The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-11
GREAT FIGHT N MATAhzAs
WeyIer's Forces Routed by the
Cubans Under Gomez.
THE SPANIARBS LOST HEAVILY
ms a regent Cavalry Pouring Into the
the Country Surrounding the Cap
ttal- Fears Of IA DEMONSTRATION In
Force Against the City Re-en-
forcements Called For.

New York, Aug. 11.-The herald pub
fishes the following dispatch from Havana:
Official information has reached Havana
of a decisive battle between loyal troops
and insuTgent forces in Matsnzas Ac-
cor,I,rg 20 this Information, the spanish
troops were routed, after hard battle,
with heavy losses
This news caused a veritable sensation
IN Havana, as it is generally known that
Captain General weylcr il now in Matan-
zas, and there is a general belief that the
Spanish troops directly under him were
those who suffered defeat at The hands Of
the rebels II this is true. the Spanish
officials mere are taking great pains To
suppress he fact
Ti.en. too, the knowledge in some quar-
tiers that Gen. Gomez is due ia Matanzas
at about this time with a large body of
insurgents added to the interest in the
hattle. While there is No good casse to
believe that Gen. Gomez was in the battle
in question, there has for some tine been
a seemingly well-founoed belief in Havana
that Gess. weyier and Gomez would meet
in MatInzas. While I have been unable
thus far Ia learn any OF the details
OF the oattle. I am in a position to state
that the Spanish loss in troops and Officers
was probably greater than In any recent
hattie The Spanish troops were compelled,
To give way before the rebels, leaving many
dead 90 the field TaeIe seems to be con-
siderable concern in the palace here today
about the result of the battle. While the
Officials viii not talk, have learned that
detachnents of the Cuban Cavalry have
been pouring into MatanZas from Santa
Clara province, and according to some re-
ports Maj. Gen. Fransiseo Garlic, COM
mander Of the Fourth Army Corps. as Well
as Brig. Gen. Rego and Montengudo, are
among the leades of the invading forces.
A concentration upon the Santa Clara
border OF all the insurGent forces in Matan-
zss was ordered some days ago by Gen
Avelino R0sas. the insurgent commander OF
the province. In view OF the rebel activity
aud the belief at the palace that Gen
Gomez or his lieut. uant, Major Gen.
Garlic. would attempt TO make a demon
s ration AGAINST HavaDa city, large re-
endorsements of Spanish troops have been
moved 10 the front from Havana and
Pinar del Rio provinces.
Gen. weyIer intended TO establish his
Headquarters first In Matanzas city AMI
than ia Cuines Havana province, in case
the Cubans Shou;d succeed in pushing their
way through Matanzas into Havana A
rumor reached this city last night that
railroad traffic had been stopped on
almost all the lines running through Ma
tanzas province. Excitement was added TO
by a later report that Gen. Weyier had
ordered The Marquis de Ahumada. the
acting governor general, to send as large a
force Of troops as could be spared To the
vicinity of Guines, near the border OF
Havana and Matanzas PROVINCES Ad
citIonsl artillery was shipped last night 70
-Guines
The present situation OF Gen. Weyler Is
similar 10 that OF Martinez Csnpos when
be-tricd, in December, 1896, To check the
famous raid of Gomez and Macco, and
was compelled 10 fall hack successfully at
Colon, Jovellanos and Coliseo before the
Cut,ans Those iu q position to know hint
that the chief source of concern in the
palace Is the receipt OF a cipher dispatch
from MatanZas
The names OF weyier and several other
Spanish generals. as well as those OF
Gomez and Cariio, are often repeated
in the course of the message. The al
legged information in the cipher dispetch,
canned with the demand for REINFORCE
ruents at Guines ard the shipment there Of
heavy artillery. leads many to believe that
the Spanish VIII make further stand at
Guines