The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-26
GREAT VICTORY FOR CUBA.
GOMEZ WINS ANOTHER BATTLE ON
THE JUAN CRIoLLo ESTATE.
The Fortunes OF the Day wavered Tor n Time,
and Theu Comes. In n superior Position.
Played Havoc In the Enemy'- Ranks ana
Thcy Yed-eood work or the Dynamite Gun.

HAVANA rtD. <Os- tbthtc " Juhn tTIOllO,
near Arroyo Blanco, In tho province Of Santa
Clara and a few miles west Of the Jucaro-Moron
trocha, is becoming famous In the history OF the
Cuban revolution. Besides the great victory
Gen. Gomez won there on Feb. /, over Col.
Arizona. already reported in II SUN, the Cuban
General has just obtained In the same place
the most important success for the Cuban arms
since tho revolution began. The fact that the
Spaniards, after their former unhappy expert
cncc at Juan Criollo. should again sustain a ter
riblo defeat In the same place, permitting Gomez
once moro to take advantage Of the strategic
positions afforded by those two hills and the
plain, is inexplicable.
This latest battle was very holly contested
and the battlefield extended to another estate
called La Reforma. adjoining Juan Criollo on
the west. The battle was fought six days ago,
and the utmost efforts OF the Spanish authorities
In Havana have been eNertod to suppress all
news OF the engagement, but now that private
reports have reached this city, giving full do
tails OF the Spanish defeat, tho usual Official re.
port has been published claiming a victory.
From the very text Of the official report It Is
easy to see what a dishcartening effect the news
has had upon the authorities. They confess that
Gems. Gasco, Segura, and Isuis. each at the head
OF a column, had to join their forces for united
action against Gomez, and thoy assert that the
oui VI p uiCkOd NlNtoIy II thhl UNIV 10
in a difficult position, being unable either to
force tho trocha to tho east or invade the prov
ince OF Matanzas to the west.
A long cable despatch from the Marquis OF
Ahumada TO the Duke OF Tetuan and Gen. Az
carraga, is said TO have described the situation
as II actually exists. The Duke answered i'm.
modiately, asking for details and a few hours
later the well.known trick OF turning defeats
into victories was played In the form OF en-
thusiastic congratulations from the Government
to Gems. Gasco. Segura, and Ruiz, and, In gen
eral. to the army.
The facts. derived from the best and most re-
liable sources. are as follows:
Gen. Gasco at the head OF I 800 men met Gen.
Gomez about ! o'clock In tho afternoon on the
estate OF Juan Criollo. Gomez was marching to
the west with 5000 men. The fear inspired by
Gomcz's name among the Spaniards and his
numerical advantage caused Gen. Gasco to give
orders TO retire. while his rear guard was
instructed to keep up n show OF fight
! ing to prevent the Cubans from too rapidly
pursuing. But Gomez spoiled this little plan by
ordering his cavalry to advance rapidly on the
fianks OF the Spanish column. and involve Gasco
in a simultaneous attack on both tanks. As
soon as this movement was observed by Gasco.
he ordered his column to form n square and
stand with fixed bayonets against the Cuban
cavalry.
Gen. Gasco confessed later. and II ia said he
has included the fact in his official report TO
Gen. weylcr. still unpublished here. that at that
moment he felt az though he was lost. II was
! the battle OF Las Christmas ana Palo Seco over
again. These engagements were fought during
the last war. and Gen. Comes, By a similar dis
Pos.iohh no OF hts GSva.ry caught the sp min DO
Corners cavalry and infantry then began to
nre on the compact body presented by the Span.
lines OF cavalry to the right and left. and in the
centre, face to face with the spaniards. was the
Cuban infantry. Thu advantage OF the Cubans
was tremendous. as they presented less mass to
the volleys OF the Spaniards. and as soon as the
ihemselyes also in guerrilla order. The Cuban
cavalry attacked them, obliging them to take
their former position.
The fight had been In progress two hours, and
Gasco had already lost more than 100 men
killed, when Gen. Segurn appeared with a col
umn OF 2 200 men from the direction OF the es-
tate Ia Reforna. Fortunately for Gomez. the
Spanish endorsements came from the west,
s snG n Sse ipG himself sHG caught sSs' of bel I IWsen iSo hS Srs mouid
Segura. advanced resolutely against the right
side OF tho Cuban cavalry, ,%obliRing Gomez to
lacking Gasco. The Cuban cavalry then formed
in one body TO the left and the infantry faced
All this was in the main plain, on the estate OF
Juan Criollo, and The odds appeared then 10 be
sss,D' ms GO% sSsln shG bad bod G Ss, m the h SS1tlS S, with
$500 men, OF whom Scgura's column was com
posed of fresh soldiers Just entering the field,
But unexpectedly for the SpaniaIds. the Cuban
artillery, which Gomez had not yet called into
action, began 70 fire from the higher OF the two
gun, which in the earlier battle OF Juan
Criollo. was not very effective, now did splendid
Three shells. Exploding in the ranks Of sosura.
were enough to throw the Spani3rds into Confu:
sion. blowing, up, as they did. n whole guerrilla Of
e 9ilia %en Of the Spanish forces AA''ins from Las
Gasco was then on La Reforma estate, having
sesura and Gomez to retire TO that place, Then
Scgura's force also retired to the same place Sc
f Ssrs,s Of f1 scssTa we're Ss SS also defc SSespT Ga s@o' se ens
%b %oaicS or T 20 asS ~S While ISt both n iSs spanish a1% ' col.
lorna estate 10 get the better OF Gomez. Gen. Rnis
came to their aid with l 200 men more, lie had
started from Jatibuonico by order OF Weyler to
reinforce the Jucaro-M Moron trocha, and was on
his way when he met the men who had been
sent BY Gasco to demand help. AT the approach
of these further Spanish achievements Gomez
retired to the Juan Criollo estate.
Gen; Gasco, as his troops were exhausted, con
tinued 10 march west, and did not take further
part in the battle. Ruis and Segura united their
forces. and with, Scgura in command they fol-
Cubans did not oppose this attack, but advanced
further into the plain. Tho Spaniarls intended
TO make n bayonet charge on the hill, and this
caused their decisive discontinue
was so terribly d%Cfostod on Feb. l. The Cuban
lacked them, while The patriot Infantry, hold,
ing the two hills, with the artillery on the
higher one, which Sog,ira was trying 10 take,
made havoc In the Spanish lines.
Again the Spanish forces, leaving more than
800 killed on the plain, among them the entire
guerrilla OF Santa Clara. composed Of 200 men,
retreatcd. routed and in great disorder, TO La
Reforma estate. An hour later they rctroated
from that estate also In the greatest confusion.
The news OF this battle reached Gen. Wcyler Mt
Placctas, which place he left yesterday. He was
III. and several reports are In circulation about
his sickness. Some say that he has been wound.
ed, others that he IL suffering from fever, and
again II Is affirmed that his illness was produced
by the shock of the news OF this battle,
Since the battle Of Pcralejo was fought. when
Maceo routed Martinez Campos, no other battle
SO important has occurred in the Cuban war.
The Spanish are terribly discouraged. The blow
is u brilliant master stroke by Gomez. IL will
usher IN tho winter season with all Cubans in
COOL spirits.
Guanabacoa for the information given to Con
sul.Gcneral Lee in the matter OF the death OF Or.
Ruiz. Sixteen residents OF Gunnabacoa We're
murdered yesterday by order Of the snnguinary
Major. The victims were driven out at their
houses during the night and conducted 10 the
place Of their execution.
Sannp Anrntn cha ,nsrnannnlapt nf M 7 ibe,.uJ