The San Francisco call., 1896-02-10
CUBANS DRIVEN BACK.
Had Surrounded Colonel Segura's
Force and Were Fighting
Bravely.
GENERAL MARINs GRIEVANCE.
Complains That the Insurgents Do
Not Come Up and Let Him
Whip Them.

HAVANA, CUBA, Feb. 9.-As told IN
these dispatches on Friday the rebel forces
under Antonio Maceo were defeated at
Candelaria, province OF Pinar del Rio, by
General Canellas and compelled to retreat
in the direction OF San Cristobal.
On the same day Colonel Segura with
600 men belonging to General Canella's
column, which was in pursuit OF the re-
treating rebels, came upon more than 5000
of the insurgents, The Spanish column
had been divided in order to more ef-
fectively pursue the rebels. and the troops
under Colonel Segura followed the road
from Candelaria toward San Cristobal,
which, as the event proved, was the route
taken by the rebels. AS soon as the troops
came up to the insurgents the latter formed
an extensive circle about them. The
troops formed into squares and continued
the advance. keeping up an incessant fire
that played havoc in the rebel lines.
When nearing the village OF Pezeo
Honde the troops directed their attack
upon house that was occupied by num-
Der of rebels and dislodged them. The
building was then turned into a hospital
for the troops. ALI this time the rebels
were lowering near the troops, but Colonel
Segura, who had with him piece of artil-
lery, used 1t with good effect, and, by
means of shells, caused the insurgents to
finally fall back.
At this juncture three squadrons of cav
airy under command of Colonel Ruiz and
two companies of infantry belonging to
the Simancas Regiment opportunely ar
rived and broke through the rebel circle,
thus saving Colonel Segura's column from
what would doubtless have been an over
whelming defeat The Spanish losses are
given IN the official report OF the engage
ment as eight killed and thirty-tive
wounded, while the supposed losses of the
rebels are placed at 100 dead and 800
wounded. The above accounts Of the fight
are entirely official.
Acting Captain General Marin returned
to Havana to-day from the field. In an
interview with:the correspondent of The
United Press be said:
my campaign has been continuation
of the plans previously followed. have
had some encounters with both Maceo
and Gomez, but can throw no more light
upon them than is contained in the reports
that have been published of the fights
When asked, having been in the field,
what he thought of the military organiza-
ton OF the insurgents, General Marin said:
81 have not altered my previous opinion.
The insurgents can never be recognized as
an organized army, because the first con-
sideration of such a body is honor, whereas
the insurgents think 1t no dishonor to flee
from an enemy to avoid an encounter. A
regular military body would think it a
dishonor to attack defenseless soldiers,
whereas the insurgents think nothing of
it. They do not hesitate to force men into
their ranks during their passage through
the country, which results in the i'm
pressed men becoming targets for the
Spanish army. In one word, what the in.
surgents' organization is, is question"
"It is said that the Spanish army is rap
idly being changed from infantry to cav
airy. Is that policy to be continued?"
''No infantry has been changed into cav
airy. The regular cavalry bodies here
have been mounted as fast as horses could
be procured.
eff the Spanish had had more cavalry
would the result up to the present time
have brought the war nearer an end?'
eff the Spanish had had more cavalry
the insurgents would have adopted other
means of warfare. Their great force lies
in policy of deviating from all lines of
warfare. In other words. war with them
is merely anarchy. If we had had plenty
of cavalry they would have resorted to
ambuscades and surprises. They would
have waited for the cavalry to come up
and then destroyed them. Whenever we
have an encounter there is never any
doubt of the Spanish defeating the insur-
gents four to one. The insurgents run
away. Thatis their strength.
'sThere was an illustration of this day
before yesterday in the encounter we had
with them near San Cristobal, where 400
of our men were attacked by 1000 or 5000
insurgents, and our men defeated them"
"What Is your opinion after your inspec-
tion of the Spanish army in the neighbor-
ing provinces?"
"I am satisfied that the men are we'll
cared for"
'In your opinion how long is this revo-
luton likely to last?"
81 can hardly say, but believe that the
insurgents will be wiped out, inasmuch as
vigorous policy has been inaugurated,
replacing the benevolent one that hes OBJ
tained-not policy OF cruelty, but rigid
military policy"
What, in your opinion, is the value of
the trocha as strong line to prevent the
passage of the insurgents?n
II have never placed much reliance upon
the trocha as means of preventing insur-
gents crossing in either direction. have
re arded it only as an observatory OF the
insurgents movements. It's value is
chiefly strategic, for the quick mobiiiza-
ton OF troops at any point along the line,
and of course to Inconvenience the passage
of the insurgents as much as possible
"Do you regard the revolution as now
losing strength or gaining?'
''It is on the decrease. We are conquer
ing little by little"
General Marin added that he intended
to leave for Porto Rico Tuesday.