The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-03
THE BATTLE OF HoLCUIN.
Disastrous Defeat Resulted to the
Spanish Troops.
GEN. lINARES COMPLETELY ROUTED.
Insurgents Had Every Advantng,
ana Drove spaninrds Bncis i'm
Utter Confusion.

New York, March 2.-Roports of the re-
cent battle at Hoguin, province of Santa
20 de Cuba, have been received in New
York Instead of the battle being a
Spanish victory, as reported from Hav
ana, 1t was disastrous defeat, followed
by retreat on the part of the Spanish
| forces. This information comes through
Cuban sources. and is a cause for great
rejoicing in Cuban circles. because the guns
and ammunition shipped from Long Island
| less than month ago were used IN the
| fight.
Major Melinda who landed the expedi-
| ton, reports the victory without many de-
| tails, but from other letters which came
out by the same mail the story is told.
The Spanish forces were commanded by
General Linares, who for some time past
has been in Holgun 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 a direct line-ln
four days BY the road to be followed the
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 on the march the Long Island ex-
petition had been landed. To protect the
expedition force under General Garcia
had been sent to the southern coast. In
Manuel Rodriguez was left with van
guard of 800 men to worry Linares if he
should try to leave Holguin
While the expedition, one of the largest
ever landed there, was being protected
from attack, the Spanish general marched
out from Hoguiu. Ten miles from Hol-
gum the road becomes hlly and the rocks
afford protection equal to any modern
fertilization. Colonel Rodriguez men took |
their stand in this natural fertilization
near the town OF San Francisco. Owing |
to the character of the country fewer
than 2000 of the Spanish troops could be
brought into action when the Cubans |
opened fire, The road, a winding one, was
regular death trap. Linares used his |
artillery as much as possible. but the Gu /
ban force of fewer than 1000 men could |
not be dislodged. Failing to make prog
ress. Linares marched a portion of his
command five miles east to move by the |
road which runs to Jiguaua, expecting TO
follow the railroad leading to Santiago de
Cuba This command was intercepted by |
portion of the Cubans and harrassed 81
,1,, fN.,ttt nr-t,tn
For two days it was held in check until
General Garcia and his command could |
reach the place.
Every day Spanish dead were buried
and the wounded sent back TO Holsuin |
General Garcia's command did not reach |
its fun strength until the fifth day after |
the fighting began. On this day the Span
ish columns retreated in confusion, carry
ing the wounded 10 Holguin and leaving
200 dead on the field,
The Cubans' loss in the 1--WE days fight
ing was fewer than 30 killed.
The real Spanish loss will never be
known, as the dead and wounded were
taken from the field at night. 1t is esti-
mated that nearly 1000 were killed and
WOuHdtu FROM MuAh ItNIINti ilpDl
gum it was learned that there were sew
eral companies almost annihilated by the
Cuban FIRE.
Other letters from the Cuban army re-
port it in good condition and one from
ex President Cisneros stated that the
whole eastern portion of the island is
safe in the control OF the Cuban civil gov
ernment. The ex-president says he is TO
be appointed postmaster general and tells
of the plans for postal service as though
there were no war on the island.
General Enrique Collazo has been raised
to the rank OF general, with q command at
Tunas,
DR.. Joaquin Castillo. of the junta, for
his work in landing armies on the Cuban
coast, has been appointed to the rank OF
brigadier general. The Cubans In the
field according TO the letters. are pray
ing for the United States to strike blow
in order that they may attack Havana
from the land