Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-03
SPANARDS WERE ROUTED.
A Battle Near Holguin Resulted in a
Decisive llsurgent Victory.

Five Days of Fighting-The Span
iards Left 200 Dead on the Field.
and Their Loss Is Estimated at
1000 Killed and Wounded--Col.
Linares's b o a s t q d Triumphal
March to Santiago De Cuba Ter
minated in Disaster and Retreat,
New York, March Reports OF the
recent battle at Holguin, province Of
santiago de Cuba, have been received
fri New York Instead Of the battle
icing a Spanish victory, is represent
od from Havana, it was disastrous
deieat, followed by a retreat on the
BART OF the Spanish forces. This in
formation comes through Cuban
sources and is the cause for a great
amount Of rejoicing in Cuban circles
because the guns and ammunition
shipped from Long Island less than
month ago We're used in the fight.
Maj Miranda, who landed the ex-
petition, reports the victory without
many details, but from other letters
which came out by the same mail. the
story is told.
The Spanish forces were commanded
Dy Gen. Linares. who for some time
has been at Holguin making prepara-
tons to march TO the city OF Santiago
de Cuba. His. army included cavalry
and artillery. Previous to his start
Ing o march he boasted that he would
make the coast-a distance Of 60 miles
IA a direct line-in four days. BY the
load to be followed the distance was
% miles more, owing to the condition
Of the country. His troops were the
most valuable in the Spanish army,
many of them having been on the
island for three years.
A WEEK BEFORE
The starting Of the march the Long
Island expedition had been landed.
To protect the expedition a force I'M
der Gen. Garcia had been sent to the
southern coast. In case a demonstra-
ton was made, Col. Manuel Rodriguez
was left with a guard Of geo men to
worry Linares il he should try TO
leave Holguin.
While the expedition, one Of the larg-
est ever landed there, was being pro-
lacted from attack, the Spanish gen
eral marched from Holguin. Ten
miles from Holguin the road becomes
hilly and the rocks afford protection
equal to any modern fertilization. Col.
Rodriguezs men took their stand in
this natural fertilization near the town
Of San Francisco. Owing to The char
acter Of the country, less than 1000
Of the Spanish troops could be brought
into action when the Cubans opened
fire.
The road, winding one, was a reg
uIar death trap. Linares used his ar
tHiery as much as possible, but the
Cuban force of less than a thousand
men could not be dislodged. Failing
70 make progress, Linares marched a
portion of his command five miles east
70 move by the road which runs to
Jiguana, expecting to follow the rail-
road leading to Santiago de Cuba
This command was intercepted by a
portion of Cubans and harassed so
that it was unable to reach the Cauto
river For two days if was held in
check Until Gen. Garcia and his com
mand could reach the place.
Every day Spanish dead were buried
and the wounded sent back to Hol-
gum Gen. Garcia's command did not
reach its full strength until the fifth
day after the fighting began. On this
day the Spanish columns retreated in
confusion, carrying the wounded to
Holguin and leaving 200 dead on the
field
THE CUBANS LOSS
in the five days fighting was less than
30 killed.