The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-03
SIEGE TO HAVANA.
CUBAN BANDS rus IN AND OUT
OF THE OITY's SUBURBS.


They Capture n Provision Train Near the
City and Defeat wcyier's Men within n
Few Miles Of the P~ort-uayann Dismnyed
by the Disgrace or the spanish Forces.
HAVANA, via Key West, Aug. 1.-The situa-
ton continues to be very serious for the Span
iardB around Havana. An attempt made by the
Spanish battalion OF San Quintin to dislodge the
Cubans from their camps among the hills Of
Managua, some three miles from the Havana
suburb OF La vivora, ended yesterday in the de.
feat Of tho Spaniards. The insurgents, com
manded by Juan Delgado. occupied such advan-
tageous positions that the Spanish fire inflicted
only small losses upon them. The Cubans had
only we killed and very few wounded, while
the San Quintin battalion had seventy killed
aud wounded. When the forces Of San Quintin
saw that they could not attain their end they
retreatcd to the capital.
A military train coming to Havana with cattle
to provide meat for the capital and with horses
for the Spanish army was seized by the iusur-
gents between the stations of Agnacate and
Bainoa. The cars were burned, the horses were
taken by tho Cuban soldiers, and the cattle were
sent TO the Cuban stores.
Within sight of Jaruco. a few miles from Ha-
vana, n Spanish column was defeated by the
insurgents after several hours fighting. Tho
Spaniards carried into the town sixty of their
doad and nincty-two wounded, among whom
were several officers.
Ono can hardly realize that 1t Is possible for
the Cubans to do what they are now doing near
Havana. The insurgents have been able to in
fict all this evil upon the Spaniards simply be-
cause they have recently received some ex-
petitions from the United States which safely
landed in Havana province. They are now well
provided with arms and ammunition.
nut attl shasr ,,p,ha o-n 80 g.. -
those o the Spanish battalionsi in the capital, and
Weyler's resources are so vastly superior, that
1t Is q positive disgrace to the Spanish arms that
the capital OF the island and the very strong.
hold of the Spanish Captain.Genera is kept In q
constant state OF alarm by the Cubans. Havana,
practically, is in a state Of siege.
The principal desire Of the Spanish authorities
here ia to prevent the publication OF this news in
the United States. Nothing is happening except
tho raids of a few bandits according to
Official declarations at the Captain.G Generals
palace. The number OF men In each insurgent
band is said to be not more than ten, while the
fact is that the smallest Cuban force before Ha.
vana has not less than 200 men.
The price OF ~victuals in Havana has advanced
enormously since the Cuban raids began, and
the poorer classes are starving.
Provisions, clothes, and shoes have been sent
to a few families OF American citizens living at
Jesus del Monte by the American Consul-Gen
eral.
Many letters have been received from the
leaders OF the different insurgent bands around
the capital saying that there is not the slightest
prospect that the Cubans in arms will accept
home rule or anything short OF independence.
Eduardo Garcia Mates. who was arrested here
some time ago while acting as correspondent OF
THE Sun, has been expelled from the island by
Gen. Weyler.