Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-06
Moves Cautiously to Prevent MaCeo from
Cutting Off Retreat
MISERY IN PlEAR DEL FLO PROVINCE
Dead Lcn Unburicd, white LIyin-
hattie with PcstiIcncr ON One
Hand ana Armed Force
ON the Other,


place In the rear and TANKS Of Wcylers
army. That the Spanish loss in thcJa has
been considerable is shown by the number
of wounded soldiers brought into the city
witain tho past three daya It is said that
Spanish field hospitals also are full Of sick
and wounded men. The trocho was forced
about ten miles from the southern end by
100 Cubans a party of Ave pacifco2, three
of them women, were met by a Spanish
column Thursday near Artemiaa and all shot
or Eayouctted. They were charged with
giving fJol to the Cubans
A special to the Commercial Tribune from
Jacksonville Fla, says: a telegram from
Havana was published here today that Maceo
had fed from Cuba to the United States to
avoid conflict with Weyler Mr.. III. A.
Hyau, the leading member OF the cuban
circle here said tonight: Il have heard
from Macco direct within the past day or
two and | know that Maceo is all right. y
captain on his staff was here yesterday di-
rect from MaCeo's camp. lie stated to me
that Maceo could hold the hills for eight
months or longer against Weyler ana all his
army. He has his cattle well hid and pro
vidcd for, has farms and vegetable gardens,
and above all. faithful and honest soldery.
He has a good supply of arms and ammuni
tion and Is generally in good condition to
hold his own against Weyler ! am in
position to know that MaCoo does not intend
leaving Cuba yet a while, at least not in
the manner In which Weyler says he hes
gone. When he goes 1t will be In a coi'in.
MaCeo will never resert his country. He is
watching Weyler and ere long the latter will
Hnd that he is yet in Cuba.
ROUT THE INHABITANTS.
KEY WEST Fla, Dec. 5.-The following
reports have been received from Pinar del
Rio:
The column OF Colonel Pantos, while
accommodating in the direction of the Sabana
Maize road, San Diego de Los Banos sue
ceeded in routing a number Of insurgents
destroying plantations of Importance and
burned 500 country huts Inhabited by insur-
gents, who fled These groups Of insurgents
were pursued into the forests and hills Of
Pinar del Rio province. and utterly defeated,
many of the positions captured by the Span
ish forces, having been regarded, therefore,
by Cuban insurgents as impregnable. Artil-
lery and infantry fired with splendid effect
upon the Insurgents. The losses OF the
troops are given as four killed and twelve
wounded. The losses of the insurgents are
reported to have been considerable General
HernlndcH reports another engagement, last
ing four hours, in the Pena Blanca hills.
Artillery was used during this engagement
with considerable effect. Tho insurgents
left nine dead on the field. The troops lost
two killed and thirteen wounded
The Insurgents at O'Clock last night at
tackled the trocha in the vicinity of Fort
GayaJabCs near the town Of Artemcsa. The
insurgents were quickly repulsed without
confusion ensuing. The Spanish commander
had the artillery playing ON the insurSent
forces, and the firing quickly ceased. The
officer and four soldiers at the fort were
wounded"
most important and terrible battle Is re-
ported in a private letter to have occurred
at Palaoios. in the province of Pinar del Rio
1t is said that great forces of insurgents
strongly fortified at the Torro heights were
attacked by a Spanish column Fierce fight
ing, cannonading and musketry continued
all day, the insurgents bravely defending
their stronghold. The troops were unable to
capture the fortihcation that day and both
SIDES sustained great loss. The next day |
the Spanish columns were reinforced by Cen |
cral lnclan, who renewed vhe attack The |
Spanish troops were determined to take the |
stronghold and simultaneously advanced |
upon the fortfcations The insurgents were |
hnaily dislodged from their position their |
loss being fully 200. 1t is said that the Span |
ish troops lost 600. The mortality was very |
great on both sides but it is said more OF !
the insurgents were killed proportionateIy |
than OF the Spaniards
UNABLE TO BURY THE DEAD.
So fierce has been the fighting in this vic |
Unity that the living have been unable |
to make adequate provisions for the burial |
OF the dead and in consequence the stencil
rs
said to be terrible In the extreme
The steamer Triton, which was expected
to leave today was hurriedly dispatched yes
terday to Bahia Hondo. On this account
many believe the reports widely circulated
to the effect that on the night OF December
3 sounds OF musketry and artillery were
heard In that vicinity. In official circles II |
is claimed that no news of an engagement
has been received. This mornings San
CristoDal reports say that Captain General
Weyler cncamped yesterday at the site of the
destroyed town of Santa RuZ de los Pinos.
Where ne Is awaiting the arrival of trains
bearing the soldiers wounded in recent en-
gagements in the province OF Pnar del Rio.
Reports received from all parts of Pinar
hel ltlo Indicate that great mortality fol-
lows the recent cpidemics which are spread
ing throughout that section. OF all the dis
eases epidemic In nature, cholera seems to
DC the only one which has not visited that
section.
Colonel Aldoa recently sustained a fight
with the rebel leaders at Perico Betan-
court Acevcdo and Agurre, who occupied
the heights Of PurgatOriO near La Mocha
province Of Matanzas They we're attacked
and compelled to disband. Tho loss of the
at the present writing Is un-
known Two officers and thirty-slx prlvates
with the Spanish forces were
Wilhelm Daniel, correspondent of the
Hamburg Journal, who was travelling over
The world Is in a hospital suffering from
yellow fever, The insurgents near Bara-
coa succeeded in capturing the pile driver
Provenier and four of her crew This boat
was loaded with groceries, destined for the
troops at Vessels Bay.
DID NOT ATTACK HAVANA.
The recent report Of the attack of the
insurgents upon Guanahacoa is said to have |
been false alarm. Hundreds of families
were badly frightened, however and many |
women and children left hurriedy during
The night, reaching Havana carly this morn
Ing Reports indicate that General Woyler
has been having considerable trouble with
the local authorities In the different towns
Df Pinar del Rio In case OF one OF the
towns. the name OF which Ia not given, the
parish priest and the municipal Judge and
The chief of staff went TO meet Weyler out
side the town at his camp II was be-
lieved the captain general did rot enter the
town because the other authorities did not
go to meet him. The town was found in
I hlthy condition, BuZzardo were found
around the streets and families were living
In huls in the midst of filth and misery.
Typhoid fever became epidemic to such an
extent that eighteen persons died in one
day. Captain General Wcyler imposed
hne upon the mayor for the abandonment OF
the town,
VICTORIES ron SPANISH ARMS.
Three Little Battles In Which Cubnus
Are snid to Have Been beaten.