The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-11
VICTORIA DE LAS TUNAS IN POSSES
SION OF TIE INSURGENTS.
COnfirmatory Dispatches Received at
quested to Give an Explanation.

MADRID, Sept. 1O.-Oficial dispatches
from Havana confirm the report that Ca
lixto Garcia and Jesus Rabi, two of the in
surgent generals, have captured the town
of Victoria de las Tunas The Spanish gar
rison, consisting of three hundred men,
were all taken prisoners. Subsequently,
eighty-seven of the Spaniards were ex-
changed for an equal number of Cuban
prisoners.
The minister of war has cabled Captain
General Weyler asking for an explanation
regarding the capture of the town, which
was defended by seven forts, having two
Krupp guns among the armament. 1t is
stated here that the object of the insur-
gents is to establish their government
there and then obtain the recognition of
their belligerency by the United States. A
Spanish expedition will be- organized to re-
capture Victoria de las Tunas.
The Cabinet ministers have been sum-
moned to consider the situation The
newspapers of this city, commenting on the
capture of the town, condemn Captain Gen
eral Weyler The Impartial says that Gen.
Jovellar was removed from his command
for a similar disaster in 1876 1t is pointed
out that the strategic position of Victoria
de las Tunas Is important
been famous since the war of 1868 to 1878.
In 1876 it was taken by the insurgents UNI.
der Gen. Vicente Garcia. At the beginning
of the present revolution it was strongly
fortified by the Spanards, its garrison
numbering at least 1900 men.
Cubans Control Il Province.
ST. LOUIS, Sept l..~--..- Globe-Demo-
Gratis Havana correspondent says: There
is no question now about the fact that the
whole province of Santiago de Cuba is con-
trolled by the insurgents under General
Calixto Garcia. and General Jesus Rabi, the
Spanish troops being hemmed in the CAPT.
tai and Manzanillo. AT Platano, near the
town of Victoria de las Tunas, in that prov
ince, the Spanish battalion Cordoba has
been utterly routed by the Cubans under
General Perignito Perez, acting under in
structions from General Garcia. The battle
was fought in a heavy rain, in spite of
which it lasted several hours. The victory
of the Cubans was so complete that they
captured the flag of the battalion, large
train conveyed by the Spaniards and nearly
all the arms and ammunition of the bat
talon. The Spanish soldiers fled in disor-
der, throwing on the field their guns, hats,
blankets and ammunition.
THE news of this battle and of the gen.
eral failure to hold the province of Santi-
aga de Cuba has caused a great sensation
in Havana. General WeyIer- cabed at
length this morning to Madrid about the
situation. The last news from the orient
as well as what is happening in Havana
around the capital itself, has increased the
captain generals unpopplarity. The news
sent last week of the landing in the prov
ince of Havana of General Rafael de Car
dena's big expedition from the United
States is now fully confirmed and is not
denied at the palace of the captain general
The expedition carried an unusually large
supply of dynamite. The Spaniards, who
until a few days ago, supported Weylers
policy most enthusiastically now say that
he is running Spain, and losing Cuba, and
that, in spite of all his boosted reports, the
insurgents are stronger than the Spaniards
in the provinces said by him to be paci-
fed.
I'm the city of Havana there has been
no meat for two days The population,
threatened with starvation, protest against
the conduct of Weyler and his agents, who
have seized in the last few weeks all the
cattle in the neighborhood to provision the
troops. The shots of the insurgents around
the suburbs of Havana are heard every
night, exactly as before Weyler took the
field two weeks ago."