The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-08
A SPANISH VICTORY
Proves To Be an Ignomnous Defeat-Both
Sides Lost Heavily.

New York, Dec. S.-The Press this
"wednesday morning says: Inside in
formation of the recent battle I'M the
Rubi Hills in the Cuban province of Pr
mar del Rio, has just been received in this
city. 1T throws different light en- this
fb=Ece engagement, in which several hun
dred were killed, from that given by the
Spanish, who have been loudly proclaim
ing an unquestioned victory for cIheir
side.
L.eut.-Col Gabriel de Cabanss arrived
in this city a week ago. He was badly
wounded while fighting on the Cuban
side. He was seen yesterday by re-
port,u of the Press.
published accounts of this battle here
tofore," said rhe colonel, "have been in
correct, principally, of course, because
they came from Spanish sources. This
is the news 1 received in a private let
ter today:
"On Nov. 26 Gen. Mario Rodriguez re-
ceiyed word that Gen. Maxine Gomez
was advancing from Las Villas, in Santa
Clara province, with two divisions. of
1000 men, Gen. Gomez ordered Gen.
RODRIGUEZ ito pass Gen. Parade and his
army and join the Gomez forces in Ha-
vana province.
"Thls meant a battle, of course, and
Rodriguez ito pass Gen. Parade and his
into two brigades. He was at the head
of the first brigade, and The second, 1000
strong, was under command of Col. Pc
dro Dfaz.
at was all we'll that he started I'M
medlately, for Gen. Parade, with 1000
Spanish troops, was even then pursuing
Col. Hermanos Ducasse toward the Rubi
hills. After several engagements, in
which the Spanish reported a series of
brilliant victories, the Ducasse forces
gained a position that was practically
impregnable. In the rear were the Rubi
hills, while a morass projected one side.
con November 81, the great battle
was fought. When General Parade came
UP with his army he found Ducassee
awaiting him. The Spanish forces con-
sisted of 5000 infantry and 1000 cavalry
and guerillas. They threw themselves
upon the body of Cubans under Colonel
Ducasse and at the same time General
Rodriguez, With his brigade, caught up
the Spanish rear and fierce fighting be-
gan.
" The result of the battle might have
been in doubt had not Colonel Pedro
Diaz arrived at this juncture with the
second division of the Cuban forces.
Hemmed in between morass and noun
tain, and attacked by three strong bod
les of Cubans when they expected to
meet only one, General Parade too late
saw the pit he had fallen into. The
Spanish artillery was soon silenced and
for a time it looked like rout What
that meant with the Cubans at their
heels Pedro we'll knew. He kept his
forces together and held his ground I'M
til night Then his men were with
drawn into Havana province, leaving the
field in possession of the Cubans.
"Of the Spanish troops 300 wef's killed
and many more than that number
wounded The Cubans captured 200 of
the Spanish -troops, three pieces of cam
non, many small arms and the Spanish
standard
1.-THE Cuban loss was likewise heavy,
but not so great. Ninelty-two were killed
in battle, twelve afterwards died from
their wounds, while almost 800 were
wounded slightly.
'rParado's retreat towards Havana left
the way open for General Rodriguez to
continue his march and join Gomez.
What ths purpose of this movement is
will be known some time about the mid
die of this MONTH