The record-union., 1896-02-04

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-The following
cable dispatch sent from Havana, has
ben received in his city:
"A severe encounter has just been had
between the troops under command of
General Marin and the forces of Max
imo Gomez, the scene of the battle being
the sugar plantation of San Antonio.
near San Felipe. Colonel Calinto Ruiz.
in command of seven squadrons.
charged impetuously upon the advance
of the insurgents, driving them in con-
fusion before him, and continuing his
march.
The troops came up with the bulk Of
the enemy's forces, which were en-
camped on the a5ove-named planta-
ton. The attack of the Spanish forces
was so furious that the insurgents
broke precipitately. and the rout be.
came sauve qui peut
THE insurgents left twenty dead on
the field, eleven of whom were killed
by the bayonets. Beside these they had
many wounded, and lost many prison.
ers. The troops succeeded in capturing
large quantities of arms, ammunition
and camp equipment"
GOMEZ CROSSES THE LINE.
HAVANA, Feb. 1 Via Tampa, Fla,
Feb. 3)-Gomez has crossed the strate-
gic line between Havana and Bata-
bano twice within a week He had no
serious difficulty either time, although
the wall of men is the strongest ever
thrown across the island by Spain.
Troops have been drawn from all parts
OF the island to make it invulnerable,
and several thousand volunteers have
been added to the force of regulars
along the line.
With these preparations. and the
building of block houses of wood and
stone, the throwing up of earthworks
and the Transforming of railroad sta
tions, churches and dwellings into forts.
the daring rough riders of Gomez
pushed through the lines, leaving at
each dash a few dead and wounded
Spaniards to mark their passage
Every time the line is crossed the au-
thorities at the palace, who sift all news
published here or cabled direct, elfmi-
nate all reference to the crossing, and
state in official reports that Gomez was
driven away.
After the rebel chief had gone west
to the line an official report of an en-
counter with him near Guanajay re-
vealed his whereabouts. He was Off
cially reported to be in Pinar del Rio
Thursday, but was giving General Cam
ella serious time in the line south of
Bejucal. 1t is two days since that fight,
and no official report of the encounter
has been given out. 1t is pretty well
understood that General Canella and
$50 men would have been wiped by
Gomez and his 1000 men had not Colo
mel Galvis come to the rescue with re-
Inducements.
The hospitals are full of wounded SOL
diers, and thousands have died on the
field. despite the light losses given in the
Spanish reports. Twice each day the
Government issues reports to the local
papers and the foreign correspondents.
The press censor hands them out, and
all news published here or cabled
abroad must conform to these reports
Similar reports are cabled to the Span
ish Ministers at Washington, London
and Paris.
Martinez Campos said that these re-
ports were ludicrous. Every press
censor who has held the post has said
American has any faith in them. but,
forthsooth, the correspondents are com
PEELED to send these misleading reports
or give up the use of the cables.
General Marin is now at Quivocan.
He missed his great opportunity of
penning both Gomez and Maceo in
Pinar del Rio Province by starting one
day late Now he has Gomez on one
ell ,f 1,a -,
and will try to prevent their meeting
While practically all the Spanish forces
which can be spared from guarding the
cities are concentrated about the
strategic line in an effort to main
tain its impregnability, the vari-
Gus bands of insurgents roam at will in
all the provinces of Cuba.
In Santiago there are frequent en-
counters, and all grinding of cane has
been stopped. The same is true Of Santa
Clara and Puerto Principe. In Matan-
zas the whole interior of the province |
is alive with rebels. La Crete has unit |
ed a dozen small bands, and has nearly |
1900 men under him. They have had |
daily encounters with Spanish troops |
and continue gaining in strength.
In Pinar del Rio Maceo is returning |
to the Havana border, after a tri- |
umphaI campaign, and had turned |
away thousands who wished to join his |
army. The few Spanish troops in the |
province had succeeded in holding the |
Capitol City and Coloma, it's port, but I
every other town has been entered and |
occupied by Maceo in Havana PROV
ince
Spain has over $4,000 troops and holds |
one railroad line-the one now convert /
ed into the trocha due south from this |
city. Every town on it is occupied by a |
strong force, and every train has. sew
eral carloads of troops. The Western |
Railway is partially abandoned beyond |
Salud. which is fifteen miles from here. |
The Guanajay road is abandoned be- |
yond San Antonio. about seventeen /
miles from here, and the Matanzas road |
operates only about eighteen miles to |
the eastward. The road from San Felipe |
east OF Guines and Union has been in. |
the hands Of the enemy for days. The |
last attempt to run a train resulted in
the capture of the engineer and fire.
man of the exploring engine.
J. FRANK CLARKE.
AMERICANS ALARMED.
HAVANA, Feb. / (via> Tampa. Fla.
Feb. 3.)-American residents here are