The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-04
PANDO CLAIMS A VICTORY.
RUT AFTER NE WOW NJ CUBAN TIL-
LlINS FIR ED ON ms REAR U.tRD.

HAVANA, Dec. 2. via Key WestE-Gen. Blanco
ravo out to-day the following statement:
"Tho report that Gen. Pando, had been killed
In n fight with the insurgents is absolutely false.
The truth Is that after an engagement IN the ais
trict OF Sancti Spiritus with the forces OF Maxine
Gomez, which were completely routed by the
battalion Of Reus. combined with the column
under Gen. Pando. the rear gunrd OF Gen. Pando
was fred on by tho insurgents
The last part OF the Cnptain.G Generals state
ment has caused n great deal Of amusement ~
tho best confession that could DO made officially
Of the defeat of the Spanish troops. There is
no doubt now that Gen. Gomez has wen one OF
the most remarkable victories Of his military
career. The news has heen in Havana since last
Saturday. the Captain.G General having received
by cable from Manzanillo all the details OF the
battle. It was decided to keep tho whole thing
secret and report IL only to the Central Govern.
mcnt. But the disastrous news was gossipped
about in the palace. and 1t became known to
moro persons than those connected with the
Captain. Generals staff. 1t leaked out that
something Of extraordinary gravity had hap.
pened in Santa Clara, and in q fow hours tho
city was full OF tho most alarming and contra
dictory rumors.
The facts gathered by THE Suns correspond.
emit from the best sources arc rs follows: On
Nov. % Gen. Pando arrived in Cienfuegos, on
the southern coast of the island, with the inten.
tion OF proceeding by steamer to Santiago do
Cuba. The same dry he changed his mind and
resolved to make n military tour in the province
OF Santa'Clara and attnck Gen. Gomez, who. ac-
cording to Pando's information, was encamped
with q small force ut his fnvorite headquar.
ters on the estate Ia Rcforma. district
Of Sapcti Spiritus. Gen. Gomez has been
in possession Of Ia Reforma for n year.
From there he had made several marches
westward. always returning to the same estate.
Gen. Arizona was defeated by him about eight
months ago in q battle on that and Juan Criollo.
. neighborinR estate. Gen. Weyler himself
made a vain attempt with 10000 Spanish SOL
diers to dislodge him from his position. Gen.
Pando said in Cicnfuegos on Nov. % that il was
q shame for Weyicr that such a thing could
happen. and announced that he was going to
disperse forever the troops OF the Chino riGo
1.-THE old Chinnmanl, n contemptuous nickname
of Gomez among the Spaniards.
"Iehall not go to Santiago de Cuba by sea as
Wcyler did" wrote Gen. Pando from Cieniuegos
To Havana. "Iprefer to cross the entire terri
cory OF Sancti Spiritus with my column and,
passing the trocha reach Santiago de Cuba
province. crossing also the territories said to
be occupied by Calixto Garcia"
He began his march from Cicnfuegos tho
sans day and, turning to tho north, stopped at
STuCeS. linen ne went direct TO OHnCtl SplrltuS,
crossing the track of the railway from Santa
Clara to Trinidad. Up to Nov. 30 ho did not
find a sipgle Cuban force. Pando believed that
Gen. GoIeE was unprepared to resist any at
tack. On Nov. 20 he Joined to his forces the
battalion of Reus. The Spanish numbered then
1900 men under Pando, with two pieces of ar
tillery.
The same day. in the afternoon, he met the
forces of Gen. Gomez. The Cuban pickets
opened up q livoly fire on the Spaniards and
stopped their march, while Gen. Gomez retired
with the bulk of his forces to a central part of
the estate. The Spaniards rallied and followed
him, but suddenly found themselves surrounded
and attacked from all sides. Gen. Pando's plan
was to catch Gomez between his column and
the :'Rcus battalion. but he himself fell
into q trap. Brighten. Jos6 Gonzalez. with
600 men, was sent forward by Gomez and sue
ceeded In getting between the two columns. He
opened a CALLING fire on both, greatly hinderlng
their movements. Gomez then stopped his mock
retreat and made a sudden cavalry attack. Gen.
Pando's forces were compelled to retire, and
Gomez chased them to Caycro. a small town six
miles from the borders of the estate la Rcforma,
Gen. Gonzalez followed the Spanish columns to
Cayero. where pando was encamped, according
to the last news received in the palace on Sat
urday...
7TEW tSpoAb AhotAe SAi L huuoH HAS
been made public here in which he says that his
column and the column under Gen. Salcedo had
mad q! hot engagement Of two hours with the
forces OF Gonzalez. at the same place, Cayero.
Pando says that he used his artillery, firing
over, 100 rounds on the Cubans, and that
he made also two bayonet charges, completely
routing the Cubans. He adds that the in
surgents left on tho field nineteen killed and
eish: rifles, and that the Spanish column lost
ANN Mica. 4 --l
woundeds besides n mule md four horses killed.
No more details arc known than those of the
official report, but it is very much doubted here.
considering the result Of tho former battle.
In the Official report Gen. Gonzalez is called
"a negro" which he is not.
At the battle in Pinar del Rio province, q re-
port OF which was cabled Wednesday last to
THE Sun, Major Seisdedos. q well-known officer
of the Spanish Army. was killed by q bullet
which struck him in the head. Senior Canalejas
has made tho following declaration, published
to-day by tho Havana newspapers:
I,feel proud of being a Spaniard after seeing
the Spanish troops fighting in the field Of Pinar
del Rio. Generals and officers in the most
dangerous moments and under the ravaginR
nre Of the enemy take tho front and risk their
lives at the vanguard. Major seisdedos died
like a hero"
Senior Canalejas, Notwithstanding his patriotic
enthusiasm. does not deny the Importance of the
battle at Los Pelados, La Madame, and Cuchilla,
and says that in reporting the pacihcation OF
Cuba Gen. Weyler simply He'd"
The battle at Pelados, Madame. and Cuchilla
proves the mendacity of Gen. Hernandez de
Velazco. the Spanish Commander. who had had
aprevious engagement In the same place with
Gen. Ducasi. and reported on Nov. IL that the
Insurgents lind been driven out OF those places
Tho depreciation Of paper money continues In
Havana. Tho general impression is thut In
view Of tho attitude of tho insurgents autonom,
will be a failure. and tho total bankruptcy o.
Spain Will be precipitatcd.
THE, DA UNTIL ESS IN PORT AGAIN
She 10 said TO Have LANDED n Cargo OF Sup.
plies for the Patriots In Cuba.
JACKSONVILLE, Dec. 3.-The tug Dauntlesl