The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-24

prise, C0me 10 u mutt, nuElly CGluEu0V
the fire Of the Spaniards, then wav-
cred, broke and fed. h.
The insurgents IRE said to have been
commanded by Gen. Gomez In person,
while Gen. I4inares was In personal
command of the Spanish troops. The
rout Of the insurgents is reported to
have been complete, and their loss Is
said to have been heavy.
Close Call for Comes.
Gen. Linares is reported to have.
started In pursuit of Gen. Gomez with
all the Spanish troops available In the
neighb0rhood Of Bejucal; but as the
insurgents are mainly mounted men
and the Spaniards in that vicinity are
nearly all infantry and artillery, there
Is not much prospect Of coming up
with the fleeing enemy.
It became known today that Gen.
Gomez had narrow escape from be-
ing captured shortly after ne executed
his cOunterMarch in Pinar del Rio, and
made once more for the borders of the
province Of Havana. He was in the
neighbolhood Of Las Mangas, south
west Of Artemisia, at the head Of q
small band Of insurgent cavalrymen,
when he suddenly came upon Span
ish bivouac. Before the insurgent
conmander-in-chief had recovered
from his surprise, he was almost sur
rounded by Spanish infantrymen with
fixed bayonets, who pressed forward
upon the general and his companions,
hoping to effect their capture. But
Gomez was equal to the emergency.
Squirting his horse forward, he emp
tied his revolver right and left, and
then drawing his machete, he literally
cut his way through and out Of the
ring of Spanish soldiers, killing five
men with his own hand, and getting
away with his escort without receiv-
ing scratch.
Insurgents ON the Run.
Still another report of an encounter
with Gen. Gomez ut q point near Sc
barucal has been received. This time
1t was Gen. Pratt who reports that he
has had an engagement with Gen.
Gomez, and that he has also put t::s
Cuban forces to fight. No details of
the engagement are given, nor is any
thing stated as to the amount Of the
losses inflicted, but 1t is said Gomez Is
proceeding westward, and that he goes
to relieve Maceo and to reinforce him.
The Spanish authorities claim that
they have pressed Gomez hard for
two days, and that they have succeed.
ed in doing what they sought, in driv-
ing him back into the heart Of Pinar
del Rio province. They say that the
combined forces of Gomez and Maceo
are now in seriously compromised
position, and they do not fail to dis
seminatc the impression Of their conf
dence that they have ut last got the in
surgents at disadvantage aud will be
able to prevent. their escape from Pr
mar del Rio.
Havana, Jan. 1S-There was consid-
cradle excited comment yesterday and
to-day over the wording Of IN editorial
article which appeared in the Dianioi-
della Mariane yesterday containing
some sensational statements,and head
ed, IAN Unbearable Situation" The;
article declared frankly and in def
ance of the press censor that the time
has come for the government officials
to admit that the situation is really Sc
rious, and entreated the government to
change it's present policy, and, IL nee
essary, to put more men in the field,
claiming that the revolution Is ami
hilating the commerce and Industries
Of the island. On
With the exception OF a lively skirm-
ish between the forces under Gen.
Luque and the insurgents in Pinar del
Rio, there is no notable engagement
reported to-day. Gen. Gomez is said to
have camped last night at q point near
Guanajay, between Guayabel and San
Dimas, and seems to have evaded his
pursuers, as nothing is said Of any fur
tller losses inflicted upon him.
Gen. Luque received intelligence of
their movements and set out to inter.
cept the insurgent march. He marched
toward Angoostura, south of San Girls
tobal, near which point he met the in
surgent vanguard, which had already
left the night camp. The main force
Of the insurgents, however, had not
yet come up. Twelve scouts were can.
-tured and Gen. Luque then proceeded
forward. He reports that he surprised
the enemy in their camp. The insur-
gents, however, seen to have made a
plucky stand, and the battle ragged very
fercely for two hours. The troops
fought In high spirits, says the report,
and at the close Of that time their
heavy artillery fire was seconded by
U1yOAVe SudE8e, UelOTe Wulc0 the IN.
surgents broke and ''retreated in all
directions" as the official report AYERS.
Nothing has occurred to improve the
situation Of affairs In the city itself.
and the supply Of the ordinary necessi.
ties Of life is becoming precarious and
exceedingly high priced, and the out.
look for the future offers little en-.
couragement.
War ON Canpos.
New York, Jan. 18.-A special from
Key West, Fla, ssys: According to
private advices from Havana, there
was great excitement on the exchange
there yesterday "wednesday, where
much seditious talk was INDUCED ia.
Several colonies and officers Of volun.
teers who were present made speeches
against Capt. Gen. Campos, and gen.
eral protest was expressed against his
military inactivity and over-humane
policy.
One major Of volunteers proposed
that Campos be either forced to resign
or be lynched, and the speech was met
by cheers from. various Spanish mer.
chants Of well-known principles.
The majority Of the Spanish repre-.
Hent0fivpa signed a nofiffnn Il, oIncn