The record-union., 1896-04-14

HAVANA, April 13-fFrom a staff
correspondent of the United Press. >
Colonel Tort reports that the column
under his command had a series of
fights with 1000 insurgents led by Mas
sac, Castillo and others. The scene OF
the engagement was south OF Guira de
Melina, in the southwestern part of the
Province of Havana. The rebels
awaited the approach of the troops
with line of cavalry one kilometer in
extent, the insurgents on foot forming
an ambush on both sides in the shape
of a horseshoe. The vanguard of the
troops deployed to the right and left,
and the artillery fired grenades and
grape shot into the enemy. The fight
lasted two hours.
The rebels then retreated for a dis
tance and awaited the troops behind
the ruins of the buildings on the Luisa
estate. The troops used cannon and
made several bayonet charges before
they succeeded in dislodging the in
Surgents.
The official report says the rebels re-
treated in complete disorder, after leav-
ing twenty killed and eighty wounded.
The troops lost five wounded.
Colonel Segura reports having had an
engagement with insurgents near
Piedra. Province of Santa Clara Ac-
cording to Colonel Segura twenty-four
rebels were killed, while the troops had
only five of their number wounded.
Maceo is camping in the hills south
of Cabanas. in the northeastern part of
the Province of Pinar del Rio, and a
comparatively short distance west of
Havana. Gomez is near Sancti Spiritus,
1t is now said that the elections yester-
day in Sancti Spiritus and Remidos re-
suited in the return of Gonzalez Fuen-
tes and Marin Barcena in place of
Augosto de Figueroa and Martin
Zosaya. the candidates of the Union
Constitutional party, whose election
was announced yesterday. The cleo
tion of Senior Barcena, however, is
doubtful
All the talk here this week is con-
lecture as to what Mr.. Cleveland will
do with the resolution of the two houses
of Congress. The brief Cabinet dis
patches from the States which the Ha-
vana papers publish, after the press
censor has allowed them, have been
read with interest by all classes of citi-
zens. Little light has been thrown
loyal Spaniards still claim to be conf
dent that the President will not recog-
nize belligerency. The systematic sup
preston of truthful news of the pro-
gress of the revolution has blinded
many people here, and has undoubtedly
been of great help to Spain abroad The
official report of every engagement is
carefully cooked, so as to make it ap-
near that the SnaniSb bava r,ap q vic
tory, and even then, if there is danger
of wrong impressions being created
abroad, the foreign correspondents are
not permitted to telegraph the news.
On the eve of the elections the Madrid
authorities, impatient at trivial items,
cabled for encourag ging news The
emergency was met by sending out the
report of Gomez's death and designat-
ing the place of his burial in Matanzas,
when he was marching with an escort
of 1000 men in another Province
Spaniards here profess to believe that
President Cleveland will not recognize
the belligerency of the Cubans, basing
their assurance upon Minister De
Lome's dispatch, but their confidence in
Government messages is weakening.
There is no war talk among Spaniards
belligerency will not help the Cubans
materially, and claim that the sending
or additional men of war from Spain
VIII offset any advantage gained. All
talk of compromise between Spain and
the men in arms Is Idle. Cubans have
nc faith in promises of autonomy or re-
forms. The insurgent leaders declare
they will never lay down arms until
fc ,
Weyler, the harsh treatment of political
suspects and the killing of pacificos. has
made compromise out of the question.
All intelligent people here recognize
that the difficulty between Cubans and
Spaniards is TO be settled once for all.
Insurgents have burned the Moralitos
estate near Jaruco. this province. 1t is
the property of NJ. a De Morales. an
American CITIZEN, and was spared by
the INSURGENTS on that account till two
days ago. Recently General Melguizo,
who made himself particularly offensive
by killing innocent people. encamped on
the estate several times, using the sugar
nay for his troops. For this reason the
rebels burned the buildings The owner
has filed a claim for 100000 damages
with the American Consul, stating that
he repeatedly asked the Government for
protection, and did not obtain it.
J. FRANK CLARK.
GARCIA HEARD FROM.
NEW YORK, April 13.-T. Estrada
Falma, Cuban delegate, has received the
following communication from General
Garcia:
To the People of the United States OF
America: l am fully aware of the obli-
ga.tion which have contracted to stand
trial for my alleged violations of the
laws of your country. l have not re-
nalned to face the consequences of my
acts simply because 1 feel that have a
higher duty to perform as a soldier and
Cuban. Having fought for the inde-
pendence of my country for ten years
and having ever since promulgated the
idea for which we then fought, deem i,
my highest and holiest duty to fight and
bleed, and. if necessary, die, to attain
the independence of my country
Should l fall my death will expiate,