The record-union., 1897-12-22
Cuban Version of the Battle Fought
at Yacta Ford.
General Pando's Forces Routed. Leaving
Many Dead Upon the Field.
The Spanish Commander Leports
l.. Can+ain-Genera1 Blanco
That One Hundred Thousand
Men Will be Needed to Break
the Backbone of the Insurgent
Opuosition in the East.

Opuosition in the 6asC'
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-FolioWlhS 4
the Cuban version of the battle lousn
AT Yacta Ford, on the Cauto RlVer' Vi
December 18th last. The detalls wei
received through the mans from C"P
tain Alfredo Rodriguez, a CUBAN lleui
gent officer. who is invalided in thl'
citv 1t tells of a crushing defeat III
aicted nnon the Spanish General Panuo
Captain Rodriguez's correspondent
says:
"A part of General Calixto Garcia
fo,,oa under Iieutenant-ColonelS sal
vador Rios. was holding the facta iol
of the Cauto River. 1t was lmporlaii
for Pando's forces to reopen the NV
in order that reinforcements might "
sent to the city of Bayamo, pesieseo
by General Roloff. General CaliA1'
Garcia's main force was little 1urthei
up the river. protecting ford threat
ened by General Pando General al
dave in command of 1000 Spanish IN
fantrv (regulars). a squadron OF cav
airy and 1900 guerrilla volunteers
TWENTY-FIVE cannon and sight hght gun
boats, attacked Rios ,,,,
"Disposing his artillery on the mis-
commanding the Yacta fofu' AiUo'
opened a hot fire on the insurgehl Wolhs
on the opposite side of the river. hlos
and his 500 Cubans retired INTO the
cover of the woods, and the ford was
open for the Spanish passage.
"Aldaye advanced a column or m
fantr-v across the ford, holding their
rifles and ammunition belts above their
heads the men being protected py
continual artillery fire. Rios, seeing
that he could not hold his position
without help. sent a voluntary courier
Lieutenant Charles Hickman, an Amer
lean. to General CaliXto Garcia, up the
river. Hickman had TO ride dlrecliy
through the enemy's fire, but made the
pass safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed
800 more men on the further sloe'
and General Pando, with large force
at this time made a feint upon the up
per ford. General Garcia, deceived py
Pando's movement, decided that he
could spare only a small reinforcement
to Colonel Rios and sent coroner
Charles Garcia with only 20o mounted
men down the river This reinforce
ment. small as it was, renewed the
homes of the defenders of the Iacta,
and they charged the Spanish with the
bayonets.
The Cubans. however, were so heaV-
ilv outnumbered that they We're forced
TO give way. Carlos Garcia's horse was
shot from under him, and Colonel Rios
was wounded slightly in the leg.
-. = .a,.f y~Gr7
charge with machetes, this time, and
held the Spanish forces in check for
a short while. BY then General CaliXto
Garcia had seen through General
Pandos feints on the upper ford, and
dispatched General Jesus Rabi with
] 600 cavalry to their relief. These ar
rived just as the Spanish were recover
ing from the machete charge, and fell
suddenly upon their rear, throwing the
troops who had crossed the ford into
confusion. The Spanish had to give
ground. and became exposed TO the
fire from their own artillery in the hills
and from the six gunboats which had
ioined in the bombardment of Rios
men.
General Aldave ordered this destruc-
tive fire TO cease. reformed his attack
ing party. and dispatched a message to
General Pando for assistance in carry
ing the Cuban position. But it was too
late The Cubans, reforming, raised
their battle shout of a L'Machete,
'Cubra Libre,' and fell upon the Span
ish ranks with terrible effect. A body
of / 900 guerrillas was cut of from AL
dawes forces. and threw down their
arms General Rabi, knowing the half
hearted loyalty of these volunteers, told
them they must fight their own com
rades or be cut to pieces, and they
obeyed, and really fought desperately
on the Cuban side.
General Aldave. seeing that his men
would be annihiIated, withdrew them
across the ford again, protected by the
artillery fire. General Pando, with an
escort, rode down from the upper ford,
and directed the Spanish retreat.
THE Cuban loss in this engagement
was 100 killed and about 300 wounded.
Geneal Rabis men found 300 Spanish
dead. and General Aldave in his re-
port 10 Havana said his wounded num-
bered 200. The Cubans believe they
have inflicted much more damage; that
the Spanish troops carried away many
Of their dead. and minimized the num>
ber of the wounded, reporting only one
fourth.
Among the Cubans killed was Major
1elada and Captain Garcia, the son Of
rich planter. The Spanish left on
the field Lieutenant-Co Colonel Have. two
Captains and one Assistant Surgeon
and the standard of arms of the bat
TALON Ilanaros."
General Garcia promoted Hickman.
the Caring courier, to Captain on the
field.
"Panao has reported to General Blan-
co that 100000 men are needed TO
break the backbone of the insurgent op-
position in the east, and that it is no
longer practicable to continue the cam
paign TO relieve Rayamo. This city
Garcia expects to capture early in
January, being now able to detach
troops from his command to send to
Rolof's aid"
Captain Rodriguez has also received
news that General Maxifao Gomez has
crossed the Jahonyu River at Ciego de
Avila. and has continued on his march
70 effect junction with General Rodri-
guez.
FROM SPANISH SOURCES.