Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-23
FROM GEN. WEYLER.
Contradiction Of Reports About Excel
tons Under bis Regime.
BUrCHERY or a CUBAN
II Takes Place in the Streets
Of Habana, and IL Done b.
. Spanish Soldier with His
Bayonet.

WASHINGTON. d. c., February z
The following dispatch has been received
at the Spanish Legation:
"Eabana, February 1.-Please emphati-
cally and absolutely deny the reports of
correspondents Of executions since my ar
rival. Since have been on the island not
a single execution has been made.
"CAPTAIN-GENE wEYLER."
General Aldecoa defeated yesterday
forces of Gomezs command. Some time
later he met others Of Maceo's command
on the Morales plantation. inficting upon
them severe losses. Two troops Of the
cavalry brigade of General Aldecoa, COM
manded by Colonel Maroto. obliged the
enemy to countermarch. under the fire
of the infantry. killing eight, among them
one officer.
Colonel Hernandez defeated the enemy
In Tienda Melena. near Jaruco. and over
powered, near the town OF La Catalina.
the forces Of Maceo. which were en-
trenched In good positions. capturing two
Of the positions at the point Of the bayo-
net, and dislodging them from the others
successfully. The enemy made the last
stand In the aforementioned town, and
began to fire 1t, but were unable to
succeed by the quick movement Of the
troops. and only succeeded In burning a
few houses in the suburbs.
I'm the sancu spiritus District Lieu
tenant Colonel Armillam defeated five
{paa In different IN
leader Serafin Sanchez, and later defeated
the rebel leader. Tello.
(SigneD "WEYLER."
In regard to these dispatches the fol-
lowing explanation is given: ITO under
stand the operations actually conducted
against the main bodies OF Maxine Gomez
and Antonio Maceo, 1t is we'll to bear In
mind that the localities named In General
Weyler's dispatch are situated in a ter
ritory I'm the shape of an irregular dia-
mond, one of the sides being between
Jaruco and Empalme, on the railroad
from Habana to MatanZas by Aguacate;
the second between Empalme and Guines,
on the railroad from the latter to EN-
paine. through La Catalina and Savanna
Caminos, on the main road from Habana
to Guines. and the fourth across the
country from Cautro Camlnos, through
Tapaste, to Jaruco. All of this territory
Is in Habana province. The main body
OF the insurgents. when the telegram was
sent, had still been unable to cross to
Matanzas."
BUTCHERY IN HABANA.
KEY WEST. FLA, February o.
Among the passengers by the steamer
Whitney this morning were two Ameri-
can citizens who have resided in Cuba
10 IT, -
ISOLATED Press correspondent ope stated
that yesterday morning shortly after 10
o'clock. on one OF the principal streets
lin the city OF Habana. most horrible
murder was committed by a Spanish
soldier. The gentleman was an eye
witness to the affair.
The murdered man was Cuban who
had invited the soldier to take breakfast
with him. During the meal the soldier
cried Long live SPAIN" The Cuban fail
Ing to respond, he was asked outside by
his guest, and Immediately on gaining the
sidewalk was stabbed several times by
the soldier with his bayonet, who ran
his weapon completely through the
Cuban's body. The soldier then split the
Cuban's head open with a machete The
street was crowded with pedestrians al
the time
These gentlemen state that all reports
sent out OF Habana heralding Spanish VIC
tories are utterly unreliable, as
the Spanish troops seldom ever gain a
battle. and then only with small rowing
bands OF insurgents. poorly armed. They
cite the report OF the battle between
Lacret and the troops, in which it was
stated that Lacret was defeated with
heavy loss. The facts are that Lacret
and his forces defeated the troops.
causing them 10 rush pell-mell from the
field. The insurgents pursued them n
short distance. My informant visited the
field shortly after the battle, and saw
three dead insurgents and fourteen dead
soldiers
They report that the insurgents under
Gomez Maceo, and Lacret are well armed
and equipped. and are far superior to the
Spanish soldiers as fighters.