Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-04
FIGHT IN THE sunuRps OF HAVANA.
Insurgents Approach 10 within -Four
MILES of the CITY.

MILES of the city.
HAVANA, March S.-There was a COM
blned movement Of Spanish troops on San
Francisco de Paula, four miles from this
city, today. Rifle firing has been heard
from there ana 1t is believed an engagement
with the insurgents is taking place This is
believed to be the closest the insurgents
have yet approached in force to the capital
column Of troops commanded by Cen
eral AldeCoa was engaged yesterday between
Managua and Nangarano, this province with
the insurgent forces under Maceo. The in
surgents were divided into two columns. one
OF which marched in the direction Of Mana
qua. Rife firing was shortly afterward
heard.
Gomez is still in the province of Matanzas
and was reported yesterday to be at the
plantation Of Arroyas. near Altamosal dress
ing an old wound in the leg, which 1t is said
shows dangerous symptoms. The insurgents
have burned in the district of Cruces, sc 900
tens of sugar cane. Gomez, after leaving
Arroyas plantation, 1t appears, encamped for
the night at Isabel, and in the morning
started in the direction Of Cimarones, cap
turing four volunteers and killing three
others. The Progress plantation has been
burned, together with the cane fields in that
vicinity, causing great loss to the planters
and others.
The government scouts announce that be-
tween Hernando and Guaracabulo, in the
Placetas district province of Santa Clara,
the insurgents under Napoes and Alberto
Rojas are encamped. They are described es
being badly dressed, without shoes and as
having but very little ammunition. At Santa
Clarta the insurgents have plundered all
the stores, under the leadership of Caunga.
One of Maceo's most valued lieutenants
was killed in an engagement in this prov
ince recently
Lieutenant Colonel Mallocra has returned
here from the front, disabled by wound
in his arm. Majors Leysundi and Rodriguez
near Sancti Spiritus. province of Santa Clara.
have been engaged with the insurgents, upon
whom they inflicted numerous losses Only
three soldiers were killed. column OF
troops at Hoyo, Colorado, yesterday after
noon was engaged with a band of 200 in
surgents, who in retreating burned several
houses.
A strong force of Spanish troops in col
umns left San Jose de las Lajas at o'clock
this morning to attempt to engage the insur-
gents under Antonio Maceo. It became known
that the insurgent leader had camped dur
ing the night at Nazarino, between San Jose
de las Lajas and Managua, which is only
twelve miles from this city The trooW
upon sighting the enemy, opened fire with
cannon and musketry and eventually cap
tured the insurgent position Colonel Maroto
with the cavalry under his command made
circular movement to the right and attacked
the enemy in the flank, while a company OF
the Espana battalion captured the village.
The insurgents were dispersed by different
roads ard were pursued through Bayamo to
the heights Of Mario, where they were can
nonaded. Lieutenant Francisco Asenjo was
killed and five soldiers were wounded on the
Spanish side. The insurgents left one killed
on the field and retired with many wounded.
The troops also captured number Of saddles
and quantity Of arms. lieutenant colonel
disabled his arm by a fall from his horse.
The lieutenant in command of the San
Fernandro battalion and also in command |
of the Linares brigade is pursuing the in
surgents under Castillo, who appear to have
concentrated at Managua, while other insur
gents are reported to be at Seiba. The troops
encountered the insurgents advance guard
and wounded two of the enemy. Two of the
troops later came upon the main body of
the insurgents at Leichuga and pursued
them, fighting for six miles. Eight of the
were killed The insurgents re-
tired with their wounded. They were fol-
lowed by several columns of troops. The
latter met two battalions which had left
Havana under Colonel Figueroa, and they |
formed a junction and fought another party |
of insurgents.
Colonel Tort at Quatre Caminos near San
Jose dc las Lajas, came across Maceo's |
scouts who said Maceo's forces were their |
way to join those of Gomez. skirmsh fol- |
lowed with Maceo's insurgents and the lat |
ter left two killed and four wounded. The
insurgents burned the cane fields of Portu- |
GAZETTE and succeeded in escaping from tho I
troops in pursuit of them. The soldiers |
however, continued after the enemy.
General Barnaldi has had an engagement |
with the bands of Cayito Alvares and Ser |
afin Sanchez, numbering 5000, in the hills
Of Magi between Mordazo and Manocas, |
in Matanzas. The artillery was brought to
bear upon the insurgents and the cavalry |
charged. The prince of BORDEN and the
Count Caserta who were with the Spanish |
forces are reported to have behaved with
gaantry. The insurgents were
routed and left thirty killed and forty
besides 300 saddled horses. The
loss of the troops is reported as thirty, most
Of these being wounded. No further de-
tails have been received.
The police of Havana have captured Gull
lermo Molina, a spy OF the Perico Dlaz band.