The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-02
VICTORY FOR The CUBANS.
THEY WIN 4 GREAT HIT AMONG
PINAR DEL RIOS HILLS.

Vain Attempt OF Thousands OF SpnntnrdH te
Drive the Patriets from Their Positions
The Spa niards say II was Their uardest
Fight I'm Cuba Cnpairjas Report" II.
HAVANA Dec. 1. via Key west.-Thef ercest
battle fought in the province of Pinar del Rio
since the de lth Of Gen. Maceo is reported here
to-day By an official Spanish account published
in all the newspapers and by communication
from the insurgent lines.
Though tho Spanish report boasts, as usual.
OF q great victory, it confirms, In many details.
tho Cuban story. Special information from
trustworthy sources received by II SUNS
correspondent leaves no doubt that tho result
was the most serious defeat sustained by the
Spanish army since the battle of Cacarajicara,
In the same province.
The battle was fought among the hills Of Ro-
nero. Madame, and Los Palados, in which the
insurgent Gen. Ducasi was encamped with his
army in 500 huts made Of palm tree leaves. At
Cuchilla and Caimitos, two other mountains,
Ducasi had also some 1000 men strongly
fortified. The insurgents numbered in all some
$500 men, well armed with modern rifles and
dynamite bombs.
Tho Spanish columns of Gems. Bernal and
Hernandez dc velnsco combined to dislodge tho
insurgents from their positions at Romero.
Madama, and Los Pelados. They bravely fought
to attain that end the whole OF Mon
day. but were repeatedly repulsed by tho
patriots. Several bayonet attacks by the Span
ish columns ended disastrously for them, and
after over 100 Spanish soldiers had been killed
and their lines had been thrown into confusion
by several dynamite explosions. both Spanish
Generals decided to retire and ask for reinforce
monts.
On Tuesday morning the Battalion Of Aran-
juez came to the hclp of Gems. Bernal and Her.
nandez de Velasco, and then the Spanish, num-
berinR 5000 regulars. made a desperate attempt
to take tho stronger positions of Caimito and
Cuchilla. With a sacrifice of siXty-scvcn men,
they took at the point OF the bayonet the heights
of Caimito. But new bomb explosions pre-
pared BY the Insurgents soon dispersed them.
Ducasi took CuChilla again before noon, and the
three Spanish battalions gave up the fight and
retired.
The official Spanish report published here by
tho press censor says: The losses OF the insur-
gents were immense. They fled in panic, and
Gen. Berual's cavalry forces are still pursuing
them. We had one Major and two soldiers
killed and one Major. one Captain anu nineteen
soldiers wounded" But the Spanish officers
under Gen. II. de Velazco confessed that their
losses were over 200 and that it was the hardest
fight they ever had in Cuba.
Senior Canalejas arrived yesterday evening at
Pinar del Rio city with his four secretaries on
a special train from Havana. He had a splendid
reception from the municipality and the whole
Spanish population. The new autonomist
Governor went to the station to well
como him. Blu: the Spanish editor. answer
ing all those cordial manifestations with
the warmest terms Of gratitude, did not lose
any time in gathering all the details OF battle
for his newspaper and sending reporters around
to investigate. Along account OF tho hattie was
sent this afternoon via Key West for Ell Her
aldo. together with this despatch for THE SUN.
Another sensational report comes to-day from
the east to the effect that the patriots had at
tackled the town OF Bayamo. in Santiago dc
Cuba province. almost destroying the ward Of
Guiss. in which they secured booty in the form
Of arms. ammunition. clothes, and ~victuals. Tho
fact is officially acknowledged by the Spaniards
in Havana. though it is said that mo details
are known"