Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-31
CUBAN INSURGENTS INVADE THE
CAPITAL CITY.
RESIDENTS ALMOST IN A PANIC
sPANIARDS FLEW TO ARMS AND
DROVE THE REBELS OFF.
Cuban. Have Been Within sight Of
Havana for Weeks-StrOnE Forces
Now in the NicinIty-Let-
ter From General
Castillo.

Havana. July 30.-Havana's Outposts nave
again been attacked by large ooeg Oh
rebels. who. before the Spanish troops
could be gathered TO resist, had swept
through the suburbs. carrying all before
them. They used. it is believed. rapid
5ring guns and a large quantity OF dyna-
mite.
The attack was made late last night.
To-day there is an inclination among tne
Spanish officials in Havana TO deny the
fact that the rebels had eYaded the lOrts
and swept into Havana limits The facts
however, remain. and the path left by the
rebels through the suburbs southeast o.
the city may be plainly traced.
At the first sounds Of firing last nlghl.
the Spanish soldiers in the city and
suburbs sprang to arms. They proceeded
hurriedIy to the soUthe astsrn paHt Oh 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 reoeis hao
retired.
Several wounded Spanish soldiers were
brought into Havana and removed TO nos
pitfalls after the engagement. and several
vere killed The reticenCe of Spanish ofn-
Gals prevents any knowledge OF the result
Of the attack becoming general IT Is
fact. however. that great damage was done
by the insurgents on their bold raid, and
thar a considerable quantity % dynamite
vas 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 the rebels have attacked the
city," created almost panic in some
quarters. There is still great excitement
here. due largely to the refusal ot the
officials to give out information
This attack on Havana was not uneX-
pecied. For weeks past the rebels have
been within sight Of the capital and have
moved practically without interference.
The insurgent leaders near Havana are
now Brigadier General Castillo, with a
large force at Mariana. niue miles south
west and Colonel Nestor Aranguren,, at
Guanabacoa. across the bay. General Al
exander Rodriguez. rebel commander OF
Havana province. with a large force. Is
near Minar, and Colonel Arrange is at Col
ORC.
There is belief in Havana that the rebel
raid was led by Aranguren, who is noted
as one Of the most daring of the rebel
chiefs - e.
Captain General weyler has left Havana
for Matanzas. and the belief IS expressed
that the knowledge by the insurgents os
this intention on his part led to the attack.
II is understood that large bodies OF in
surgents have recently crossed from Pinar
del Rio and Matanzas. and that the rebels
strength in this province has assumed for
midabIe proportions Quintin Banderas,
with 500 men, is among these whp have
come into the province from -AiatanZas.t
New York July 30-The Herald this
morning prints tire following from IT'S cor
respondent with the insurgent army in
Cuba: ...-..s.r
Il 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-sighi
severe combats with the enemy. We have
applied explosives 10 the trains, fought
troops on the highways. taken towns. and
our arms have been victorious everywhere
During the same month twenty-thret
persons, fully armed, who belonged TO the
Spanish army. have Joined our forces
Counting among the regulars. guerrillas
Volunteers and eleven civilians. therefore
{ am In a position to assure YOU that oul
forces are more than ever hourishtng and
Il was in Matanzas recently and while
there l witnessed a scene that reminded me
Of the stories Of the treatment of slaves
In Africa ] saw p Spanish inspector OF
police lash until they bled. feeble. totter-
ing reconcentrados I'm order TO force then
10 do government work.
''Matanzas is fun Of starving reconcentra.
los. Every night some Of them die on tn,
steps OF theaters or in the hospitals. and
except for private donations. they are alb
solutely helpless.
ION July u a ship arrived with a cargo
OF tiles TO be used for some government
purposes. To unload the tiles the police
pressed into service "A great number of re
concentrates. They were too weak TO work
too weak even 10 drag themselves down Z,
the harbor. Some started TO work but had
not strength enough to carry the tiles
Then II was that ] saw police Inspector
nit y and i
beat women and old men for their inability
f1 work