The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-22
HARD FIGHTING IN CUBA.
HATANA PROVINCE rs THE SCENE OF
lost OF II

The Cubaus PorVersely Deciine to Be Driven
Out OF It-Thsy Have Worsted tho SPAN
iards In twenty flights This Nfonth-Pn.
triots Deride Blanco's Talk OF Autonomy,
HAVANA, Oct. 90: via Key West. Oct, 2l.-
There is not q day now without two or moro
important engagements between the Insurgents
and the Spanish troops In Havana province.
The Spanish columns show unusual activity
in their desire to dis.odge the Cubans from tho
strong positions they occupy near the capital.
Tho Cubans on their side, In spite OF tie numcr-
ical superiority Of the Spaniards, are fighting
like demons, and up to this time they have been
successful in holding their positions in tho
province.
Gen. Molina, O student in Weylor's school Of
cruelty, though IT. Is generally acknowledged
that he Is moro inclined 10 fight than the Cap-
tain-G General, Is the Spanish commander who
Is most eager to expel tho Cubans from Havana
province, especially the brigados commanded
by Arrange and ArangurCn. Since Oct. l Mo-
lima has fought twenty sharp battles against
these Cuban leaders. and he has had tho ad-
vantage OF larger cavalry forces than those OF
Arrange and Aranguren. 1t Is well known that
for tho successful carrying ont of their guerrilla
tactics, cavalry Is almost Indispensable 10 the
Cubans. Nevertheless, Gen. Molina has invar-
iably been obliged to retreat.
Tuesday last he fought desperately near
Guines. against a Cuban force commanded by
G as.:s A ,ro,n l'9Mdri .s The h s "
losses on both sides. But Molina was com
PEELED to retreat to the, town, after a heavy lire
from q cannon which the Cubans had reserved
for the last moment. \ report from Guines re.
ccived here to-day describes the pitiful condi-
ton in which the Spanish column entered tho
town.
Willie that engagement was going on Col.
Arangurcn was attacking FL Cotofro. which Is
surprised. and made no resistance. The Cubans
piGndered. tho town and captured a large
amount Of c%gttl1,, which they took away. 80.
took place at JGula, Havana, between tho bat
TALON OF EspaGa and the Cubans under Brig:
AStG!fo del Castillo, Both ailes exhausted
a spGCiai train. The same day, four rites from
were captured by the Cubans, and. according
70 ;ho death s%cutcn"c passed on all those who
belong TO that irregular Spanish 'p.ce, they
were hnnged.- An important convoy froE Ha-
vana to San jose was also captured ty the In
surgents.
In this province. The insurgents were led by
Col. Acea. The Cpbans had ten killed and AZ
teen wounded. The Spaniards retreated with
twenty killed and forty.nine wounded.
Gen. Alexandra Rodriguez has issued q proc
lamation to the Inhabitants Of the province Of
Have M, saying that every man in the Cuban
army is ready to die rather than to stop the war
and accept %autonol : from Spain.
THE Sun: know that the announcement
made by Gen. Blanco that he viii bring auton-
omy to Cuba is but a scurvy trick Of tne Span
granted to Cuba. What tho spaniards cali
autonomy will be something else. But even II
they should grant such a liberal home rule as
dependence. We want Cuba free forever
from Spain; That Is our entire prosramme.",
from starvation In Havana city. In Matanzas
the number OF deaths from starvation was $50.