St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-13
INSURGENTS REPORTED FROM
CUBA.
WEYLER WILL DEAL JUSTLY.
Err PRODUCE FAVORABLE
IMPRESSION.
Leaving the Protection of Pianta-
lions and Estates to the VOIun-
teers.

HAVANA, Feb. PA dispatch re-
ceived here from Santa Clara, capital
of the province of that name, from Gen.
Oliver, the Spanish commander in that
district, announces a serious defeat of
the insurgents under Serafin Sanchez
and Mirabol two of the most import
ant insurgent leaders outside of the
province of Havana. The action be-
gun at about a. m, and it was not
until o'clock in the afternoon that
firing ceased and fatigued parties were
sent out to gather up the insurgent
dead and wounded, while the Spanish
cavalry pursued the retreating bodies
of the enemy The soldiers found
forty-three insurgents on the field, and
it was estimated by fairly accurate
count that the enemy carried away 100
wounded men, in addition to num-
Der of their wounded who fell too close
to the Spanish square to permit of
their friends carrying them off. The
Spanish cavalry in pursuing the insur-
gents. captured number Of country
people, supposing them to have infor-
nation regarding the movements of
the enemy. The prisoners, after hav-
ing been questioned by Col. Lopez,
were released. They say that the in
surgents' loss is much greater than
estimated by the Spanish officers, as
they saw a number Of dead, apparently
men of Importance, being carried away
by the insurgent cavalrymen, and the
country people also assert that the
number Of wounded carried off by the
enemy was quite 200.
The troops lost Maj. Tones, Sergeant
Otero and four soldiers killed, and had
a lieutenant, one sergeant and fifty
soldiers wounded.
A committee appointed by the Ha
vana Chamber of Planters, and pre-
sided over by Senior Arcilla. called up
on Capt. Gen. Weyler today, led by
their anxiety over the unfavorable con-
dition Of their business, to try to get
an idea of what the new captain gen.
erals views are on the prospects of
a betterment Of the condition of the
planters. Senior Arcilla, acting as
spokesman for the committee, rendered
a request for information to Gen. Wey-
Ter, who said in reply:
It IS evident that the present seri-
Gus situation Of affairs must be rene
died very soon if we are to effect the
6dlVat1On or the wealth. OF the lSldnO.
1 have confident hope that the grind
ing of sugar cane can be safely started
by the middle of March in Pinar del
Rio Havana, MatanZaS and Santa
Clara provinces.
For the present, however, my whole
attention is given to the task of reor-
ganizing the army on a basis suitable
for carrying out any plans Of cam
paign. Until that reorganization is
effected, 1t is my purpose to depend on
the volunteer forces for the protection
of the estate"
The feature of Gen. Campos' plan of
campaign, which met with most criti-
cism and opposition here, was the cut
ting up Of his large force into small
bands to form a separate guard for
nearly every estate on the island. Gen.
Weyler's remarks indicate that he in
tends to abandon this plan and to COM
bine his forces into an effective mill
tary force for aggressive operations.
The chamber Of planters committee
retired from their audience with the
captain general, expressing themselves
as well pleased with the assurances
he gave them. The act of Gen. Weyler
in setting free twelve prisoners, who
were brought here from Santiago de
Cuba, charged with conspiracy, on the
ground that there was no evidence to
warrant holding them, has produced a
favorable impression towards him In
the public mind, and is understood as
intended to indicate his purpose to