The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-08

New York, Dec. S.-The Press this
"wednesday morning, says:
Information Of the recent battle in
the Rubi hills in the Cuban province
Of Pinar del Rio has just been received
in this city. Ii throws a different light
on this fierce engagement, in which
several hundred men were killed other
than given out by the Spaniards, who
have been loudly proclaiming an unde-
niable victory for their side.
Colonel CardenaS arrived in this city
a week ago. He was badly wounded
while fighting on the Cuban side. He
was seen by a reporter of the Press.
Published accounts of the battle here
tofUre," said the colonel, have been in
correct, principally, of course because
they came from Spanish sources. This
is the news received in a private letter
today:
GOMEZ ADVANCING
On Nov. 26, General Rodriguez re-
CeiVed word that General Maxine Go
lnez was advancing from Las Villas, in
Santa Clara province, with two divis-
ions of 1000 men.
General Gomez ordered General
Rodriguez to pass General Parade and
his army ana join the Gomez forces in
Havana province.
This meant battle, of course, and
General Rodriguez at once divided his
army into two brigades. He was at the
head of the first brigade and the sec
ond, 1000 strong, was under command
of General Pedro DiaZ. 1t was well that
he started Immediately, for General
Parade, with 1000 Spanish troops, was
even then pursuing General Hermanos
Ducassi toward the Rubi hills After
several small engagements. which the
spanish heralded as a series of great
victories, the Ducassi forces gained a
position that was impregnable In the
rear We're the Rubi hills, while a mo-
rass protected one side.
THE BATTLE.
at dawn Nov u, the great bat
tie was fought. When General Par
RADIO came up with his army he found
Ducassi awaiting him. The Spanish
forces consisted of 5000 infantry and
1900 cavalry and guerillas They threw
themselves upon the body of Cubans
under General Ducassi. and at the same
moment General Rodriguez, with the
First brigade, caught up with the Span
ish rear and fierce fighting began. The
result of the battle might have been ia
doubt had not Colonel Pedro Diaz ar
rived at this juncture with the second
division of the Cuban forces. Hemmed
in between morass and mountain, and
attacked by three strong bodies 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 Cubans at
their heels. Parade we'll knew. He
kept his forces together and held his
ground until night. Then his men We're
Withdrawn into Havana province, leav-
ing the field in possession of the Gu
bans.
"'Of the Spanish troops 800 were
killed and many more than that mum
Der wounded. The Cubans captured 200
of the Spanish troops. three pieces of
cannon, many small arms and the
Spanish standard. The Cuban loss was
likewise heavy, but not so great-92
were killed in battle and y afterward
died from wounds, While almost 800
We're wounded slightly.
- 'Parrado's retreat toward Havana
left the way open for General Rodri-
guez to continue his march and Join
Gomez.
What the purpose of this move
ment is viii be known sometime about
the middle Of the month