The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-23
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE AT
CLAUDIO-GUNBOAT SAVED
THE SPANIARDS.
SHOT DOWN rs IN |NCEND|ARY
Cuban Leader Alvarez Executed-Rev.
Diaz, a Naturalized American,
Arrested on Some Pretext.
The Nicaraguan Fiasco.

Dattall0n ana the insurgents unuer Ma
Geo at San Claudio, near the northern
extremity of the military line across the
province of Pinar del Rio, shows that
the Spanish gunboat Alberta, which so
troops, found the latter had been COM
PEELED to retreat before an overwhelm-
ing force of 5000 insurgents. Although
the latter outnumbered the men of the
Alfonso NH battalion by over ten to
one, and in spite of the fact the soldiers
were led in pursuing the retreating van
guard of the enemy into the position
which enabled the insurgents to sur
round them, the Spanish infantry re-
treated in good order, fighting stub
bornly as they did so.
During the retreat the government
troops inflicted heavy loss upon Maceo's
forces and succeeded in maintaining a
correct formation until after a seven
hour fight the harbor of San Claudio
was reached and the troops barricaded
themselves in the best possible position
and determined to fight to the last.
During this long and harassing re-
treat the Alfonso XIII battalion only
lost one officer and four men killed and
had but thirteen wounded.
The fire of the troops was so well de-
livered and the movements of the battal-
ion were so effectually and promptly
executed that the 5000 Cubans were I'M
able to achieve any advantage further
than compelling the greatly overmatched
body of Spanish infantry to retreat in
good order. Besides. it is claimed, even
this retreat would not have been neces-
sary had it not been for the supineness
of Gen. Echavaria, who was in COM
mand of much greater column opera
ting in conjunction with the column of
Col. DevOs, the Alfonso XIII battalion,
and in the later's immediate neighbor-
hood.
Gems. Echavaria Suarez and Ynclan
left Marial north of the line with the
Alfonso NH battalion on Monday by
different roads in an attempt to engage
talon became engaged as already
stated, and should have been promptly
supported by the nearest Spanish col
umn, that of Gen. Echavaria, but the
latter not only failed to support Col
Devos as promptly as he should have
done, but he seems to have delayed no.
tifying Gen. Suarez and Gen. Ynclan
of the location of Maceo's forces when
the latter had attacked the Alfonso
flank movement of the Spanish troops
might have resulted in crushing MaceO's
army and possibly extinguishing the re-
belliOn at the same time.
The Alberta heard the firing while
cruising off the coast and headed for
San Claudio, where the warship found
the Alfonso NH battalion hastily bari
caded in houses, warehouses, ETC., in
and about the landing place of the little
port.
Col Devos. while determined to hold
In St mi FL,
his wounded to the utmost and under
ire of the enemy he succeeded in EN-
barking the thirteen injured soldiers
IN small boats, from which they were
transferred to small schooner which
was at anchor near the landing place
when the battalion entered the place.
When the gunboat got within range
OF the rebels, who were swarming in
large numbers over the hills in the Vi
cinity of San Claudio, a hot fire from
her guns and riflemen was opened upon
Maceo's forces.
A few well-directed shells exploded in
the enemy's ranks, causing much dis
order. Then, when the troops under
Gen. Ynclan arrived and opened fire on
the rebels, the latter beat hasty retreat
over the hills and finally disappeared,
whereas, if the Spanish columns had
acted well in concert, the result might
Maceo.
Gen. Echavaria has since been re-
lleved of his command and is now in this
city to explain his inaction.
1t is understood here that he claims
to have, acted as promptly as possible,
under the circumstances and in view of
the difficulties offered by the country
his column had to travel through.
Gen. Ruiz at San Andrea de Las Villas
has been pnpa rcd with tho ipcurpontc
under Torres and captured the latter's
camp. The insurgents retreated with
seven killed and took with them a num-
Der of wounded.
A column of Spanish troops near La
as has been engaged with an insurgent
force; The enemy lost nine killed and
left behind them in their retreat six
rifles and a quantity of ammunition. The
troops had two men wounded.
a detachment of Spanish troops under
Col. .Estruch, while skirmishing in the
province of Santa Clara, has had a brush
with the insurgents, three of whom were
killed.
The leader Trujillo, near Placetas.
province of Santa Clara, recently sur
prised detachment of government
guerillas and volunteers. Thirteen
guerillas were wounded, but Trujillo ac-
cording to report, was shot and killed
during the affair. ~,
During skirmishes at Bahia Hondo.
San Antonio de Los Banos and Jaruco.
the insurgents left ten killed on the field
and the troop took several prisoners.
The insurgents have twice attacked the
village of Hajay, near Mariana, but have
been repulsed by detachment of the
Otumba battalion.
Another detachment of the same bat
talon at Vivora, suburb of this city.
on the farm of La Pastora a
newly formed band of insurgents. Three
of The latter were killed and eleven cap
tured. among them the leader, Alberto
Ferrer.
The village of Coral Nuevo, in the
Matanzas district, has been burned by
the insurgents. Sixteen houses and part
of the local church were destroyed The
fields of the settlement of La Brainto,
Sepato and Fuemo and the house and
plantation of Dos Felicas, near Bolon-
drOn, have also been burned.
La Crete, the insurgent leader, was
reported yesterday to be moving in the
vicinity of the swamps in the southern
part of Matanzas.
There are persistent rumors that the
brigadiers and Castillo have been re-
moved from their commands.
The splendid plantation and the houses
of Seniors Chenta and Don Custo, in the
Guerra Melina district, have been de-
stroyed by the insurgents.
Tho insurOant lnadors Massa T,astrp