Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-27
KILLED A LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
Cubans InHict One Heavy Loss on the
Spanish Army.

spanish Army.
HAVANA, Feb 26-The steamship Buenos
Ayres arrived here today from Spain, bring
ing as reinforcements the Wadras and Reina
battalons of infantry. The troops were ac-
corded q most enthusiastic reception and
after landing were reviewed by Captain Gen
eral Weyler from the balcony of the palace.
General Munzo has been operating in the
neighborhood of Zarzal and Manzanillo,
going afterward in the direction of LaSal,
where the insurgents maintain depots OF
subsistence. Two columns of troops met
the main force OF the insurgents at Gal
lego where they occupied strong positions.
1t took some hours fighting to dlsodge and
disperse them. During the fight the valor-
Gus Lieutenant Colonel Lolo Benitz was
! killed, and fifteen soldiers were wounded.
Colonel Bentz was buried with solemn serv-
| ices at Vequita. His death has occasoned
Captain General Weyler sentiment Of pro-
| found grief
CAPTURED SOME FoRAGERs.
| Twenty guerillas whle.on foraging ex-
| petition, were overwhelmed by a numerous
body of insurgents. Lieutenant Pine, Ser
| geant Lazaro and four guerillas were killed
| and two disappeared. captain brought up
| another body of guerillas to assist and re-
| covered part of the men lost. The insur-
gents were pursued and numerous loss in
| hcted upon them
General Weyer has issued an order for
bidding small foraging parties. The bat
|
brigade and the squadron of Alnanoa fought
| the insurgents under Maceo, at Menical
! Mstanzas, on February "a During the ad-
vance the enemy's wounded and arms were
| taken.
Major Gomez and Lieutenant Daspujols
have captured the insurgent leader, Jose
| Betancourt, at San Jose. He is charged
with several acts of ncendarisn at
| Grbrele and will have summary court
! martial.
Colonel Fort fred upon by the in
! surgcnts in the neghborhood of Naseareno.
The insurgents were tho bands under Macco
and Castillo. The troops have engaged the
! insurgents at the farm of Coppinger. The
insurgents fed toward the plantations of
Santa Amelia and Portugaete in Havana.
They were overtaken by the squadron of
Pzzaro. but it was by that time nghtfall.
The insurgents left several killed. The
troops had one wounded.
Colonel Vicuna, on February "a. fought
$50 insurgents at the plantation of Europa,
in Matanzas being the cavalry and rear
guard of Gomez. and at the plantation Of
Socorro were 500 men under Gomez. On the
farm of Empresa, near the plantation of San
Joaquin Banez. the insurgents dis
perHed leaving two killed and six wounded.
The authorities have information that
Gomez carried away numerous wounded.
They have also learned that the leaders,
Moreno, Pancho and Varona, have Joined
forces with Gomez.
DRIVEN FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
Colonel Molina has received news that a
| large body Of insurgents has encamped on the
farm of Condos, near Llmonar, south of the
city of Matanzas.
Rapid firing has been heard at the
plantation of Ynaco A resident of the
neighborhood brings news that Maceo de-
manied the surrender of the forts. A col
umn was at once dispatched and rapidly over
took the insurgents, opening fire they
| advanced up the heights. Volleys were DIS
charged they advanced and the insur-
| gents finally retreated, leaving eight killed
| and carrying away many wounded. The
troops lost none, owing to the good position
they held. The paper demanding the sur
render of the fort was signed by Maceo.
General Prat set out on board a train to
come up with Maceo, the latter going toward
| Cardenas. but Maceo crossed the railroad
| and destroyed a bridge, thus prevent ng the
| advance of the train with the troops The
| infantry left the cars and took up the pur-
| suit on foot Meantime the cavalry was
| disembarked and sent after the insurgents
| General Prat's vanguard soon opened fire
upon the retreating insurgents. The pur
| suit was kept up all day of the oath.
The troops finally came up with the insur-
| gents to the number of 1000 at Vial!epala,
| under Maceo's command. The troops were
| here divided into three columns, the column
| under General Prat taking the advance. They
| charged with the bayonet and dslodged the
insurgents from the plantations of Perla,
| Damente and Julia. The latter was burned.
!
treated by the high ground to Guamacaro in
a demoralized condition. The troops lost a
| chaplain and Sergeant Motillin and sixteen
| soldiers wounded. The insurgents left forty
| two dead among them Alfonso Panfo and
| Pablo Vanigeras, as well as 1fty-two guns
and horses. General Prats vanguard pur-
| sued and coming up with the rear guard
| of the insurgents, killed three.
| RAILROAD TRAFFIC BLOCKED.
| Colonel Hernandez set out for Aguacale
| in train with an exploring engine ahead
| They found that near L!monar the rails had
| been torn up and two wooden culverts
| burned. The insurgents made an attack
| but were repulsed leaving three rifles be-
| hind them. The column then continued its
| march OH foot until 1t came up with the
other train. The insurgents have set fire
| to the village of Alquzar and were repulsed.
| They burned six houses.
General Spando and Aroa in combination
| are recovering the first and second military
lines or troches along the borders bstween
| Matanzas and Santa Clara to cut off the re-
| treat of the insurgents.
After the troops which have just arrived
| from Spain passed in review before Captain
| General Weyler in the balcony of his pal
| ace today, vivas were given for Spanish Cuba
and for the king and queen, the crowds
cheering enthusiastically. The president of
| the commission, Elvir Laverz Hernando. and
many women, among them some Americans,
| English and German, paid visit to General
Weyler The foreign women gave their
acclamations for Spain. Cuba and the army
| in the streets before General Weyer's bal
cony and threw flowers and doves upon the
| soldiers.
The insurgents have destroyed the aque-
duct of Sagua and have burned the station a.
Raro MatanZas.
The battalion Of Tarifa and the battalcns
! of Waldreas and Rena, which arrived today,
| have left for Pinar del Rio. The steamer
| Mote Video has arrived, having on board the
| battalions OF Luzon and Muscia. They will
leave for the field today. The captured in
surgent. FL Inglesto, is charged with steal
ing watches and having murdered the daugh-
ter of the manager Of sugar estate, besides
the charge of being in rebellion.
Rumors are persistently circulated in this
city 10 the effect that the insurgent masses
intend to desert their chiefs and surrender
to the Spanish authorities, owing to the
energetic campaign being conducted against
them under the direction of Captain General
Weyler.
Egyptian Question tn the Front.
PARIS, Feb. 26-The Figaro dwells today
upon the reports in circulation concerning
the willingness Of Great Britain to evacuate
Egypt and distinctly asserts that in spite
Of statements to the contrary from London
the European governments are discussing the
Egyptian question from its various aspects
whether Great Britain has engaged 10 eyacu-