The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-06
|LATE WAR NEWS FROU CUBA
THE PORT OF BANES WAS TAKEN
BY TEE sPANIARDS FROM
THE CUBANS.
SPANISH NAVAL IND LAND FORCES
They Were Forced to Eyacuate.
A Dynamite Explosion killed
and Wounded Several.

| Havana, May 1.-The port OF Banes
in Santiago de Cuba, held by Gen. Calix.
to Garcia and 600 Cubans ever since the
Laurada landed Roloff's expedition, has
been recovered by the Spanish combined
army and naval forces under Gen. Gomez
Ruberte and Admiral Navarro. The
Spanish forces combined at Nipe, and
Gen. Ruberte formed his forces, consist
ing of two columns, including 700 ma
rines, 400 navy and 1900 infantry, COM
manded by Col. Cristobal Nunez and
Lieutenant Anata, accompanied by the
chief of staff, Lieut.. Col. Kindean, ma
tive of Cuba Both columns boarded the
Spanish fleet under command of Admiral
Navarro. The fleet was composed of the
flagship Ligiria and the men-of-war
Reina Mercedes, Nueva Espana Magal-
lanes and Vasco Nunez de Balboa. The
Iigiria, protected by artillery, landed I'M
der heavy fire from the insurgent mus
kerry at Ramon, peninsula of Banes, los
ing during the removal of the troops one
killed and seventeen wounded. Mean
while the marine forces in armed boats
sent to reconnoiter at the entrance of the
port of Banes. They succeeded in re-
moving three wire cables and one tor
pedo. The Nueva Espana was the first
boat to enter the port. The Ligiria fol-
lowed, with Admiral Navarro. Gen. Ru-
berte and his adjutants on board. The
Spanish columns then advanced protect
ed by the fire from the Nueva Espana,
which bombarded the insurgent heights,
ultimately capturing the Cuban fortifica-
tons with loss of forty men. The gun
boats then communicated with Santiago
de Opocio, who, with fifty men, command
ed an ironclad fort. Within this fortfica--
ton his men had heroically defended
themselves during a fourteen days seige.
The fort was constantly surrounded by
the insurgents, who. however failed to
reach the stronghold, which was to some
extent protected by wire netting Inc
Cuban forces were at all times too far
removed from the Notifications to do any
serious injury to the fort. Their artillery
was short range, due to the great height
of the ridges. De OpOcio denies having
received any water supply from the Gu
bans. and says that when the Laurada
entered Port au Banes he sent an armed
boat with twenty men into the harbor.
He claims that the Laurada attempted
to ram this boat and that the men were
compelled to seek refuge on nearby
quay. The Laurada then proceeded to
the interior of the harbor. Landing the
expedition out of reach of fire from the
fort, remaining in port twenty-four hours.
remained at Banes for the purpose of
protecting the town from further attacks.
The fort built in the interior OF Baness
and the wharves have been destroyed and
will be reconstructed at the entrance OF
the harbor within reach for defense and
supply, thus preventing the future landing
of expeditions.
The Cubans, in view of the combined
attack of the army and navy, have apan-
doned their stronghold without further re-
sistance, leaving large quantity OF am
munition. 1t is believed that the CON
struction of new fort outside the limit
of the present town once completed, the
naval forces under the command OF Chlef
of Staff Maronco, and the army unuer
command of Gen. Ruberte. will leave for
Port Cabonico, nearby, where the lnsur-
gents are now reported to be located.
The report that Quentin Bandera mas
passed to the westward and that he IS
now in camp between Alquizzar and Ar
temisa with 900 men fully equipped. Is
confirmed. They are awaiting the arrival
of bands of insurgents from Matanzas
and Santa Clara. -,
The government has strengthened the
military forces in Havana province. IN
usual activity on the part of the troops
in Havana province is regarded as very
significant.
Editions of the impartial, Heraldo and
Liberal have been seized by the govern
ment for republishing kilograms sent
from Havana by the way of Key West.
Gen. Figeura will leave for Spain,
May 10.