The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-02
seven War Ships Loaded with Infan-
trymen and ArtiIIerists Make
u Successful Attack.
ONLY ONE TORPEDO FOUND
THE PLACE DEFENDED By GENERAL
GARCIA AND 5000 MEN.
Losses of S~paniards Not Heavy-NO
Report Made of Cuban casualties
"A Garrison SuccOred.

HAVANA, via Key West, May 1.-THE
Port of Banes, in Santiago de Cuba, held
by Gen. Calixto Garcia and six thousand
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 Adj
mira1g Navarro. The Spanish forces COM
bined at Nipe and Gen. Gomez Ruberte
formed his forces, consisting of two col
umns, including 700 marines, 400 navy and
1,2o0 infantry, commanded, respectively, by
Lieut.. Col. Christoval NuneZ and Lieutenant
Colonel Ayala, accompanied by the chief
of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Kindelan, a ma
tive Cuban. Both columns boarded the
Spanish fleet under of Admiral
Navarro. This feet was composed of the
flag ship Lagazpi, and the man-of-war
Reina Mercedes, Nueva Espania, Magal-
lanes, Vasco Nune de Balboa, Galicia and
Ligera and protected by artillery landed
under a heavy fire from the insurgents
musketry at Ramon peninsula, off Banes,
losing during the removal of the troops one
killed and seventeen wounded.
Meanwhile, the marine forces in armed
boats were sent to reconnoiter at the en-
trance of the Port of Banes. They succeed
ed in removing three wire cables and one
torpedo. The Nueva Espana was the first
boat to enter the port of Banes. The Lii
gera followed, with Admiral Navarro, Gen.
Ruberte and has adjutants on board. The
Spanish columns then advanced, protected
by fire from the Nueva Espana, which bonn
barded the insurgents heights, ultimately
capturing the Cuban Notifications with a
loss Of forty men. The gunboats then COM
municated with Santiago d'Opico, who
with fifty men, commanded an ironclad fort.
Within this fertilization his men had he
roicaily defended themselves during a forty
five days siege. The fort was constantly
surrounded by the insurgents, who how
ever, failed to reach the stronghold, which
was to some extent protected by wire net
ting. The Cuban forces were at all times
too far removed from the Notifications TO
do any serious injury to the fort. Their
artillery was short of range, due to the
great height of the ridges.
D'opico denies having received any water
supply from the Cubans, and says that
when the Laurada entered Port Au Bapes
he sent an armed boat with twenty men
out in the harbor. He claims that the
Laurada attempted to ram this boat, and
that the men were compelled to seek refuge
on a 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.
The Magallenes and the Nueva Espana
remained at Banes for the purpose of pro-
tecting the town of Banes from further
attacks. The fort built in the interior of
.Banes and the wharves have been de-
stroyed, and will be reconstructed at the
entrance of the harbor within easy reach
for defense and supply, thus preventing
the future landing of expeditions.
The Cubans, in view of the combined at
tack of the army and navy, abandoned
their stronghold without further resistance,
leaving a large quantity of ammunition. 1t
is believed that the construction of a new
fort outside the limit of the present town,
once completed, the naval forces under the
command OF Chiet-of-staft Marenco, and
the army under General Ruherte, Will leave
for Port Cabonico, near by, where the in
surgents are now reported TO be located.
The report that Quintin Bandera has
passed to the westward and that he is now
IN camp between Alquizar and Artemsa
with 500 men fully equipped with new rines
is confirmed. They are awaiting the arrival
of bands of insurgents from Matanzas ana
Santa Clara.
The government has strengthened the
military forces in the province of Havana
by the addition of twenty-one squadrons
or cavalry and fifteen battalions of in
fantry. This unusual activity on the part
of the troops in the province of Havana is
regarded as very significant.
Editions of the impartial Heraldo and
Liberal have been seized by the government
for republishing kilograms sent out from
Havana by way of Key West.
The government is now six months in ar
rearS in the payment of the troops, and
there is much dissatisfaction in conse-
quence.
Passengers on the Matanzas train recent
ly witnessed the crossing OF the track by a
large force of insurgents. The Cubans are
said tn hny va atfnntn6 tho -0TnGGinO i'm fhn
vicinity of Rincon. They were marching
toward Pinar del Rio. 1t is estimated that
about three thousand of the insurgents sue
ceeded in crossing .4e railroad track. The
claim is made that they were commanded
by Castillo and Perico Del GddO. 1t is also
reported that the insurgent leader acted as
an escort for the invading forces and ac-
cord.ng to some accounts the %insurgent lead
er, Quintin Banderas, was also in attend
ance.
Considerable sickness is reported from
various sections of the island. In a number
of the towns smallpox, yellow fever and
malaria are said to prevail.
Spanish regulars recently set fire to a hut
on the Western trocha near, Mariel. The
insurgents had previously placed a dyna-
mite bomb along the line of the trocha, not
far from the hut. The bomb exploded, kill
ing and wounding several Spanlards.
1t is reported here that Salvador Cis-
neros, President of the Cuban republic, was
recently married TO Miss Agnero.
The insurgents recently burned a culvert
on the Western Railroad, between Alquizar
Captain General Weyler will devote his
attention to military operations in the
province of Santa Clara.
1t is officially announced that Jose CeDero.
the msurSsnt leader, has been released and
expelled from the island.
Capt. Murphy Arrested.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, May Capt. Ed
ward Murphy. formerly of the American