The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-15
SEVERAL. LIVELY SKIRMISHES.

The Insurgents RepOTteu W Law
Worsted, but Made it Very Interest,"
ing.
Havana, April IA skirmlsh has
taken place between "a Spanish force uh-
der General Rey, and number of in
surgents on the road between Cauto ana
t:uamo. The enemy threw up barrl-
.scade. consisting of carts, etc, across the
road and strengthened 1T with seven
dynamite bombs When the troops at
te,npted to pass the insurgents fired the
bombs by electricity; but only three of
them exploded The troops captured the
,as,itions of the insurgents, but the gov
ernmcnt forces afterwards retreated to
OautO.
The Spanish gunboat Satellite, while
nearing Mayari. was fred upon by par
~ of insurgents who also sent out an
armed boat to engage the gunboat. For
:, time the firing was brisk, but the gun
boat eventually repulsed the insurgent
forces One engineer and one sailor
we're injured aboard the Satellite. The
loss of the insurgents is not stated.
TIE Spanish gunboat Sandoval, while
accommodating at Ojo Toro, was also fired
upon by Insurgents. The gunboat re-
turned the enemy's fire and the insurgents
we're dispersed after forty minutes hight
ing. The side plates of the gunboat and
the mounting OF her guns were damaged
Skirnishes have also occurred at Puer-
COS. on the beach near I'ilon, at Mora,
Portillo. CamaroneS and at La Magdal-
eiia.
In addition, a force Of $50 insurgents
has been defeated at Pitajoness. Eight
of the enemy were killed. 1t is believed
the Insurgents belonged to the body
which WAS defeated at Cdlabazar, pro-
vince of Santa Clara. Only eight Span
ish soldiers were wounded.
General Hernandez Nelasco has arrived
ut San Crst0bal. province of Santa Clara.
having hcen in the fields since the cap
.urp Of General Ruiz Rivera, the insur-
ccat commander. General SeiaSco was
received with great enthusiasm. The
board of aldermen declared him to be
their adonted son, and ordered the gem
erela's portrait to be placed IN the city
hall.
Twcnty-fi Political prisoners have ar
, rived here from Pinar del RIO.
In the engagement ON the road between
Cauto and Guamo, many insurgents were
killed and the troops lost - men killed
and 26 men wounded.
The Sor:a and Catalina battallons had
$ been engaged at Siguanea, province of
Santa Cara, with an insurgent force.
The latter lost ten men killed, including
a captain. The troops had eleven men
wounded
Banes an important port on the north
Banos, an important port on the north
coast, near Gibara, from which so heavy
annual expectations Of bananas and CO.
coanHtS to the United States, and which
is the site of the estate of IL. Dumois &
Co, American citizens, narrowly escaped
total destruction to-day. The eXpedi-
ton under General Roloff, on the steamer
La,lrada, carrying 2400 rifles, 100000
cartridges and several pieces of rapid
firing artillery, landed alongside the quay
of Hanes. General Garcia, with 5000
men, came 10 protect the convoy of arms
and ammunition, but Us Holoff had no
men to arm, Garcia was compelled to
carry the arms into the interior.
1t is reported that the insurgents, hear
ing that Spanish gunboat might arrive
at any moment. closed the entrance of the
port with storpedoes. General Roloff,
assisted by local bands and finally by the
soldiers under General Garcia. commenc
cd to fortify the heights around the port,
hastily casting up trenches to make the
port temporarily impregnable to any
Spanish forces in the neighborhood Of
Gibara. 'tishl 49, ~
The gunboats Nueva Espanas and
MeaEcia, had arrived at Nipe from
Havana The cruiser Reina Mercedes
had left Havana on the 18th with four
companies of marines and infantry nn-
der the command of Rear Admiral Ma
rencoa,' to unite with all the forces which
had left Nipe and Gibara, with a view
to combined land and sea attack upon
the insurgents position, for the recovery
Of the port of Banes.
Nipe is separated from Banes by the
San Ramon canals. Three columns
marched on Banes in full view of the
formidable and nearly impregnable insur-
gent positions. aa
2 Reinfercednentse have been sent for
ward 10y the Spanish and Admiral Ma
. varro will sail tomorrow by the cruiser
Peyaspi, for the Caribbean and thence
for .hiIe to personally direct the attack
by seu The re-inforcemmts expected
VIII he lrAler General Livares.
Evidently an important battle is III sight
if the insurgents try to defend their adj
vanta geous stronghold and thar claim
of being able to hold a seaport. Great
anxiety exists with reference to the garri-
son of 100 men IN the fort defending the
quay at Banes. 1t is believed they will
he compelled to surrender for lack Of
water and supplies.
The cruiser R:ngon has twice been
copelled TO break charms in order 10 enter
the Banes port.