Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
II Has Failed TO Come Up to Spanisl
Expectation.
GOMEZ AND MAcEo TRIUMPHANT.
They Seem to whip the Government
Forces In Every Engagement, ON
cinl Reports from Hnbana TO the
Contrary Notwithstanding.

a battle When the Captain-General, VINO
has only a brief interval ofpover before
the arrival Of General Weyler, started
out. Gomez was awaiting the return OF
Maceo from Plnar del Rio province and
the two rebel headers were separated
II was General Marn's plan 10 pace
strong force between the two, anu p'e-
vent their union. He has not succeeueu
in accomplishing this, for both ieauers
are now in Habana province. and are
acting in conjunction with each other'
During the week there have been severai
encounters in Habana province between
Spanish columns, acting under Generai
Marins orders, and bodies of rebels, d.
rooted by Gomez, but only one Of these
was precipltated by the spaniards' Ihe
others were planned by the Insurgents
In none of them has the result been 70
the advantage OF the Spanish side.
The first fight since General Marin
took the field occurred on the day ne
went out. General Canella was ordered
west from Guanaiay. a town near the
border-llne between the provinces OF ma
hama and Pinar del Rio. He was to head
Off Maceo, who was moving east.
TRAP FOR CANELLA.
The Insurgents set a trap for General
Canella's force on the Saladrises stock
farm. a few miles southwest of Artemi-
sia The road which Canella was on
masses through the estate and Is hanked
on one side by fields divided into squares
by stone fences. Just west OF these
fences is a small hill Perlco Diaz, one
Of the best fighting men in GomeZs loi-
lowing had 40 rebel infantry lying fiat
on the ground behind the stone fences
TO the left Of the road. With, 1000 rebel
cavalry, Diaz waited In hiding behind the
hill further down the road.
The rebels waited about two hours.
Then the Spanish forces appeared, ana
advanced until the head Of the column
had passed the stone wall. The rebels
then opened with a volley-hre from be
hind the wall. Many OF the Spaniards
broke and ran across the fields 70 the
right OF the road while others held their
position in the road and returned the
rebel fire. Diaz sent half his mounted
force down the road giving the men IN
the road a machete charge, and with
other mounted men rode across the fields
and headed of the Spaniards, who had
broken ranks. He then was I'm position
10 give the troops In the road cross
fire. and this wrought havoc among them.
General Canella managed TO pull his
shattered force together. and retreated
toward Guanajay. The fight was or DrleI
duration. but II was the most sanguinary
Of the war. No accurate account Of the
Spanish losses can be obtained, and
probab bly, none will ever be known. Gene
raj Canella threw out picket-lines, ex-
tending over one mile, and allowed no
one to enter while he buried his dead.
Their number IL said TO be nearly 200
General Canella himself r. said TO have
been wounded. The insurgent loss was
very small.
Although this fight occurred January
3oth. the government has issued no ofii-
clal report OF tia very unusual thing.
SECOND SERIOUS FIGHT
On Saturday, February 1st the second
serious fight occurred. 1t was on the
strong line itself. and showed how little
regard the insurgents have for the So
called wall of men between Habana and
Bataban0. 1t was the attack upon the
train south OF San Felipe, near Poso
Redondo. Four hundred insurgents did
thu work.
Apparently they had information about
the train. which was a special, carrying
munitions OF war 10 the troops at Bata-
BANJO and for shipment TO points along the
south coast. Two rapld-fire guns were
on the train when 1t left Habana, but
were side-tracked et San Felipe, according
to the government report. Cubans who
claim 10 be well-informed say that Ibis
is not so, and that the guns fell into the
hands of the insurgents, together with
rfp ~ ri ivfg
They look upon the capture OF the trall
as one Of the greatest feats Of their cam
palgn. They were badly In need OF am
muntion, as the persistent campaign
which General Marin is conducting had
nearly exhausted their supply.
FIGHT NO. 3.
The third tight of the week was at the
Luz estate, near Alquizar. Gomez. after
remaining only two days east OF the
strong line had crossed south Of San
Felipe, and going to the west Of Guira
de la Melenes. closely followed by gov
eminent troops encamped on the Luz
plantation. He.s Colonel Ruis, with seven
squadrons Of Spanish cavalry. largely
made up OF infantrymen recently mounted
upon horses which the government had
seized, came upon the rebel outposts.
1t was on Sunday last.
Colonel Ruis waited for several large
detachments of infantry to come up. and
then attacked the rebel lines. From the
government report II appeared that he
cut through the first line and reached the
main body OF the rebels. He reports
killing twenty men, eleven Of whom, he
says, were killed with the sword or
machete. A Cuban planter. who lives
near the Luz estate. says that Colonel
Ruis did attack the main line, but that
instead Of twenty dead rebels and four
wounded 6paniards. the facts were just
the reverse.
The SpanIards In Habana thought It
remarkable that their side had learned
to use the machete 50 quickly and with
such eject. II Colonel Ruis did secure
such an advantage Of Comes, he would
naturally follow II up. but no fight with
Comes has been reported since Sunday.
MARIN HAS FAILED.
Marin's campaign thus far has, there
fore. not come up to the hopes Of the
authorities and loyal gpaniayds was
told by high o1lcIaI a the Palace on
the day that Marin len Habana that both
Cones and Maceo wou16 Be killed inside
Of one week, an ~ rcbellion broken
70 that Il cou16 not rocOVcE
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