The herald., 1897-03-15
Against the insurgents Of Pu.
erto Principe
IN sKIRMIsH AND BATTLE
The Rebels Suffer Defeat but Not
Much Loss
weyIer's Public Budget Hlli Forwarded u
spain for Approval-Awfui Tax on
. Bankrupt Nation
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
HAVANA. March 14.-Gen. Jiminex
Castelianos. owing to rumors that the
insurgent government had adopted as
its headquarters San Guinnmo, Puerto
Principe decided TO take the field on the
4th. proceeding by the Yeguas road at
the head of a strong column of regulars.
He began to encounter groups OF in
surgents at distance of about a mile
and a half from the city of Puerto Prin-
cipe. on arriving at Los Claveles farm.
distance of about five kllometers from
the city. he engaged the advance guards
OF the insurgents and a hot fight en-
sued. The insurgents were dispersed,
but the troops, owing to the lack OF wa
| ter, were compelled to fall back to the
farm of La Union de Lanes At day
break of the 9th the march was renewed
in the direction of Aranguez ranch.
From the commencement of the march
there had been frequent firing upon the
vanguard and TANKS OF the column and
this was kept up until it reached the
San Jose de Coaba valley. where the in
surgents held a position. in the edge Of
a forest. The front and right flank of
the column opened an extensive and
hot fire and after an hours fighting the
insurgents were dispersed by the Tara
gona battalion and other forces, which
used artillery.
The insurgents retired in two wings
and were pushed until they dispersed.
This ended the combat.
The column continued the march. the
Ia rr;u
Finding the water supply exhausted the
column pushed on to the Yeguas river.
During the fight Gen. Castellanos had
several men severely wounded and as 1t
was not convenient TO carry them. he
ordered the engineers to build fort.
where the wounded were left under an
escort of forty men.
On the 9Th and on the morning of the
9TH the fort was attacked by the insur-
gents but energetlcally defended with
loss to the insurgents of three killed.
The insurgents camped close to the fort
on the night of the sth. During the ad-
vance of the column from Yeguas river
1t was fired on frequently and upon the
flank When Las Largas was reached
the insurgents were ambushed In the
woods, while a considerable party was
In the valley. The column dispersed
them and then renewed the march.
Within two hours the insurgents reso-
lutely attacked the position. falling upon
the advance guard. but the latter being
reinforced repulsed them. using artil-
lery.
During the day the camp was twice
attacked by considerable forces OF in
surgents, who believing that a surprise
was possible. fought resolutely and were
only repulsed with artillery.
Gen. Castellanos believes these at
tacks were made by independent bodies
OF insurgents who retired after the fight
ended.
During the night the insurgents at
tackled the camp for the fourth time, but
were repulsed. On the seventh. after
reconnoitering for long distance. the
marshes surrounding San GERONIMO
without meeting insurgents. the Spanish
column returned to the Yeguas. 1t hal
skirmish in the Carmel woods. camp
ing there. During the night the ad-
vance guard was fired on.
On the Sth the column marched to the
Santa Cruz farm. after withdrawing the
garrison that had been left at the fort
Shortly afterwards the scouts were fired
on, and when the column reached Por-
cayo farm the insurgents appeared on
the fight flank, partly hidden by tina