The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-23
The Official Reports Say the Rebels
Were Defeated.
SPANISH FORCES SENT TO RE-
LIEvE THE GARRISON AT GU
AMO MEET WITH DESPERATE,
RESISTANCE FROM AMBUSHED
CUBANS ON THE ROUTE-THE
BELEAGURED FORT MAKES A
FIGHT.

Savannah, Jan. 22.--Upon the return
to Mansillo of the gunboat Centilea after
the sinking i'll the Cauto river of her con-
sort the Relampago. by the explosion OF
torpedo planted by the rebels. orders
We're given for force of Spanish troops
TO proceed to Guamo to relieve the be-
slcged garrison there, which had been the.
OBJECT OF the naval expedition, but which
had been frustrated by the loss of the
Relampago and the death and wcundnr
OF every man on board of the vessel and
the Centilea suffering from rifle fire of
the rebels who were ambuShcl on both
banks of the river.
The relieving expedition was under the,
command of Col. Torvnr who with his
brigade marched along the left bank OF
the Cauto river, meeting detached parties
OIL reoelS ut various places along the
route.
At Bayamo che insurgents were gath
cred i'll quite strong force but after n
short engagement they were driven from,
the town. The Spanish force then pro-
ceeded to Guamo, where they found that
the insurgents who had been attemptino
the capture of the fort had Disappeared.
1t was learned that the rebels had attack
ed the fort on January q. They were in
two columns, one operating from the
right bank Of the river, being under the
command of Caliyo Garcia, and the other
operating from the left bank, being le,l
by Rahi. Many attempts were made to
carry the fort by assault, but in every in
stance the garrison compelled the enemy
to retire
The insurgents had artillery and the
projectiles from their cannon UNI oofeti
the Tort, but did no serious damage to the
heary walls of the structure. Finding
themselves unable to capture the Spanish
position they determined to ATTEMPT to
compel it's surrender by cutting TIE sun
ply Of water.
In pursuance of this object trenches
were dug i'll front of the place, from.
| which the garrison obtained it's water
and detachment OF rebels were placed
therein to prevent the troops approach
ing. The garrison, however, had suffi-
Client water to last with economy until
the rebels, evidently hearing .of the up.
proach.ng of reinforcemepts, raised the
siege and retired
Sometime before the enemy disappeared
they blew up with dynamite barge that
was employed MS a pontoon for the pas
sage OF troops across the river. The siege
lasted fourteen days. The garrison lost
three killed and eight wounded, while
twelve men were made sick by the close
confinement within the walls of the fort.
the scant rations and short sunply of
water.
The Spanish brigade under command of
Gen Molin, which had been operating in
the vicinity of Iarabnnda, in the province
of Matanzas has had an engagement
with several combined parties Of rebels.
The official report says the rebels were
defeated and routed. In their flight many
OF them threw themselves into the Hn.
bana river and fifteen were drowned and
twenty-four persisted by sinking in the
mud. The troops lost two killed and
seven wounded.
Gen Weyler is now ut Paios, in the
province of Matanzas.