The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-14
.CUbANS WIN
A BATTLE.
Garcia and Rabi Put the Spaniards
to Route.
A CHARGE WITH MACHETEs AND
THE DEADLY WORK COMPLETED
BY A SHOWER OF BULLETs-JU-
LILO sANGUILLY is SAID TO
HAVE LANDED ON THE ISLAND.
FIRING HEARD ON THE OUT
SKIRTS OF HAvANA-"THER ROAD
TO DEATH
A CHARGE WITH MACHETEs AND


most important insurgent success in
months has just reached Havana
1t appears that Gen. CaliNto Garcia and
General Rabi fell upon n Spanish force
which was carrying food and supplies
from NIanzanillo toward Bayamo early
last week. They captured the convoy,
routed General Lono's columns and pur-
sued him SO vigorously that he fled to the
const with n remnant of his brigade and
took II ship Mt CabocorGs for Nfanzanilio
so severe were the losses aud so thor
oughly disorganizcd was his men that
the Spanish general, it is said, did not
dare to attempt to retracc his stems to
ManZanillo by land, fearing that he would
be again attacked and this time wiped
out Of existence.
The engagement goes to show how help
less tho-Spanish are in the country east
of the trocha. which is we'll called Cuba
libre. What is known of the affair came
in private letter to Spanish officer
here.
The disaster to the arms of Spain was
due primarily to General Weyler's perss-
tent course in attempting to hold Bay
amo, which military critics say is with
out strategic value and not worth n tenth
part of the sacrifices already made in at.
tempting to send arms and provisions
there from Manzanillo, only ten leagues
away. Spain has lost five thousand men
and food and arms along the road to Bay.
amo, and now the Spanish soldiers call it
the ''road to DEATH"
General Lono laid trap for the insur-
gents. Believing that the convoy would
be attacked he sent his mule train ahead
with scaEt escort, intending to flank
the rebels or fall upon their rear with his
main infantry while the escort held their
fire. His force Is said TO have been be-
tween fifteen hundred and two Thousand
men.
General Garcia, with between six hun
dred and u Thousand men, waited for the
convoy three leagues from Bayamo. lie
was told by his scouts that there was n
large Spanish force following the poorly
protected mule train, and suspecting II
trick, he allowed the pack mules and
small escort.o pass without -molestation
ut the time. He then placed his men in
an advantageous position to await the
coming of General Lono.
Tie Spanish, engerjy awaiting the
sound of firing ahead, which would tell
them that the train had been attacked,
marched straight into the trap When
the column was within short range the
insurgents fired. The effect was deadly.
The Spanish returned the fire, but with
little result. They realized that they had
been ambushed, and saw by the gaps in
their ranks that the enemy was in force
Lono's men advanced aJ the word, but
another volley from the insurgents caused
some wavering. Then arose the old cry,
"Al machete,' and before the ranks could
be closed or square formed Garcia's
veterans were upon them.
AS has been usual the Spanish infan-
try, having been subjected TO heavy fire,
Ia1id not long oppose the machete with the
EpVOnnt In fatt- iafo
was general.
General IIono and his staff, by desper-
ate efforts, succeeded in rallying few
hundred mer for another stand, but al
though they opposed the insurgents adj
vance with II brisk fire it was evident
that the day was lost. Fearing that Il
movement among the insurgents meant
IN attempt to surround them, the Span
ish broke and ran. Thus the defeat be-
came q rout.
The insurgent forces were then divided,
one division pursuing General Lono and
the other going to capture the arms and
provisions. The second divisions task
proved easy, aa Mt the sound of heavy
firing the small force protecting the mule
train had halted.
The Spanish commander, with the re-
treating main body, was harassed ten
miles. lie decided to abandon the ~egu-
lar road back to Manzanllo, fearing that
he would be interrupted, as General Rcy
had been few days before. The yicto-
rious Cilbans were in the road TO Bayamo,
his provisions were lost and his men were
without food. The only way he saw to
save the remn ant of his force was to make
for the coast at point many miles from
Manzanillo.
~ passenger steamer was pressed into
service and carried the Respondent sol.
diers back to Manzanillo. So fierce was
the fighting that they were able to carry
of only few of their wounded.
There is as yet no official report of any
engagement between Garcia and Lono.
1t is one of those cases in which tho liter
AIRY bureau of General Weyler works with
little enthusiasm,
There has already been widespread crit
icism of Weyler's plan of campaign and
this Bayamo business will increase the
hostile comment. | hear that General
Gomez, upon learning of Weyler's lecla-
ration the Santa Clara was pncified, is
sued proclamation of his own declaring
Santiago de Cuba and Puerto Principe
'pacified."
Julio Sanguilly is said to have landed
May with large expedition at San
Juan Gle las Playas. 1t is also said that
Roloff with thousand men was there to
receive him. Commanders of gunboats
patrolling the coast are reported to have
been put under arrest for not preventing
the landing of Sanguilly. San Juan is
| ten leagues pnst Of SnUno Tho ipour