The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-22
WAS A CRUSHING DEFEAT
Cubans Drive the Spaniards Into
the Cauto River.
WON UNDER GREAT ODDS
General Pando's Forces Were Obliged
to Retreat in Confusion and Un DER
Heavy Fire-They Suffered
Great Loss In the Fight.

New York. Dec. 21.-Following Is the
Cuban version of the battle fought at
Yacta ford. on the Cauto river, on Dec.
IA last. The details were received
through the mails by Capt. Alfredo
Rodriguez, a Cuban insurgent officer,
who is invaded in this city. 1t tells
of a crushing defeat inflicted upon the
Spanish General Pando. Captain Rod
riguez's correspondent says:
"A part of Gen. Calixto Garcia's
force. under Lieutenant Colonel Saliva
dor Rios, was holding the Yacta ford
of the Cauto river 1t was important
for Pando's forces to reopen the river
in order that renforcements might be
sent to the city of Bayamo, besieged
by General Roloff. Gen. Calixto Gar
cia's main force was little further up
the river protecting 81 ford threatened
by General Pando. General Aldave in
command of 1000 Spanish infantry. reg
ulars. a squadron of cavalry and 3,eOe
guerrilla volunteers, % cannon and six
light gunboats, attacked Rios.
"Dsposing his artillery on the hills
commanding the Yacta ford, Aldave
opened a hot fire on the insurgent
works on the opposite side of the river.
Rios and his 500 Cubans retired into the
cover of the woods and the ford was
open for the Spaniards passing.
'Aldave advanced a column of in
fantry across the ford, holding their
rifles and ammunition belts above their
heads. the men being protected by a
continual artillery fire. Rios, seeing
that he could not hold his position
without help. sent volunteer courier,
Lieutenant Charles Hickman, an Amer
lean, to Gen. Calixto Garcia, up the
river. Hickman had to ride directly
through the enemy's fire, but made the
passage safely.
Meanwhile General Aldave landed
500 more men on the further side and
General Pando, with a large force, at
this time made a feint upon the upper
ford. General Garcia, deceived by Pam
dos movement, decided that he could
spare only a small reinforcement to Col
onel Rios, and sent Col. Carlos Garcia
with only 200 mounted men down the
river. This reinforcement. small as 1t
was, renewed the hopes of the defend
ers of the Yacta and they charged the
Spanish with the bayonet.
THE Cubans, however, We're so heav-
lily outnumbered that they were forced
to give way. Carlos Garcias horse was
shot from under him and Colonel Rios
was wounded slightly in the leg. Colo
mel Garcia's escort renewed the charge
with machetes this time and held the
Spanish forces in check for a short
while. By then Gen. CaliXto Garcia
had seen through General Pando's
feints on the upper ford and dispatched
zen. Jesus flaDl Win l,uuU cavalry "
their relief. These arrived just as the
Spanish We're recovering from the ma
bhete charge and fell suddenly upon
their rear, throwing the troops who had
crossed the ford into confusion. The
Spanish had to give ground and became
exposed to the fire from their own ar
tillery in the hills, and from the six
gunboats which had Joined in the bonn
bardment of Rios men. General AL
dave ordered this destructive fire to
cease, reformed his attacking party and
dispatched a message to General Pando
for assistance in carrying the Cuban
position.
but it wass too late. The Cubans.
reforming, raised their battle shout of
.Almachete,' Cuba Libre,' and fell up
on the Spanish ranks with terrible eff
feet. A body of 1000 guerrillas was cut
off from Aldave's forces and threw down
their arms.
General Rabi. knowing the half
hearted loyalty of these volunteers. told
them they must fight their own COM
rades or be cut to pieces, and they
obeyed and really fought desperately on
the Cuban side. General Aldave seeing
that his men would be annihilated.
withdrew them across the ford, again
protected by the artillery fire. General
Pando, with an escort, rode down from
the upper ford and directed the Span
ish to retreat.
Inc CUBAN loss III ItlIS eDSuStInenl
was JOG killed and about 800 wounded.
General Rabi's men found 200 Spanish
dead, and General Aldave, in his report
to Havana, said his wounded numbered
200. The Cubans believe they have intlict-
ed much moro damage; that the Span
ish troops carried away many of their
dead and minimized the number of
wounded, reporting only one-fourth.
Among the Cubans killed We're Major Le-
lada and Captain Garcia. son of a rich
planter. The Spanish left on the field
Lieutenant Colonel Have. two captains
and one assistant surgeon and the
standard of arms of the battalion liam
aroS.
General Garcia promoted Hickman.
the daring courier, to captain, on the
field Pando has reported to General
Blanco that 100, 900 men are needed to
break the backbone of the insurgent
opposition in the east, and that 1t is no
longer practicable to continue the cam
paign to relieve Bayamo. This city Cen
eral Garcia expects to capture early in
January, being now able to detach
troops from his command to send to
Roloff's aid"
Captain Rodriguez has also received
news that General Maxine Gomez has
crossed the Jahonyu river at Ciego de
Avila and has continued on his march
To effect junction with General Rodri-
guez
NO EVIDENCE.
Orders HIVE Deen Received for the Re-