The Bourbon news., 1897-12-24
BATTLE AT YACTA FORD.
Gen. AIdave, With a Force of 1000
Spaniards, Attacks the insurgents.
The latter Were Outnumbered and Gave
Way, Until Cavalry Reinforcement
Arrived-The Insurgents Reformed
and Attacked the Spaniards.

New YORK, Dec. 22.-Following is
the Cuban version of the battle fought
at Yacta ford, on the Cauto river, on
December IA last. The details were
seceived through the mails by Capt.
Alfred Rodriguez, a Cuban insurgent
officer, who is invalided in this city.
1t tells of crushing defeat inflicted
upon the Spanish general, Pando.
Capt Rodriguez's correspondent says:
"A part of Gen. Calixto Garcia's
force, under Lieut. Col. Salvador Rios,
was holding the Yacta ford of the
Cauto river. 1t was important for
Pando's force to reopen the river in
order that reinforcements might be
sent to the city of BayamO, beseiged by
Gen. Roloff. Gen. CaliXto Garcia's
main force was a little further up the
river protecting ford threatened by
Gen. Pando Gen. Aldave, in COM
mand of 1000 Spanish infantry (regu-
lars), a squadron of cavalry and 5000
guerilla volunteers, % cannon and six
light gunboats, attacked Rios.
''Disposing his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta ford, Aldave
opened a hot fire on the insurgent
works on the opposite side of the river.
Rios and his 500 Cubans retired into
the cover of the woods, and the ford
was open for the Spaniards' passage.
''Aldave advanced a column of in
fantry across the ford, holding their
rifles and ammunition belts above
their heads, the men being protected
by a continued artillery fire. Rios,
seeing that he could not hold his posi-
ton without help, sent a volunteer
courier, Lieut.. Chas. Hickman, an
American, to Gen. Calixto Garcia, up
the river Hickman had to ride di-
rectly through the enemy's fire, but
made the passage safely.
Meanwhile Gen. Aldave landed 1,50O
more men on the farther side and
Gen. Pando, with large force, at this
time made a feint upon the upper
ford. Gen. Garcia, deceived by Pan
dos movement, decided that he could
spare only small reinforcement to Col.
Rios and sent Col. Carlos Garcia, with
only 200 mounted men, down the river.
This reinforcement, small as it was,
renewed the hopes of the defenders of
the Yacta and they charged the Span
ish with bayonets.
1.-The Cubans, however, were so heav-
lily outnumbered that they were forced
to give way. Carlos Garcia's horse was
shot under him, and Col Rios was
wounded slightly in the leg. Col. Gar
cia's escort renewed the charge with
machetes this time, and held the
Spanish forces in check for short
while.
BY this time Gen. Garcia had seen
through Gen. Pandos feints on the up
per ford and dispatched Gen. Jesus
Rabi, with 1000 cavalry to their relief.
They arrived just as the Spanish were
recovering ground from the machete
charge, and fell suddenly upon their
rear, throwing the troops who had
crossed the ford into confusion.
1.-The Spanish had to give ground
and became exposed to the fire from
their own artillery in the hills and
from the six gunboats which had join
ed in the ombardment of Rios men.
Gen. Aldave ordered this destructive
fire to cease, reformed his attacking
party and dispatched a message to Gen.
Pando for assistance in carrying the
Cuban position.
But it was too late. The Cubans,
reforming, raised their battle shout of
al Machete! Cuba Libre, and fell up
on the Spanish ranks with terrible eff
feet. A body of 1000 guerillas was cut
off from Aldave's force and threw down
their arms.
'Gen. Rabi, knowing the half-hearted
loyalty of these volunteers, told them
that they must fight their own COM
rades or be cut to pieces, and they
Obeyed and really fought desperately
on the Cuban side.
''Gen. Aldave, seeing that his men
would be annihilated, withdrew them
across the ford, again protected by the
artillery fire. Gen. Pando, with an es-
cort, rode down from the upper ford
and directed the Spanish retreat
THE Cuban loss in this engagement
was LOG killed and about 800 wounded.
Gen. Rabi's men found 200 Spanish
dead, and Gen. Ladave, in his report
TO Havana, said his wounded number
ed 200. The Cubans believe they in
ficted much more damage; that the
Spanish troops carried away many OF
their dead and mini mized the number
Ofwounded, reporting only one-fourth.
Among the Cubans killed was Mai.
Llenda and Capt Garcia, son of a
rich planter. The Spanish left
on the field Lieut.. Col. Llave, two
captains and an assistant surgeon and
the standard of arms of the Battalion
Ilanaros."
Alleged Embezzler Arrested.
NEWARK, n. j., Dec. 22-Julius A.
Brose, discount clerk in the. State
Banking company here, has been ar
rested on the charge of embezzling
$1,000. He is a single man, 30 years Of
= .af LIZ. a 4