The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-12
NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
Insurgents and Spanards Have Encounters
AutonomSts Name Officers.

Havana, Dec. 11.-General Parade, accom-
panied by ex-Minister Canalejes, after
leaving Batabano in gunboat, conducted
the combined operation of four columns of
Spanish troops over the Caiman or south
coast of the province of Havana. General
Marrotis, In command of a column of
troops, has been engaged with band of
insurgents and the official report says he
defeated them with losso of several men
and destroyed their camp.
Colonel Pesot the report continues, in
command of another column, has captured,
near Caiman, an intrenched camp, which
was defended by two hundred insurgents
The OtLmba battalion, it appears, drove
the insurgents out of the Entertainments
and dispersed them. The troops engaged lost
Colonel Martinez Morentin and
five soldiers killed, one officer and seven
teen soldiers wounded.
1t is officially reponted that the insurg-
ents, under the leadership of Rab be-
sieged for several days the town of Guamo.
near Canto The garrison made a heroic
defense and the arrival of the Spanish col
umn under General Aldave forced the in
surgents to raise the siege. The loss of
the besiegers was $50 killed and wounded
while the garrison lost fifty.
General Bernai, with five battalons, has
left Havana to carry on operations in the
direction of Cape San Antonio, Pinar del
Rio province. 1t is reported Officially in a
skirmish in the Rubi Heights the Spanish
killed four insurgents among whom were
Ricardo Delgado, the insurgent inspector
general for the province of Matanzas
Insurgent forces under Gen. Calixto Gar
ella are said to be moving about Cato Car
mel in the Batabano district.
The insurgent force under Dios, number
ing 600, are in the plantation near Santabo,
100 miles from Matanzas and the Spanish
force has given them battle.
According to AN official report a body
OF Spanish troops while in ambush at Iona
Pan, XII led the bandit Rgalo Alfonso. who
at the time Of his death was serving as a
lieutenant- colonel in the insurgent army
The body of the dead bandit was idlanti-
fed and then taken to Matanzas City,
where it was exposed to public view.
Delegates OF the autonomlst and reformst
parties met today to consider the union of
the two organizations ard the latter pro-
posed that they should have representation
of one-half ON the central committee and
positions in the principal committees should
be given to the autonomists. The position
of honorary president of the proposed new
party was offered to the Marquis Rabella,
chairman of the central committee of the
reformist party, and the active presidency
to Don Jose Marta Calves, the president of
the autonomists. OF the four vice-presi-
dents two will be chosen from the reform
lists, as will SO the secretary. Regarding
the local committees they will be consti-
tuted according to circumstances.
The reformist delegates informed the GEN.
tai committee of the party of the proposals
made and an answer will be given through
the Marquis Rabella. The fusion of the two
parties is looked upon as an accomplished
fact.
The success of the efforts to establish
autonomy in Cuba according to official
statements is assured and it is said that in
some parts of the island the insurgents
Will accept the reformed offer and surren-
der to the authorities.