The record-union., 1897-12-04
Worsted in Engagements With Span
ish Forces in Cuba.
Forced to Retreat. Leaving Many Dead
Comrades on the Field.
Forty Thousand Peasants Gathered
in From the Country in Pinar
del Rio Towns, All of Whom
Reinforcements to be Sent to
Cuba.

HAVANA, Dec. 3.-The Spanish coll
ulnn under Lieutenant Colonel AlIolag
Seree engaged the insurgents al AFRO
Va BIanco, near Sancu Spiritus, and in
filcte0 considerable loss upon them.
Later ii had another hot engagement
with the insurgents at the Delicas
Farm, the insurgents being defeated
badly.
AT Medios the insurgent leader Eloy
MOnteaSu uuo, man OF much influence
among MS copar tisans, has formally
surrended.
The columns under Colonel Brualla
and Colonel Palanca, While in the Re-
medios district, fought the insurgents
under Generals Carrillo and Gonzales.
According to the official reports the in
Surgents left twenty five dead upon the
deld.
Senor Caneljas, the special Commits
sioner of the Spanish Government, mas
returned here from his visit to the pro-
vince of Pinar Del Rio. He says there
are in the province 1000 .'concentra-
dos, peasants gathered in from the
country and neighboring towns for pro-
lection from the insurgents, or to pre-
vent them from joining the enemy, and
that they are all in want. OF this
number 1o,UUO are orphans, and the
majority are children of tender ages.
The commissioner adds that the con
centrados" are badly distributed. At
Plnar Del Rio, the capital, for instance,
there are only 4OO of these unfortunate
people, While at towns like Consolation
and Candelaria there are over 1000 of
the sufferers.
The Marquis De Apezteguia, Presi-
dent of the standing committee of the
Planters Association, expresses the
opinion that all signs indicate the sue
cess of the seasons sugar crop. AL
though the reformists have appointed
a committee to negotiate with the auto
nomists, it is believed, nevertheless,
that nothing definite will be decided
upon until the arrival from Madrid of
leading members of the party who have
been appointed as delegates by the Gu
ban reformists there, and who are now
on the way.
The Governor of Pinar Del Rio is en-
deavoring to relieve the critical condi-
ton of the province, where majority
of the inha abitants are identified with
the tobacco trade. The crop this year
is only half the normal. 1t is ru-
mored here that the agent Of an Eng
Hsh syndicate intends to buy several
of the first cuttings, and he is said to
have offered 100000 pounds sterling for
Corona and 100000 pounds for Cabanas
and Carvajal.
NO MORE REINFORCEMENT
MADRID, Dec. 3.-According to a
dispatch received here from Havana, it
is believed that no further reinforce
ments Of Spanish troops will be re-
quired for Cuba, the present forces be-
ing regarded as sufficient to suppress
the insurgents before the rainy season
begins.
The newspapers publish the following,
which is much commented on:
Captain-General Blanco has cabled
the Government that, knowing General
Correa, Minister of War, is opposed to
sending furthe% ,reinforcements, he has
studied the meaAs of creating a volun-
teer corps Of whites and negroes. who
will reply to the guerrilla tactics Of the
rebels by similar warfare but he would
need for this undertaking 1000 600 pc
setas monthly. He is convinced that
I,
Cuba, except in the eastern part, would
be pacified by June next, when the To-
cal Government could finish the war
THE VESUVIUS' CAPTAIN EX-
PLAINS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Commander
Pillsbury of the Vesuvius, which has
been doing some hard work off the
Florida coast, engaged in heading off
filibustering expeditions, has been an
noyed by the publication in the news
papers few days ago of a story to the
effect that he allowed the tug Daunt-
less to pass with the schooner in tow,
which carried supplies OF war to the
Cuban Insurgents. The Commander has
written letter to the Navy Depart
ment, il which he says he had consid-
cred the matter of such Slight import
ance heretofore, that he had not men,
toned il to the department, but the
width Of the publication calls now for
an answer, which he gives in the fol-
lowing form:
"On November 11th I heard that the
Dauntless was at Fernandina for fumi-
cation. The Vesuvius proceeded to that
port at once to keep her under obser-
Ndtloii. hHC was loulio JUST CIthSNillS
the bar for Jacksonville, to which port
the Vesuvius accompanied her. She
was thoroughly searched, and allowed
to proceed to the city. She was taken
on the ways and cleaned and painted,
and a few minor repairs made to the
boilers and engines.
"On November 7th she was put in
the water again, and on that day the
Vesuvius proceeded to the mouth of the
river to await her coming On Friday,
November 10Th, the tug came down
the river with the schooner Jennie
Thomas of Baltimore in tow, bound for
Savannah Both the tug and the
schooner were searched thoroughly and
critically. The schooner was empty,
and was cleared for Savannah. The
tug had nothing on board but coal, two
or three blocks of ice, and a small leg
of beef She had crew of nine men.
Her papers We're complete, and without
a flaw. She moored the schooner for
night near by, and went to wharf at
Pilot Town.
'.The next morning. at very early
daylight, just before she got under way,
an officer was again sent on board and
another search made, with the same
result. She was allowed to proceed.