The herald., 1897-07-31
Attacked by Large Bodies
of Insurgents
GEN. WEYLER WAS NOT THERE
BEING BUSY IN PACIFYIN0
MATANZAS
Insurgent Leader Castillo Writes Ex-
pressing His Confidence Of Sue
cess Of the Insurrection
Associated Press Special Wire.


NEW YORK, July SO.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Havana says: Havana's OUT
posts have again been attacked by large
body of rebels, who, before the Spanish
troops could be gathered to resist, had
swept through the suburbs, carrying all
before them. They used 1t is believed,
rapid-firing guns and large quantity of
dynamite.
The attack was made late last night. To-
day there is an inclination among the
Spanish officials in Havana to deny the
swept into Havana limits. The facts. how
ever. remain and the path left by the
rebels through the suburbs southeast Of
the city may be plainly traced.
At the first sounds of firing last night
the Spanish soldiers in the cities and SUBJ
urbs sprang to arms. They proceeded hur-
riedly to the southeastern part Of the
city, from where the rattle of musketry,
followed by the boom Of heavy guns or
dynamite could be heard plainly all over
Havana. Then the sound of firing in
creased and finally, after few hours, died
away, showing that the rebels had retired.
Several wounded Spanish soldiers were
brought into Havana and removed to hos
pitals after the engagement. and several
were killed. The reticence of Spanish Of
ficials prevents any knowledge of the re-
suit of the attack becoming general. 1t is
fact however, that great damage was
done by the insurgents on their bold raid
and that a considerable quantity of dy-
Mantle was used.
There was great excitement in Havana
during the rebel attack. Hundreds, aroused
by the heavy firing poured into the streets
and the word passed along, 1.-THE rebels
have attacked the city," created almost a
panic in some quarters. There is still great
excitement here, due largely to the re-
fusal of the officials to give out infor-
nation.
This attack on Havana was not unex-
pected. For weeks past the rebels have
been within sight of the capital and have
practically moved without interference.
The insurgent leaders near Havana are
Brigadier-General Castillo, with large
force, at Mariana, nine miles southwest.
and Col Nestor Arangueren of Guanaba-
Gao, across the bay. General Alexander
Rodriguez, rebel commander Of Havana
province. with a large force, is near Minar
and Colonel Arrange is at Colorado.
There is a belief in Havana that the
rebel raid was led by Arangueren, who Is
noted as one of the most daring Of the
rebel chiefs.
Captain General Weyler has left Ha-
vana for Matanzas. and the belief Is ex-
pressed that knowledge by the insurgents
of this intention on his part led to the at
tack. 1t is understood that large bodies
of insurgents have recently crossed from
Pinar del Rio and Matanzas, and that the
rebels strength in this province has as
sumed formidable proportions. Quintin
Banderas, with 800 men, Is among those
who have come into the province from Mat
anzas.
SPANISH CRUELTY
NEW YORK, July 30.-The Herald this
morning prints the following from its cor
respondent with the insurgent army in
Cuba:
~ have received the following letter from
General Castillo, addressed to the New
York Herald:
"Our confidence in our final triumph is
daily greater During the last month, with
our moderate force, we had twenty-elght
severe combats with the enemy. We have
applied explosives to the trains. fought
troops on the highways, taken towns. and
our armies have been victorious every
where. During the same months 23 per-
sons fully armed, who belonged to the
Spanish army, have Joined our forces.
Counting among the regulars guerilas
volunteers and all civilians, 1 am in po-
more than ever flourishing and victorious,
81 was in Matanzas recently. and while
there witnessed a scene that reminded me
of the stories of the treatment of slaves
in Africa. | saw Spanish inspector of
police lash until they bled feeble, totter-
ing reconcentrados in order to force them
to do Government work. Matanzas is full
of starving reconcentrados. Every night
some of them die on the steps of theaters
or in the hospitals Except for private do
nations they are absolutely helpless.
ION July IA ship arrived with cargo
of tiles to be used for some Government
purpose. To unload the tiles the police
pressed into service a great number Of re-
concentrates. They were too weak to
work-too weak to even drag themselves
down to the harbor. Some started to work
but had not strength enough to carry the
tiles. Then it was that the police in.
spectors appeared and mercilessly beat
women and old men for their inability to
work."
The Herald correspondent with the rebel
army writes that he recently witnessed
the blowing up of a train with a body of
soldiers while crossing a bridge. This
explosion was merely an experiment. From
the Insurgents standpoint it was highly
successful. The train was wrecked and
several soldiers killed.
LADIES ARRESTED
HAVANA, July SO-A number of resi-.
dents of Guanabacao, including several la
dies, who it is alleged, are implicated in
the introduction into the island of articles
contraband of war in American condensed
milk cans. have been arrested and ordered
to the Casa Reconoidas to await trial.
The officials deny the report that an at
tack was made upon the outposts of
Havana Wednesday, and declare that there
is no panic or unusual excitement in the
City,