Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-15
A BATTLE IN CUBA.
Spaniards Go Ont After Wool and Return
Home ShOfD.
DEBos DEFEATED by MAcEo'
Government Troops Almost snr-
rounded by TnsurEents-They make
m Painful Retreat--Losses on 10th
sides Reported Heavy.

receiyed here of a battle near Lechuza
between the Aphonso XIII. Battalion.
under command Of Colonel DeDos, ana
the insurgents under Maceo. Colonel
Debos reports that his battalion. In COM
bination with other bodies Of Spanish
troops. left Mariel. in the province OF
PInar del Rio, for the purpose OF giving
the enemy battle. They met the ad-
vance-guard OF the insurgents. consist
ing of a force Of 200 cavalry, who opened
fire upon the government column. Inc
Standards continued their march toward
Lechuza, although opposed at every STEP
and every elevation being occupied by
them at the cost Of fight. w.,
Upon arriving in the vicinity OF Le-
chuza they found the insurgents gath
cred in strong force. and the enemy made
an attempt to surround the Spanish
column. The Spanish troops fought with
great desperation against heavy odds
but were defeated, with losses OF many
killed and wounded. Divining the in
tention Of the enemy 10 encircle his
column. Colonel Debos ordered a retreat
In this retreat Captain Tort deserves
great praise for maintaining the forma-
ton OF a rear-guard. though attacked
by a greatly superior force Of the enc
my's infantry.
The Spanish column retired to the San
Claudio estate, on the north coast, where
the troops fortified themselves, await
ing the arrival Of other government
columns. General Inclan arrived with
his column very opportunity, and the
troops under Colonel Debos were also
protected by the gunboat Alerta, which
kept the enemy at bay.
Colonel Debos estimates that the force
OF insurgents which charged upon his
command numbered 5000 men.
THE LOSSES.
The official report says the losses OF
the enemy must have been very great,
as many men were seen to fall before the
fire OF the Spanish troops. The gov
eminent column. according to the Of
fetal report, lost four men killed and
one officer and thirteen soldiers wounded;
but the fact is that the government
losses were heavy. the details being
withheld by the authorities. A civilian
who volunteered to carry the news Of
the predicament of the government col
umn TO the nearest fort ran the gaunt-
let of the rebel fire. and was COM
PEELED TO jump into water twice to save
himself General Inclan reports that
upon his arrival at Colonel Debos's camp
he compelled Maceo to retreat from San
Claudio.
Further details OF the enga cement that
have been made public show that the
Spanish column occupied two hours In
advancing from Mariel TO the point where
IL met the main body OF the
insurgents. The retreat to the San
Claudio estate. which Is some distance
west OF Mariel. occupied seven hours.
on their retreat the troops were ex-
posed TO a constant fire from the rebels
I'm their rear and were frequently COM
PEELED TO form squares TO resist tine
charges Of the enemy. IT was necessary
to use cannon to open way Tor the re-
treat Of the vanguard.
The wounded Spaniards were embarked
upon a schooner under the fire OF the
Alerta.
According TO the military authorities
here. Colonel Sanchez Echevarria. VINO
had received orders TO act in conjunction
with Colonel Debos and General lnclan,
failed to arrive in time to assist the other
two bodies OF Spanish troops. The au-
thorities say that had he arrived In time
Maceo's forces would have been badiy
whipped. Colonel Echevarria has been
relieved OF his command, and ordered 70
appear for trial before court-martial.