New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-16
INSURGENTS SEIZE A CUBAN PORT.
srAXiARDs WILL. UNDERTAKE TO RECAPTURE
THE TOWN OF BANES

srANIARDs WILL UNDERTAKE TO RECAPTuRE
THE TOWN OF BANES.
Havana via Key West April l5.-Banes, i'm
portant port on the north coast near Gibara, from
which go heavy annual expectations OF bananas
and cocoanuts to the United States and which is
the site Of the estate OF II. Dumois Co. Ameri-
can citizens valued at s25.0Oo narrowly escaped
destruction yesterday The expedition under Cen
eral Rolofr by the steamer Laurada carrying 400
rifles 100000 cartridges and several pieces OF rapid
firing artillery, landed alongside the quay OF Banes
General Calixto Garcia, with 5000 men, came TO
protect the convoy of and ammunition. but
as Roloff had Garcia was compelled 10
carry the arms into the interior.
II Is reported that the insurgents, hearing that
Spanish gunboat might arrive at any moment
closed the entrance of the port with torpedoes
General Rooff. assisted by local bands. and finally
by rebels under General Garcia. began to fortfy
the heights around the port, hastily casting up
trenches to make the port temporarily impregnable
to any Spanish forces in the neghborhood Of
Gibara.
The gunboats Nueva Espahas and Mealica had
arrived at Nipe from Havana The cruiser heina e,a
Mercedes had left Havana on the 18th with -FOUR
companies of marines and infantry under the CON-
men4 he qt RsaI bad M Nps and % b
nsurgent position. for the recovery or the port of
Banes Nipe is separated from Banes by the San
en- na Ihree bey aT 1eJaned in full
view of the formidable and nearly impregnabe IN
surgent positions.
Reinforcements have been sent forward by the
Spaniards. and Admiral Navarro sailed to-day by the
cruiser Lcgasp for the Caribbean and thence for
Nipe personally TO direct the attack by sea The re-
nforcementS expected will be under General Livares
Evidently an important battle is in sight II the
insurgents try to defend their advantageous strong
hold and their claim of being able 10 hold sea-
port. Great anxiety exists with reference 10 the
garrison OF 100 men in the fort defending the quay
Of Banes. 1t is believed they will be compelled 10
surrender for lack of water and supplies. The
cruiser PinGon has twice been compelled to break
chains in order 10 enter the Banes port.
In view OF the approach of the rainy season
Captain General Weyler has ordered the erection OF
inhrmary the rocha and the extension OF the
military hospitals New hospitals Will be
sructed under the supervision of the Sanitary In
spector General at Trinidad. Casida. Isabella and
Sagua The Cap;an-General has ordered the demo-
ltion OF all houses inside the cultivation This
is the theory that the peasants Will remain At
night in the blockhouses and remove their families
10 the towns. In this way says General Weyler,
the regulars will not be exposed TO the risk, In
of insurgent aggression. OF shooting women
and children.
Five we-known merchants have been fined $500
each for issuing fractional scrip without authority.
There have been skirnishes at Pacetas Sagua.
Cego Avila and Grande Mnas. in which according
the Official reports the insurgents lost eighteen
killed. Upward of sixty huis have been destroyed in
the districts named