The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-15
HARASSED BY REBELS
SPANISH TROOPS HAVE THREE DAYS
OF CONSTANT FIGHTING.
Cuban Insurgents Give Gen. Castil-
IanOs Plenty of Excitement on His
March to san Geronimo.

HAVANA, March 14.-General Jimenez
Castiilanos, owing &c persist tent rumors that
the insurgent government had its headquar-
tiers at San Geronimo. Puerto Principe de-
cided TO take the field on the 18th. Proceeding
by the Yeguas road at the head of a strong
column of regulars. he began to encounter
groups of insurgents at distance of about
"A mile and a half from the city of Puerto
Principe. On arriving at the Los Claveles
farm, distance of about five kilometres
from the city. he engaged the advance
guard Of the insurgents md hot fight en-
sued. The insurgents were dispersed. but
the troops, owing to the lack of water, were
compelled TO fall back to the farm of La
Union de Lanes. At daybreak of the 5th
the march was renewed in the direction of
the Aranjuez ranch. From the commence
ment of the march there had been frequent
firing on the vanguard and TANKS OF the
column and this was kept up until II
reached the San Jose de Caoba valley,
where the insurgents held position in the
edge of the forest. The front and the 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 pursued until they disappeared. This
ended the combat. The column continued
the march TO Aranguez, the insurgents re-
firing on its arrival. Finding the water
supply completely exhausted. General Cas-
tehanos pushed on To Yeguas river camp
ing on its banks. During the fight he had
several men severely wounded, and as II
was not convenient to carry them, he Or
dered the engineers to build a fort, where
the wounded were lett unGer an escort or
forty men. On the 9th and on the MORN
ing of the 9TH the fort was attacked by
the insurgents, but energetically defended,
with loss to the insurgents of three killed.
Ihe insurgents camped close 10 the fort
on the night of the sth.
During the advance of the column from
the 1eSudS river IL was fired on frequently
during the 9Th. but continued TO San Gero-
hlfno, with constant firing upon the adj
vance guard and the TANKS until Las Larga
was reached. Here the insurgents We're IN
ambush in the woods while a considerable
party was in the valley. The column dis
persed them and renewed the march tow
ara San Geronimo where it finally went
where Within two hours the insurgents
resolutely attacked the position. falling
upon the advance guard. But the latter
being reinforced repulsed them, using the
artillery. During the day the camp was
Twice attacked Dy considerable lnSurgent
forces. who. believing that surprise
possible. fought resolutely and were only
repused with artillery. During the night
the insurgents attacked the camp for the
fourth time, but We're repulsed
On the 9TH, after a accommodating for a
long distance the marshes surrounding San
Geronimo without meeting the insurgents,
the Spanish column returned the Ye-
guas. IL had a skirmich in the Carmel
woods. camping there. During the night
the advance guard was fired On the
Sth the column marched 10 Santa Cruz
farm. after Withdrawing the garrison that
had been left at the fort. Shortly after
wards the scouts were fired and when
the column reached Porcayo farm the in
surgentS appeared on the right flank partly
hidden by the woods.
They opened hot fire but were repulsed
after several hours hard fighting. The
march was then renewed. When Santa
Cruz farm was reached the insurgents
opened fire on the vanguard and the right
flank. They We're intrenched behind a
natural embankment formed by a dried
up stream. The Spanish artillery and cav
airy forces were used to seize the strong
hours. The water supply at Santa Cruz
being exhausted. General Costellanos was
compelled to leave for Las Claveles. from
which point he pushed on TO Puerto Prin-
cipe, reaching the city about noon. He lost
one lieutenant killed. three lieutenants
wounded. six regulars killed and twenty
wounded. 1t is estimated that the insurg
ent losses were fOrty-seven.