The herald., 1897-04-30
.CUBANREFORM
To Be Put Into Immediate
Operation
THE ISLAND Is PAClFIED
ACCORDING TO REPORTS SENT
BY WEYLEE
THE ISLAND IS PACIFIED
The Advices From the Seat OF War
Indicate Continued Successes OF
the Insurgents
ssociated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
HAVANA, April 29.-News reacnea
here today from Madrid that the queen
regent had signed a decree providing ior
Immediately putting into operation the
scheme for reforms In Cuba already
agreed upon. A mail steamer Was de-
tanned twenty-four hours at Cadiz in
order to carry the decree establishing
the work of reform, which will begin in
P;nar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas and
Santa Clara.
A SPANISH DEFEAT
NEW YORK, April Pa dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says the en-
gagement the Spanish had with GEN
era! Rodriguez in the Purgatory hills,
and which was reported as a decisive
Spanish victory, turns out to have been
the reverse. The Spanish columns en-
countered the insurgents and attacked
sharply, relying on their superior forces.
The rebels retreated towards their
camp and succeeded in playing their old
trick of drawing the Spanish into an am
buscade.
General Castillo arrived with rein
forcements while Rodriguez was engag-
ing the Spanish and fell on their
flank The fighting lasted FIVE hours
and in killed and wounded and prisoners
the Spanish lost 2sO men.
News comes from Santiago de Cuba
that 200 volunteers, headed by priest
and a prominent physician. have join
ed the insurgents because they were
dissatisfied with the conduct of the
Spanish authorities. and believed that
Garcia would succeed in maintaining his
supremacy in the eastern province.
The situation at Banes continues to
command attention. Four cruisers and
several gunboats have been ordered
there to land a force to march on the
port from the direction of Holquin. The
rebel force in and near Banes is esti-
mated at S000
General Weyler came quietly back to
Havana early yesterday morning after
a six weeks trip to Santa Clara. during
which, if he accomplished anything
from military standpoint, the fact has
been most effectually concealed. 1t is
now reported that he is going to Spain
very soon, but the rumor is probably due
to the report that his son sails on April
so. 1t was reported last night that some
ineurgent chief of Importance had pass
ed into Pinar del Rio. He is believed to
have been Quintin Bandera. but the
statement lacks confirmation.
From MatanZas and other towns in
Santa Clara and Pinar del Rio comes
news that starvation ard disease are on
the increase.
ANOTHER CITIZEN
NEW YORK, April "a dispatch to
the World from Havana says: Advices
from Sagua La Grande say that Rafael
Fernandez. adjutant on the staff of the
insurgent General Roban, has been cap
tured. 1t is understood that he is an
American citizen. He is confined in the
military prison at Sagua. His case is
receiving attention at the hands OF
United States Consul Barker.
INSURGENTS CAPTURED
HAVANA, April GA column of
Spanish troops commanded by Colonel
Estfuch, which has been operating in
the province of Pinar del Rio. has cap
tured five insurgents camps. The enemy
left twenty-five men killed. The troops
had eight wounded.
The government has authorized Senior
PERU, the civil governor to return to
Madrid on Nav IN