The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-22
GENERAL PANDO CRUSHED.
Cuban Version Of Battle Of Yaeta
Ford.
sPANIARDS FOUGHT WELL BUT
WERE FORCED BACK.

Pando Calls for 100000 III en- to BresR Rack.
bone of Insursent Operations in the
East-American Oficer Promoted q,
Account of Bravery.
New York, December 2l.-The Cuban
version of q battle fought at Yaotaford on
the Cauto river on December A. last has
been received through the mails by Cap.
tain Rodriguez, Cuban insurgent officer
who is an invalid in this city. 1t tells
of an al legged crushing defeat upon the
Spanish General Pando. The correspon-
dent says:
"a part of General Calixto Garcia 3
forces under Lieutenant Colonel Rios
was holding the Yaota ford. 1t was
important for Panda's focres to reopen
the river in order thai reinfocrements
might be sent to the city OF Baya1no,
beseiged by the Cubans. General Aldave
in command of 1000 Spanish infantry, &
squadron of cavalry and three thousand
guerilla volunteers, twenty-five cannon
and six light gunboats attacked Rios.
Disposing of his artillery on the hills
com manding the Yacta ford, AldaVe
opened a ho5 fire on the insurgent' s works
on the opposite side of the river Rios
and his five hundred Cuhans retired into
the cover of the woods and the ford was
open for the Spaniards' passage. Aldave
advanced a column of infantry across
the ford, the men being protected by
artillery fire. Rios sent volunteer cour-
Ter, Lieut.. Charles Hickman, an Ameri-
can, to General Garcia up the river for
help. Hickman rode through the enemy
fire safely. Rios harangued his men, urg-
ing them to sell their lives delay Mean
while Aldaye landed 1900 more men on
the farther side and General Pando with
q large force made a 3eint upon the upper
ford. Garcia. deceived by Pando's move
ment decided that he could spare only a
small reinforcement to Col. Rios and sent
Col. Carlos Garcia with only TWO hun
dred mounted men down the river. The
defenders Of the Yacta, uniting with
Carlos Garcia's men, charged the Spanish
with bayonet. The Cubans, however
were heavily outnumb bered and were
forced to give way. Col. Rios was
wounded slightly in the leg. Col
oaIoios SscoiU IeiieWcu tIie cAaFg5 WIN
machetes and held the spanish forces
in check for q while. Mea awhile
General Calixto Garcia. had seen through
General Pando's feint and dispatched
General Rabi with 1000 cavalry TO the re-
lief of the Insurgents. These arrived Just
as the Spanish were recovering ground
from the nachete charge and Iell 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 artiI-
iery and from the six gunboats which had
been bombarding Rios's men. Zen.
Aidave ordered this destructive fire to
cease, reformed his attacking party and
despatched a message to General Pando
for assistance in carrying the Cuban posi-.
ton. But is WAS too late. The Cubans
fell upon the Spanish ranks with terrible
effect. Ore thousand guerilas were out
off from Aldave's force and threw down
their arms. General Rabi told them that
cut to pieces. They obeyed and fought
desperately on the Cuban side General
Aldave withdrew his men across the ford
Gen. Pando rode down from the upper
ford and directed the Spanish retreat.
The Cuban loss In this engagement was
100 killed and about 800 wounded. Gen
eral Rabi's men found 200 Spanish dead
and General Aldave in his report to Hs-
vana said his wounded mum bered 200.
The Cubans believed that the Spanish
troops carried away many of their dead
Der of wounded. Among the Cubans
killed were Major Llenada and Captain
Garcia. The Spanish left on the field
Lieut.. Col. Llave, two captains and an
assistant surgeon and the standard of
al ms OF the battalion Lleneros.