The sun., 1897-09-12
TAKEN BY ADYNAMITEGUN A
olLL1T0 GARoIA's BRILLIANT CAP
TURE OF Las TUNAs.


Eire en- the si1 Spanish Forts DefepdinG
the Famous Town-Three or Them Were pe-
nnolished Before tho white F1sE was shown'
HAVANA, Sept. s.-Tho capture Of Victoria
dc las Tunas was made last Sunday by Con.
Calixto Garcia after bombardng. tho town FOR
two days with five pieces Of artillery, ono OF
thom dynamite gun. Three Of tho six IorUs
which defended tho town were utterly oe-
stroyed by tho dynamite shells, and the others
greatly damaged. Before opening fire Gen.
Garcia wrote to the Spanish commander IN
viting him to surrender
II have" said Garcia, 5000 mon ana ar
tillery epough:to shatter the whole town OF Las
Tunas. give you three hours to surrender
and will respect your life and that OF your
men"
No answer came, and the fro was opened on
Friday, Sept. 3, at 3 o'clock in tho afternoon
1t was quickly answered with heavy volieys
from tho forts. The Spanish had three can
non, two Of them twelve-pounders, ana tner
first volleys did somo damage to tho Cupeh
ranks, but as soon the dynamiter wont ih'o
action victory was assured to the Cuoans.
On Sunday ut noon q white flag was dis
played at tho top OF tho principal Tort, ana the
Cubans Immediately ceased firing. spanish
officer advanced then unarmod to the ihsurgoht
lines and reported tho desire OF the military COM
mandcr to surrender on honorable terms. Iho
Spanish commander desired thnt the nves OF
tho garrison should be respected and their ITO.
crty granted In case that tho Spaniards should
ask for an exchange of prisoners. Gen.
Garcia agreed to these terms, and tho Forts
were delivered to him.
The Spanish Commander, Lieut.-Col Mona
zegui said that since Aug 1S he had been cali
ing for reinforcements and sending hello
graphic dispatches to the Spanish stations
along the Canto River, without receiving any
answer. He had had word Of n Formidable
advance of insurgent troops from SaDanilla,
Caimito. and other places in the ncighborhood
of the Canto. He received news that Calixto
Garcia was concentrating his forces to move
westward and attack the Jucaro-Moron trocha
In combination with Gen. Gomez. who was re-
ported to bo at the west side of that military
line in tho province OF Puerto Principe. He
was informed also that the cavalry forces OF
Gen Jesus Re bi had Joined Garcia and that
the Cuban army in the neighborhood numbered
5000 men. Fearing an attack on Victoria de
las Tunas, he asked for help and was very much
discouraged at receiving no answer.
The failure to reinforce him is explained by
tho fact that since Aug. / the Spanish have
been completely driven away from the Canto
River and hemmed in In Manzanillo Tho
important towns Of Holguin, Jiguani. and
Bayamo are expected to fall into the hands Of
the Cubans also in q very short time. Their
garrisons are helpless and isolated.
These facts were all reported in the official
despatch from Gen. Lugue to Gen. weyler. re-
ceived this morning by the Captain General.
Great secrecy is maintained about tho whole
affair, but II will have to be disclosed before
long. Gen Luguo has exchanged some of the
prisoners with Gen. Garcia. among them Lieut.
Col Monazegui and some officers. Gen.Lugue
is at the head of column of 5000 men, but
dares not to attack Gen. Garcia and maintains
a defensive attitude.
As tho military commander Of Las Tunas
tries to defend himself by throwing the respon-
sibility on Gen. Luque, because he did not help
him. 30 Gen. Luuue's friends hero throw the
.Iop - oh @ ,,a.,n "..,..s ~ 80,