Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-05
ANTONIO MACEO'S BOLD BOAST
Says He Will Break Through the Spanish
Line at ANY Cost.
MARIN DETERMINED TO PREVENT THIS
Concentrating His Efforts to Prevent
the Boastcr from Joining Gomez
and to Force the Latter Into
Decisive Engagement.

(copyrlgbt, 1896. by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA Cuba, Feb. 4.-(New York World
Cablegram-specal Telegram.)-'T am de-
termined to break through the trocha, IL
It costs me a thousand men,"
This statement is credited to the rebel
chief, Antonio Maceo, and is said to have
been uttered by him in conversation with
an inhabtant Of Baja, small town in
Pinar del Rio province, while he was passing
through 1t with his command on his way
west, probably with the view of Joining Max
imo Gomez, who is again on the western
eide Of the "trocha."
That the Spanish generals are determined
that Maceo shall not make good his boast
seems thoroughly demonstrated. General
Marin is still in the field and government
matters at the capital are left in charge OF
Acting Governor General Suarez Valdez.
General Marin is personally directing the
movements Of the special columns each
commanded by a general which are concen-
trating their efforts upon Gomez In order to
draw him into fight
It Is officially reported that the rebel band
under Nunez attacked detachment of Span
ish soldiers Of the San Quintn battalion,
who were repairing the railroad between Es-
peranza and Jicotea in Santa Clara province,
and that Lieutenant Ensebe Borges, the conf
mander of the detachment one sergeant and
fourteen soldiers were killed and five
wounded. This engagement took place on
the End Inst
skirmlsh, in which one rebel was killed,
was reported from Itabo. Matanzas province.
1t is also reported that Colonel Tejada,
with 500 Spanish troops, encountered the
rebel forces under Jose Maceo Bonne ana
Borrero near Ojocinado, on the Canto river,
and that the Spanish lost one officer and three
men killed. the rebels leaving seven men
dead on the field. 1t is said that the rebels
were acting as an escort to the cuban men,
bers Of the government.
At Los Guines a strong rebel band attacked
q detachment of Havana volunteers, who
were stationed there Five volunteers were
killed with rachetes and one was wounded.
LUQUE's OVERWHELMING MoDESTY.
General Luque, in command of the Spanish
forces in Pinar del Rio province, today tele-
graphed official report to the commander
in-chief, giving the details Of an encounter
with Maceos forces in Paso Real on Sunday
last, in which he says the rebels lost sixty
two killed and 200 wounded. Luque reports
that he was himself shot through his right
leg, but was able to keep his horse through
out the engagement, and he concludes his Of
fetal report with an application FOR the fourth
class cross decoration of San Fernando for
himself.
Major Louis Lopes Myares of the civil
guard and Major Jose Ruiz Perez were
wounded the latter dying the same night
One captain and one lieutenant, not named
soldiers one of whom died. No others are
mentioned as dead In the report. General
Luque says that he left Pinar del Rio early
on the morning Of Sunday, on learning that
Maceo Zayas and Chena, all rebel leaders
were at Paso Real. After twenty-seven
hours Of almost continuous marching he ar
rived there at p. m. on Monday. The
rebels made a strong defense. firing from
the tops OF houses and along the fences
around the city. This Spanish vanguard, un-
lar rnln
guard, center and rear guard OF the rebels
in the central streets of the town, driving
them with continuous volleys and fierce
cavalry charges into the outskirts of the
town. Beyond In an open space, and 300
yards further is heavy palm grove. There
the rebels took refuge. Up to this point
Luque's forces had killed ten insurgents.
AS Colonel Fernandez was pursuing them
to the city he encountered 10000 insursent
cavalry ready to attack. Lines of battle were
formed two kilometres In length. There were
two companies of the Savery and one com
pany of the Galica battalion. under Colonel
Fernandez, and three companies OF the st.
Quntin battalion, commanded by their own
colonel besides three companies under
Colonel Francis d Center, with one piece OF
artillery commanded by Colonel Leron, IN
convenient place.
In the above order the Spanish forces ad-
vanced from one position to another nr'ng
yolleys They were met by the enemy three
yards from the palm trees. Their cavalry
charged. coming as far as the bayonet points
OF the Spanish soldiers.
The Spanish infantry repelled the charge,
being formed in a straight line, with sec
ond line of squares. The rebels then re-
treated in the direction OF Palacios.
General Luque reports that on recon-
noitering the battle field he found sixty dead
rebels and over 100 horses and large guam
tity Of camp supplies. He says that not one
soldier was wounded by machete, although
the Spanish bayonets killed many rebels.
ROEDER