The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-03
C|JBANS WE'RE VCIORS
In a Recent Desperate Battle
Claimed By SPAIN
TWO THOUSAND SOLDIERS
Killed in the Conflict, Against
Fifty CubanS.

New York, March 2.-Reports Of the re-
cent battle of Holguin, province Of San
tiago de Cuba, have been received in
New York. Instead of the battle being a
Spanish victory, as represented from Ha-
vana, it was a disastrous defeat follow
ed by retreat on the part of the Span
ish forces.
This information comes through Cuban
sources, and it was the cause for great
amount of rejoicing in Cuban circles, be
cause the guns an dammunition shipped
from Long Island less than a month ago
were used in the fight.
Major Miranda, who landed the expedi-
ton, 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 by
General Linares, who for some time has
been at HolgUin 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
in four days. BY the road to be followed
the distance was twenty miles more, ow-
ing 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 land
ed To protect the expedition a force IN
der General Garcia had been sent to the
southern coast. In case a demonstration
was made Colonel Manuel Rodriguez was
left with a guard of 900 men to worry
Lnares 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 Holguin. Ten miles from Hol-
gum the road becomes billy and the rocks
afford protection equal to any modern
fertilization. Colonel Rodriguezs men
took their stand in this natural fortifica-
ton near the town of San Francisco. Ow-
ing to the character of the country, less
than 1000 Of the Spanish troops could he
brought into action when the CUbans
opened fire.
The road, A winding one. was a regular
death trap Linares used his artillery as
much as possible, but the Cuban force of
less than a thousand men could not be dis
lodged. Failing TO make progress, Lin
ares marched n portion Of his command
FIVE miles east to move by the road which
runs to Juguana- expecting TO follow the
railroad leading to Santiago de Cuba.
This command was intercepted by a por-
ton Of the Cubans and harrassed so that
II was unable to reach the Cauto river.
l. :
General Garcia and his command could
reach the place.
Every day Spanish dead were buried
and the wounded sent back 10 Holguin.
General Garcia's command did not reach
It's full strength until the fifth day after
the fighting began. On this day the Span
Ish columns retreated IN disorder, carry
Ing the wounded to Holguin and leaving
200 dead on the field.
The Cuban loss in the five days fight
ing 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. It is esti-
mated that nearly 1000 were killed and
wounded. From word received from Ho-
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 states that the
whole eastern portion of the island is
safe in control of the Cuban civil gov
hrnment. 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.
DIR. Joaquin Castillo, Of the junta. for
his work in landing arms on the Cuban
coast. has been appointed 10 the rank of
brgadier general The Cubans in the
field. according 20 the letters. are praying
for the United States tn strike blow. in
order that they may attack Havana from
The land.
Today II is reported from apparently
reliable sources that General CaliXto Gar
ella is in Santa Clara province with 5000
men.