The record-union., 1898-03-02
BATTLE OF H0LGUIN.
WAS A DISASTROUS DEFEAT TO
THE SPANISH.
Cubans Reported to Have Gained a
Great Victory in the Province
Of Santiago de Cuba.

NEW YORK, March 2.-Reports of
the recent battle at Holguin, province
of Santiago de Cuba, have been re-
ceiyed in New York Instead of the
battle being q Spanish victory. as rep
resented from Havana, it was a dis
astrous defeat, followed by retreat
on the part OF the Spanish forces. This
information comes through Cuban
sources, and is the cause for a great
amount of rejoicing in Cuban circles,
because the guns and ammunition ship
ped from Long Island less than a
month ago We're used in the fight.
Major 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 that the Spanish forces
We're commanded by General Linares.
who for some time has been at Hol-
gum making preparations to march
to the city of Santiago de Cuba. His
army included cavalry and artillery.
Previous to his starting to march he
boosted that he would make the coast.
a distance of sixty miles, in direct
line, in four days. By the road to be
followed the distance was twenty miles
more, owing to the condition of the
country. His troops were the most val
liable 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 expedi-
ton a force under General Garcia had
no n N
case a demonstration was made, Col
onel Manuel Rodriguez was left with
vanguard of 900 men to worry Lin
ares, if he should try to leave Holguin.
While the expedition one of :hp lar
gest ever landed there. was being pro-
tected from attack, the Spanish Gen
eral marched out from Holguir. Ten
miles from Holguin the road became
hilly, and the rocks afforded protec-
tor equal to any modern fertilization.
Colonel RodriSuez's men took their
stand in this natural fertilization rear
the town of San Francisco. Owing to
the character of the country, less than
200 of the Spanish troops could he
brought into action when the Cubans
opened fire.
The road, a winding one. was q regu
lal death trap. Linares used MS ar
tilery as much as possible, bat the
Cuban force OF less than a thousand
men, could not be dislodged. Failing TO
make progress, Linares marched a Ior-
ton Of his command five miles east. to
move By the road which runs 10 Jiju
gana, expecting to follow the railroad
leading to Santiago de Cuba. This COM
ma nd was Intercepted by a portion Of
the Cubans and harassed so that il was
unable to reach the Cauto River. For
two days it was held in cheek, until
Garcia and his command could reach the
place Every day Spanish dead Were
buried and the wounded sent back 10
HClguin.
General Garcia's command lid not
re ach its full strength until the fifth day
after the fight 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 fifty killed.
The real Spanish loss will never be
known, as the dead and wounded Were
taken from the field at night. 1t is
st;mated that nearly / 900 were killed
ana wounded. From word received from
Hclguin, it was learned that there were
several companies almost annihilated by
the Cuban fire.