The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-25

Tt is stated upon the authority referred
20, that the doctors In attendance upon
General Gomez recently held a consulta-
ton and diagnosed his case as being an
advanced state Of consumption, compli-
Gated with fever. 1t Is further stated that
the physicians have come TO the conclu-
sion that Gomez can only live about two
months longer.
Gomez on Thursday for n time APP
peared half inclined TO risk a decisive en-
gagement with che Spanish troops. He
was bivouacked ut the village Of Placoo,
not far from Quivican, south OF this city.
Colonel Galvis, In command OF the Span
ish troops at Qnivican, heard of his pres
ence and immediately summoned all tho
government troops available and advanced
upon him.
The rebels, contrary TO custom, awaited
the approach OF the Spaniards, and when
the latter were within range opened fro
upon them from various sheltered posi-
lions. Colonel Galvis waited Gntil the
full strength of the column was available,
and then moved upon the enemy lin n
semi-circular formation. But after half
an hours firing upon both SIDES, during
which n number were killed and wounded,
Gomez suddenly divided his forces into
w columns, and began to S%etreat. One
Of the insurgcnt columns retreated south
ward to n plantation in the Lagia district,
and the the other towards Batabano.
News received from the front yesterday
showed that Gomez apparently reunited
his forces and camped at Flor de Maya for
a short time. But he broke camp at 4
o'clock yesterday morning when informed
~ the approach OF the Spanish troops,
who had pressed onward, with but little
rest, tn %roughout the night.
Troops Tired Out.
The forced march, however, bad told
terribly on the Spanish infantry, and the
mounted insurgents OF Gomez had no diff
Gculty in getting away, The Spaniards
had also effected a junction, Colonies
Linares and Aldecoa having united their
forces as soon as the scouts brought word
that the two insurgent columns had
wheeled In toward each other. Later, the
third Spanish column, under Colonel Sal
Wis, REINFORCED tho columns under
Colonies Linares and Aldecoa, and this
strong force started in pursuit OF the in
surgents, moving in a southerly direction.
The trail Of broken-down horses left by
the insurgents is becoming more markell,
and they have also dropped behind thc.n
some of their heavy baggage. A prisoner,
severely wounded, who was captured by
the troops, reported that the horses OF the
insurgents are becoming exhausted from
long marching n that great numbers OF
them are suffering from sore backs and
sore feet. The insurgents are also said to
DO short OF ammunition and provisions
and to be living almost entirely upon
sugarcane.
A dispatch from Cienfuegos says thai
Major Alonzo, With 300 men OF the Alava
battalion, has been engaged for three
hours at La Pas, in the Cienfuegos dis
trict, with u strong force Of insurgents,
who were moving In n westerly direction,
and who are believed TO have formed part
OF the second insurgcnt army. The insur-
gents left ~ killed and 10 wounded on the
field and retired taking with them many
other wounded men. On tho side Of the
troops only n few soldiers were wounded.
Reports continue 10 be received of small
engagements with the insurgents I'm all
directions, indicating that they are no
longer united In n main body, but are
broken mp into small parties, confident OF
their ability TO evade any Spanish force
that they are not strong enough 10 oppose.
The important town Of Sabanilla. on
the railroad south Of the city Of Matan-
zas, has been attacked by insurgents. No
details are given OF the damage done to
property, nor are claims stated as 10 the
success Of the resistance, but 10 Is said
That three of the volunteer soldiers we're
killed and 10 of the civil guard were
wounded. The insurgents are said to
have lost IL killed.
The official report OF an encounter had
by General Pratt with the bands OF Nunez
Thursday says that the insurgents were
dispersed after having killed -four Of the
troops and wounded seven. The insur-
gents. on the other hand, left three dead
and carried away the rest.
Colonel Aldccoa reports on engagement
Yesterday with rho band ot Rafael &c"