
killed. Four men We're wounded. The
rebel loss Is unknown