The citizen., 1896-04-17
THEIR LOSSES HEAVY
Details of the Fierce Battle Near
Lechuza, Cuba.
THE SPANIARDS ADMIT DEFEAT
Attacked by Large Body of Insurgents
Under AIaceO - Completely Routed,
They Take Shelter on a Forti-
fled Plantation.

Havana, April 15.-Further details of
the engagement near LechuZa between
the Alfonso XIII. battalion under COM
mand of Col. Debos, and the insurgents
under Maceo, show that the Spanish
column occupied two hours in advanc-
ing from Mariel to the point where it
met the main body of insurgents. The
retreat to the San Claudio estate,
which is some distance west of Mariel,
occupied seven hours. On their retreat
the troops vere exposed to a constant
fire from the rebels in their rear and
were frequently compelled to form
squares to resist the charges of the
enemy. II was necessary to use cannon
to open a way for the retreat of the
vanguard. The wounded Spaniards
were embarked upon schooner under
the fire of the Alerta. According to
the military authorities here, Col.
Sanchez Echevarria, who had received
orders to act in combination with Col
Debos and Gen. Inclan, failed to arrive
in time to assist the other bodies of
Spanish troops. The authorities say
that had he arrived in time Maceo's
force would have been badly whipped.
Col. Echevarra has been relieved of his
command and ordered to appear for
trial before court martial.
Col. Debos' Report.
Col. Debos reports that his battalion,
in combination with other bodies of
Spanish troops, left Mariel, in the
province of Pinar del Rio, for the pur-
pose of giving the enemy battle. They
met the advance guard of the insur-
gents, consisting Of force of 200 cav
airy, who opened fire upon the govern
ment column. The Spaniards continued
their march toward Lechuza, although
opposed at every step, and every ele-
walton being occupied by them at the
cost of fight, Upon arriving in the
vicinity of Lechuza they found the in
surgents gathered in strong force, and
the rebels made an attempt to sur
round the Spanish column. The Span
ish troops fought with great despera-
tion against heavy odds, says Debos,
but were defeated with losses of many
killed and wounded. Divining the in
tention of the enemy to encircle his
column Col. Debos ordered retreat.
The Spanish column retired to the San
Claudio estate on the north coast,
where the troops fortified themselves,
awaiting the arrival of other govern
ment columns.
Spaniards Protected by a GunbOat.
Gen. Inclan arrived with his column
very opportunely, and the troops un-
der Col. Debos were also protected by
the gunboat Alerta, which kept the
enemy at bay. Col. Debos estimates
that the forces of the insurgents 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 Span
ish 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 government losses were
very heavy, the details being withheld
by the authorities. A civilian who
volunteered to carry the news of the
predicament of the government column
to the nearest fort ran the gauntlet of
the rebel fire and was compelled to
Jump into the water twice to save him
self. Gen. Inclan reported. that upon
his arrival at Col. Debos' camp he COM
PEELED Gen. Maceo to retreat from San
Claudio.
Insurgents Attack WOrlkmen.
A band of rebels attacked number
of laborers who were employed in cut
ting sugar cane on the Consteneia
estate The guerrillas who were
guarding the estate went to the aid Of
the laborers, and in the fighting that
ensued four Of the guards and seven
workmen were killed. -Four men
were wounded The rebel loss is un-
known. The colonel of the Luzou
battalion reports an engagement be-
tween his command and rebel force
between Rodrigo and Amara in the
province of Santa Clara. The rebel
loss, according to the report, was
twenty-one killed, while only two
troops ware wounded.