The Portland daily press., 1897-12-02

Hof'ihcu Sdu1p OF UeD. Ducasst captured
-Ensurgent Camp at Avanguez Also
Destroyed-Rebels Said To Be Thor
oughly Demoralized.
Havana. December IAN announce
ment was issued from the Spanish head
quarters in the palace today saying that
force of insurgents recently attacked
Guisa, a town situated Is miles from
Bayamo, in the province of Santiago de
Cuba. It was further announced that
a Spanish column has left Manzanillo to
engage the insurgents at Guisa.
Another announcement describes
movement of Spanish troops under Gen.
Bernal, who was accompanied by Senior
Jose Canalejas, the former Spanish cabi-
net minister and special commissioner
who is visiting Cuba to gather material
for report on the condition of the ISL
and, in behalf of the Spanish government
and Gen. Hernandez Velasquez. The
Spanish force consisted of $500 men, ac-
oompanied by two field guns. The col
umn, under the personal supervision of
Gen. Bernal, engaged an insurgent force,
according to the repors, on the heights of
Romero Madame and Pelados, province
of Pinar del Rio, and later was more
severely engaged with the insurgents
at La Cuchilla de Los Caimitos, where
tie Spanlards are said to have captured
and destroyed the fortified camp of the
insurgeut general. Ducassi.
Gen. Hernandez, commanding the Sec
ond column, the report continues, capt
ured and destroyed an insurgent camp at
Aran1uez and also destroyed $40 huts
and several other insurgents camps in
the immediate vicinity of Aranjuez
AS result of these movements, con
treated in thoroughly demoralized con-
dition after suffering the loss of many
killed and wounded The Spanish col
ulnn lost q major and II soldiers killed,
and had one captain and 90 soldiers
wounded.
According to the latest advices from
the scene of the engagements, the Spanish
cavalry was continuing the pursuit. of
the enemy
Six hundred sick. wounded or other
wise invalided soldiers have Just left
Cuba for Spain.
The insurgents, according to official re-
ports, have lost 81 men killed in skirIn-
ishes with the Spanish troops during tine
last 10 days. In addition, the govern
ment forces captured 70 prisoners and
u number of fire arms.
The government troops, during the
same period lost n men killed and had
two officers and SO soldiers wounded
1he insurgents have destroyed with dy-
Mantle culvert on the railroad line near
TOGO Taco, not far from San Cristobal,
in the province of Pinar del Rio Rail
road traffic in that vicinity will be de-
layed until the culvert is temporarily re-
paired.
The garrison at Guisa is reported to
have lost so killed and wounded
The Marquis de Apexteguia, leader of
the Spanish conservative party, arrived
here today. He was welcomed by the
central conservative committee and has
had a long interview with Captain Gen
eral Blanco. He says that sthe conserva-
tive party Ought to stand by the govern
ment III furthering the work of pacitica-
ton, but he has not made any public
declaration in favor of autonomy. His
position is that of the central conservative
which recognizes the necessity of pacify-
ing the island, but does not believe that
autonomy is the best way of bringing
that result about.
General Bernal and Senor CanaIejas,
editor of El Heraldo Of Madrid, who
has been with the Spanish column in the
province Of Pinar Del Rio, returned to
the city today. Captain General Blanco
has congratulated Gen. Bernal on the
outcome of the military operations In
that province.
Today, Eva Canet, well-known news
paper woman and champion OF General
Weyler, had an interview with Captain
General Blanco and asked him to release
the authors of the printed circulars sent