The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-09
An UnprejudiCed Account of Three Engage
HentS, BY United Press Correspondent,
IN WHICH SPANIARDS SUFFER DEFEAT.
General Canclln CIeverly Ambushed
by Band of Insurgents and Put
60 ROut-AnOthcr Fight on tie
Strategic Linc-A Train of Aniriu-
milton and Two Guns Captured.

Havana, Feb. 5, via Jacksonville. Fla.
Feb. S.-General Marin. who left Havana
a week ago to take personal command of
the operations in the field and who eX-
pected to strike a decisive blow against
the enemies of Spain. has not yet sue
ceeded in forcing Il battle. When the
Captain General. who has only a brief
interval of power before the arrival of
General Weyler, started out. Gomez was
awaiting the return of Macco from Ioinar
del Rio Providence, and the two rebel
leaders were separated. IT was General
Marins plan to place a strong force be-
tween the two and prevent their union,
He has not succeeded in accomplishing
this, for both leaders are now in Ha-
vana Province and are acting in con-
junction with each other.
During the week there have been sew
eral encounters in Havana Province be-
tween Spanish columns. acting under
General AIarins orders. and bodies of
rebels, directed by Gomez. but only one
OF those was precipiated by the Span
fards. The others We're planned by the
Insurgents. In none of them has the
result been to the advantage of the
Spanish side. The first fight since Gen
eral Marin took the field occurred on
the day he went out. General Canella
was ordered west from Guanajaya town,
near the border line between the Pro
VinceS OF Havana and Pirar del Rio.
He was to head off Macco, who was
moving east The Insurgents set Il trap
for General Canella's force on the Sal
ndriges stock farm, few miles south
west of Artemisia. The road which
Canella was on passes through the eS-
tate and is thanked on one side by fields
divided into squares by stone fences.
lust west of these fences is Il small hill.
Pcrcie Diaz. one of the best lighting
men In Comez's following. had 400 rebel
infantry lying fiat on the ground be-
hind fences to the left of the ron d.
rnl l,n1 lt.N y-1 irp i'm
hiding behind the hill further down the
road
The rebels waited about two hours
and then the Spanish force advanced
until the head of the column mad pass
ed the store wall. The rebels then
opened with n voley fire from behind
the wall. Many Of the Spaniards broke
and ran across the fields to the right
of the road, while others held their p-si-
ton in the road and returned the rebel
fire. DiaZ sent half his mounted force
down the road. giving the men in the
road machctc charge. and with other
mounted men rode across the fields and
headed off the Spaniards, who Giad
broken ranks. He then was in n posi-
tion to give the troops in the road a
cross fire, and this wrought havoc
among them. General Canella manag-
ed To pull his shattered forces togeth-
er and retreatcd toward Guanajay The
fight was of brief durp,ioM. but il was
accurate account of the Spanish losses
can be obtained, and probably none will
ever be known. General Canclla threw
out picket lines extending over Il mile
and allowed 10 one TO enter wihil. he
buried his dead. Their number is said
to be near 200. General Canella ilimself
is SAID to have been wounded The in
slTSent loss was very small. Although
inns night occurred on January 30th the
government has issued no official re-
port OF it-a very unusual thing.
On Saturday. February 1st, the second
important fight occurred. |, was an
the strategic line itself and showed
how little regard the insurgents have
Tor the so-callcd wall OF men between
Havana and Batabano 1t was the at
tack upon the train south OF san Fe-
lipe. near Poso Redondo. F3ur hun
drcd insurgents did the work.
Apparently they had information
about the train which was a specja1
carrying munitions of war. TO the troops
al BatabanoS for shipment to points
along the south coast. Two rapid fire
guns were on the train when 1t left Ha-
Vana, but were side-tracked at San Fe-
lipe, according to the Government re-
port.
Cubans who claim to be well I'm nformcd
say that this Is not so and that tho
guns fell into the hands of the Ipsur-
gents. together with 1000 Mausers and
v.
capture OF the train as one of the prcnt
est feats of their campaign. They were
badly I'm need of ammunition, as the
persistent campaign which General
Marin is conducting had nearly ex-
hausted their supplies. The third fight
OF the week was at the Luz estate. near
Alquizar. Gomez after remaining oniy
two days at the strong line. had crossed
south of San Felipe and going to the
east of Gueida Lemclcncs. closely fol-
lowed by Government troops. encampcd
on the Luz plantation. Here Col Ruiz.
with several squadrons of Spanish cav
airy, largely made up of infnntrymen
recently mounted upon horses which the
government had seized. came upon the
rcDel outposts. II was on Saturday last.
Col. Ruiz waited for several large de-
tachments of infantry to come up and
then attacked the rebel lines. From the
government report it appears that he
cut through the first line and reached
the main body of rebels. He reports
Killing twenty. all of whom. he says,
were killed with the sword of AIachete
a Cuban planter, who lives near the
Luz estate. says that Col Ruiz did at
tack and cut into the first line. but
that the main body fell upon him and
instead of there being twenty dead rebels