The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-22
FIRED ON TWO TRoCHA FORTS.
CUBANs REFUSED AT MARTIN
MESA AND AIARIEL.

CAPTAIN General WeyIer Denies That
Outrages Have Been Committed by
the Spanish Troops or That Peace
able Cubans Are Being MOIested.
Bands Belonging to MaceO's Com
mand Reported DisIOdged and on
the Run.
Havana. April M.-Official reports giving
further details of the engagement be-
tween the insurgents and Gen. Melquizo's
command, which was reported yesterday.
have been received. According to these
reports the Spanish officers have been in
formed by peasants that the rebels buried
eight more dead and carried away with
them seventeen wounded men.
Gen. Arolas reports that bands Of rebels
fred upon the forts at Martin Mesa and
at Mariel, which form the northern part
of the trocha, or military line across the
island. The attacks were Unsuccessful and
the rebels were repulsed. In their retreat
the insurgents set fire to and destroyed
few huts a short distance from both forts.
Capt Gen. Weyler personally requested
the American correspondents in Havana
to transmit the following to the journals
which they represent: Among the docu-
ments found upon the body of the rebel
leader
killed in the engagement at Jesus Maria,
reported yesterday, was a communication
from La Cret ordering him to hang the
owners of sugar estates who were proceed
ing with grinding operations and all ma
rauders as soon as their Identity is estaD-
'sThe correspondent of the New York
Herald, who is following the rebel party
under La Cret, will doubtless continue to
circulate reports of the kind treatment ac-
corded by the rebels to n-combatants,
which is declared 10 pc slInllar 70 an an
appearances TO the treatment by other
leaders and in contrast to the proceedings
said TO be employed by the Spanish col
Gen. Weyler makes an emphatic denial
of the false reports printed in American
newspapers. He declares that no OUT
RACES have been or are being committed
by Spanish troops, and that the rights or
pacificos are respected. None OF this class
Of persons ne says, mas 6een haa0 0lesiIeI ivs5
only after the trial and conviction by
court martial of rebels who have been
captured with arms in their possession,
and those who are proven incendiaries
Madrid dispatches state that the min
lister of the colonies is preparing TO put
into effect in Cuba and Porto Rico the re-
forms which were promulgated March 10,
1895. These reforms were passed Dy the
Cortez in January, 1898; The eo Tepelilon ,,ia1sa
not acceptable to the Cubans then and
will not be now. They are home rule in
name only, all the main revenues and the
power of veto being held by Spain. They
cannot be put into effect without a gen
eral election, which cannot be held under
the conditions which exist in Cuba al
present.
Col. villa reports having had several en-
gagements with bands belonging to Ma
ceo's command near Segua Cabanas. The
insurgents were dislodged from the Tapia
Hills after a heavy fire of cannon and
musketry. Taey fled in different direc-
tions, leaving behind them p killed and
wounded. The troops are still in pursuit
of the rebels Col. Villa also reports that
while a detachment of his command was
leaving Cabanas for the Bramales estate
the center and rear guards were attacked
by rebels who were repulsed. The troops
Followed them to Vigia and San Claudio.
Numerous rebel groups who were in am
bush were dispersed after three hours
fighting. The rebel loss Is supposed to
have been large. No mention is made OF
any Spanish loss in either fight For this
reason, Cubans here look upon the re-
ports with suspicion, believing them to
be, like many other official announce
ments, without any basis in truth.
Forty guerrillas of San Antoniop de
Los Banos, in an engagement with local
rebel band, captured four residents OF
that town, who had disappeared in the
confusion of the fight with the inten-
tion of joining the rebels. There were kill
ed by the guerillas.