The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29
SPANISH OFFICIALS SAY LITTLE
OF A BATTLE FOUGHT NEAR
HAVANA RECENTLY.
NUMBER OF HOUSES WERE BURNED
BY the Insurgents Two Days Fight in
the Observation-Disclosures Reported
to Have Been Disodged From
Their Stronghold.

~
has offered to place at the disposal of the
local government six army doctors to act
as professors at the University of Ha-
yana, the regular staff of professors hav-
ing been compromised in various manners
in the rebellion.
The insurgents under Castillo and Rod
erigueZ made an attack last night upon
Batabano, the southern seaport of the
province of Havana, situated about thir-
ty miles south of this city, and connected
with about fifty miles of railroad. The
enemy, it is announced, was repulsed by
the Spanish garrison of the place. but it is
admitted that the insurgents burned sew
eral houses. lnsurgent advices say that
the attack on Batabano was very much
more successful than the authorities here
are willing to admit and that large
number of houses were burned and other
damage done to the place. The official
report says only five soldiers were killed
and, contrary to custom, nothing is said
about the loss of the insurgents. The
insurgents have destroyed with dynamite
Il culvert near the railway station of
Manages, in the province of Pinar del Rio.
After the last engagement of the Span
ish troops with Antonio MaceO, twenty
eight battalions, consisting of 10000 sol
diers, were assigned to occupy the i'm
portant strategic points in the mountains
from which the insurgents had been eject
ed in order to prevent the latter from re-
turning and taking possession of them
again.
Col. Seguras reports having had an i'm
pOrtant engagement with the insurgent
forces under Antonio MaCeo at Sorro in
the province of Pinar del Rio. He re-
ports that the insurgents retreated with
81 killed. His own column sustained Il
loss of over 100 men.
The reports received from Col. Seguras
today indicate that he has fairly pene-
trated the mountain retreats of the insur-
gents in Pinar del Rio, and has dispers-
ed them from some of their strongholds
with severe loss to his column after sew
eral days of hard fighting, but with re-
ported heavy loss to the insurgents.
On October % he took the gorge on
Mount Soroa, held by the insurgents.
with a loss to the latter of four killed.
The Spanish loss in the engagement is
not stated.
Col. Segura Immediately commenced
to entrench himself in his new position
on the heights. His forces were sub
jected to Il light attack, but their position
was not weakened On October "a the
battalion of Iamora was left to guard the
forces engaged in the work of fortifying
the position at Mount Iamora, while the
rest of his column proceeded on Il recon-
noitering expedition into the interior fast
nesses of the mountain. Upon returning
the accommodating column found the Ia
mora battalion hOtly engaged with an at
lacking party Of the insurgents. The
attacking party was being constantly
augmented by newly arriving forces of
insurgents, who came from BraZo Fuerte
and Miracciolos and entered Immediately
into the engagement. They were max
ing Il determined attempt to break
through the Spanish lines and effect Il
passage through the Vista valley.
Col. Seguras' columns were promptly
brought forward to the relief of the Ia
mora battalion. and precipitated an en-
ergetic attack upon the advancing forces
ly repulsed and were driven back to
Miracciolos. The column then return
ed to the entrenched position and awaited
further developments. Early on the
morning of October % the insurgents
again renewed the attack, attempting to
affect breach in the Spanish lines and
to pass the position which they held.
The onslaught was made with great en-
ergy and was held to with great pertinac
ity, great numbers of insurgents taking
part. They were finally repulsed and
were pursued by the Spanish troops. The
official dispatch states that fighting was
furious on both days. The bodies of 81
insurgents left in the retreat were found
and quantity of their arms were taken.
1t is believed that large number of in
surgents, killed and wounded, were car
ried off by the retreating forces.
The losses sustained by the Spanish in
two days fighting are officially given as
follows: Lieut. Morale of the Merida
battalion and u privates killed. and .
captains, = lieutenants and 15I privates
wounded.
HAS PLENTY OF MONEY.
Madrid, Oct. 26.-The premier of Spain,
Senior Canovas de Castillo. has requested