Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-15
SPANARDS BADLY LICKED
But, Like the Advertiser, They,
Cry Fraud. g. 2 d
THE REBELS HAD MORE MEN
They Would Have Defeated the Enemy Had
Echevarra Arrived in Time So
They Say.
THE REBELS HAD MORE MEr

Havana, April 14.--News was receiver
here of battle near Lechuza between a
battalion under command of Colonel De-
hos and the insurgents under Maceo.
Colonel Debos reports that his battalion,
in combination with other bodies of
Spanish troops left Mariel, in the prov
ince of Pinar del Rio, for the purpose
of giving the enemy battle. They met
an advance guard of the insurgents, con-
shutting a force of 200 cavalry, who
opened fire upon the government col
umn. The SpaniardS continued their
march toward LechuZa, although oppos-
ed at every step and every elevation be-
ing Occupied by them at the cost of fight.
Upon arriving in the vicinity of Lechu-
"a they found the insurgents gathered in
a strong force and the enemy made an
attempt to surround the Spanish column.
The Spanish troops fought with great
desperation against heavy odds, but
were defeated, with losses of many kill
ed and wounded. Divining the intention
of the enemy to encircle his column, Cola
onel Debos ordered a retreat. In the re-
treat Captain Tort deserves great praise
for maintaining the formation of the
rear guard, though attacked by greatly
superior force of the enemy's infantry.
The Spanish column retired to the San
claudio estate, on the north coast, where
the troops fortified themselves, awaiting
the arrival of other government columns.
General Inclan arrived with his column
very opportunely, and the troops under
Colonel Debos were also protected by the
gunboat Alerta, which kept the enemy
at bay Colonel Debos estimates that
the force of insurgents who charged up
on his command numbered 1000 men.
The official report says the losses Oh the
enemy must have been very great, as
many men were seen to fall before the
Of a trOnnG n
ment column, according to official re-
ports, lost four men killed and one officer
and thirteen soldiers wounded, but the
fact is that the government losses were
very heavy, details being withheld by
the authorities. A civilian, who Volun-
teered to carry the news of the pred1ca-
ment of the government column to the
nearest port, ran the gauntlet of the rebel
fire and was compelled to jump into the
water twice to save himself. General In
clan reports that upon his arrival at Col
onel Debos' camp he compelled Maceo
to retreat from Sanclaudio.
Further details of the engagement that
have been made public show that the
Spanish column occupied two hours, In
advancing from Mariel to the point
where 1t met the main body of the in
surgents. The retreat to the Sanclaudfo
estate, which is some distance west of
Mariel, occupied seven hours. On their
retreat the troops were exposed to con-
slant fire from the rebels in their rear,
and were frequently compelled to form
squares to resist the charges of the enc
my 1t was unnecessary to use cannon
to open a way for the retreat of the van
guard. The wounded Spaniards were
embarked upon schooner under the fire
of the Alerta. =
According to the military authorities
here Col. Sanchez, Echevarria, who had
received order ito act In common with
General Debos and General Inclan, failed
to arrive in time to assist the other
bodies of Spanish troops. The author
tiles say that had he arrived in time MAJ
ceo's forces would have been badly whip
ped. Colonel Echevarria has been re-
lieved of his command and ordered to ap-
pear for trial before court martial.