The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-03
The Most Serious Defeat Sustained
by The Spanish.
THEY ADMIT A LOSS OF 200 MEN,
BUT CLAIM A VICTORY AS
USUAL - TRUSTWORTHY RE.
PORTS, HOWEVER, SHOW THE
CUBANs' TO BE THE VICTORS.
THE BATTLE LAST TWO JAYS
IN PINAR DEL RIO.

Havana, Dec. =, via Key West.-The
linrcest battle fought in the province of
Pinar del Rio since the death of General
Maceo was reported here yesterday by an
official Spanish account, published in all
the newspapers, and by communications
from the insureent lines.
Though the Spanish report BOASTS, as
Usual, of a great .ictory, it confirms, in
many details, the Cuban story. Speciai
information from trustworthy sources
leaves no doubt that the result was the
most serious defeat sustained by the
Spanish army since the battle of Garcia
raJlcara, in the same province.
The battle WAS fought among the hills
OF Romero, Mandama, and Los Palatios,
IN which the insurgent Gen. Ducassi was
encamped with his .army in 800 huts
made OF palm tree leaves. AT Cuchilla
ami Caimitos, two other mou ntaius. Dr.
cassi had also some 1000 men strongly
fortified. The insurgents nun bered in
all some $500 men, well armed with
modern rifles and dynamite bombs.
The Spanish columns of Gen. Bernal
and Hernandez de Velasco combined to
d'slodge the insurgents from their posi-
tions ut Romero, Mandama and Los
Pdlados. They bravery for ght to attain
thst end the whole of Monday, but were
repeatedly repulsed by the PATRIOTS Sew
e1al bayonct attacks by the Spanish col :
umns ended disastrously for them, and
after over 100 Spanish soldiers had been
killed and their lines had been thrown
into confusion 10y several dynamite explo-
sons, both Spanish generals decided to
retire and ask for reinforcemcnts
On Tuesday morning the battalion of
Aranjuiz came 10 the help of Generals
Bernnl and Hernandez de Veinsco, and
then the Spanish, numbering 5000 regu.
lars, made II desperate attempt TO take
the stronger positions of Caimitus ana
Cuchilla. With sacrifice of sixty seven
men. they took Mt the point OF the bayo
net the heights Of Caimitos. But new
bomb explosions prepared by the insur-
tents soon disperied them.
Ducassi took Cuchilla again before
noon. Three Spanish battalions gave up
the fight and retired
The official Spanish report published
here by the press censor says:
1.-The loss of the insurgents were i'm :
mense. They fled in panic and Gen. Der.
nails cavalry forces ARE still pursuing
them. We had one major and two sol
diers killed and Que major, one captain
and nineteen soldiers wounded
But the Spanish officers under Gen. II
de Nelasco confessed that their losses
est fight they had ever had in Cuba.
Senior Canaleias arrived yesterday even.
ing Mt Pinar del Rio city, with his four
secretaries on special train from Ha-
vana. He had Il splendid reception from
the municipality and the whole Spanish
population. The new autOnomist gov
ernur went TO the station to welcome
him, But the Spanish editor, answering
all these cordial manifestations with the
warmest terms of gratitude, did not lose
any time i'll gathering all the details OF
battle for his newspaper and sent report
ers around to investigate.
Another sensational report comes from
the east to the effect that the patriots
had attacked the town of Bayamo, in
Santiago de Cuba province. almost de-
stroying the ward of Guisa, in which
they secured II Il rye booty in the form of
arms, ammunition, clothes and v'ctuals
The fact is officially acknowledged by
the Spaniards in Havana, though it is
said that ''no details are known