The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-09

alter the whole situation and important
events may occur within short time.
There is no doubt that thee insurgents
have recently increased in number about
the capital. The stray bands of 20 to
so Bandits" met by the Spanish troops
have now swollen to the proportions Of
insurgent forces of 10000 to 10000 men.
Only this day a week ago a bold attack
was made upon Guanabacoa, a suburb
of this city and seventy houses were
burned by the insurgents who also kill
ed all the men forming the garrison or
one of the forts. Therefore 1T is not
astonishing if people are now anXlously
asking themselves from what quarter the
next attack win be made. It seems to
be admitted, and believed that Maceo
will strike before Weyler can hurry back
from Pinar del Rio. Indeed 1t is cur
rently reported that the Captain General
has been wounded in an engagement with
the insurgents before the latter crossed
the military line and that he may not be
able to return here, except as prisoner
of the Cubans.
The authorities naturally are doing all
in their power to minimize the crossing
of the Trocha by Maceo and intimate
that he is as usual, according to the Span
ish running away from them. This does
not alter the fact that he has escaped
the hunter and that the hunter may find
difficulty in getting home.
The friends of the insurgents here are
overjoyed at the new turn taken in the
campaign and they are boasting that
both Maceo and Gomez will soon be
knocking at the gates of Havana. To
this the Spanish officials simply say,
''Wait and see, the time is not YET But
there is no denying that the supporters
of Spain here to-day are looking much
crestfallen and discouraged. Even a de-
feat at the hands of the insurgents it is
admitted, would have been better than
the humiliation which the Spanish troops
have suffered in being so skilfully out
manouvred by the insurgents.
General Figuera on yesterday left the
plantation of Santa Amelia, near San
Jose De Las Lajas, this province, moving
in the direction of Platano. He met the
advance guards of an insurgent fcroe at
Rio Hondo, opened fire on it and later
captured the heights of Morales Anil and
Vocal Platano where, however, the troops
| found force of 1000 insurgents await
| ing them. The latter promptly attacked
| the Spaniards. but were repulsed by a
| brilliant charge of the Reina and Pizarro
cavalry regiments. The route Of the enc.
| my was completed by Il charge of the
| Spanish infantry, composed of the Navas
| battalion. The insurgents were dislodg-
1 ed after thirty-nine shells had been fired
| into their positions, and left behind them
sixty-eight men killed. OF the Spaniards,
| Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Guyo Currion
/ was killed, and one Lieutenant and "A
| priyates were wounded. Major Cirujedo,
| being Informed that = strong force Of
| insurgents were neafs punta Bravo, and
| hearing the sound of fighting in that di-
| rection moved with his columns in to-
wards Xugasti and Hayocolorado, where
| the enemy was also reported in force.
| Passing q range of mountains She Span.
| ish commander went in the direction OF
| San Pedro, and there found q body of
about 1900 insurgents occupying ii strong
| position behind parapeted stone walls.
The troops disiodged the insurgents, but
night approaching, the column returned
/ to Punta Braya The insurgents had 40
men killed and many horses on the field.
The troops lost three men killed, and. Lieu
| tenants Amores, Peralta and Moya and
2S soldiers wounded. They were all taken
safely TO Punta Braya.\
| Valencia, an important insurgent lead
| er, was killed yesterday in the engage
ment between the Spanish trops under
| Major Cirujedo and the insurgents near
| San Pedro.