Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-24
ROUTED THE CUBANS.
Reported That Garcia Made a Disas-
trous Attack Upon Spaniards Coming
to Santiago to Surrender.

New York, July PA dispatch to
the Herald from Santiago via Port An
tonic, says: Great excitement was
caused at Santiago to-day Thursday
by story brought in by Cubans that
1900 insurgents, comprising Gen. Gar
cia's army for the eastern department
of Cuba, were routed in fierce engage
ment with a. detachment of Spanish
troops bound for Santiago to surrender.
In this battle, which took place at
point several miles to- the north of
this city, forty-one Cubans were killed,
the Cubans say, and many more were
! wounded. The Spanish loss was much
smaller, it is said.
Nothing happening in this vicinity
! recently has taken the American Off
GERS and troops so completely by sur
prise as this story of battle between
the Cubans and the Spaniards. Our
troops had cCme to look upon the in
Surgents as eaters rather than as fight
ere, and they scarcely believed the re-
ports that Garcia's men had lain in
ambuscade and had opened the fight
by attacking the Spanish troops.
1t is not known whether Gen. Garcia
was aware of the number of the enemy
he was attacking. If he thought he had
encountered small force of Spaniards
and could overpower them easily it
was grave mistake apparently. There
were at least 5000 Spaniards in the
Dcdy, according to report, and they
drove Garcia's men into full retreat a
few hours after the battle began.
When the Cuban general withdrew
his troops to the mountains he resolv-
ed to move on to Holguin, about sixty
lilies to the northwest of this city.
If the Americans would not allow them
to Wreak vengeance upon the Spaniards
IN Santiago the Cubans proposed to
storm some ether important place and
take possession of it on their own ac-
count. 1t was with this object in view
that Gen. Garcia withdrew his troops
from the American lines and refused
longer to act as an ally of Gen. Shat
ter. He decided to capture Holguin
! If possible, and to there set up an in
surgent government, making that place
the Cuban headquarters for the east
ern department.
1t is not stated how far to the north
west of Santiago General Garcia's army
had proceeded upon this miss on when the
Spanish troops were encountered They
had been marching for many hours. how
ever, and must have been well started on
their journey.
The Cubans and Spaniards met on the
road between Santiago and Holguin. The
Spaniards, it is said. had been gathered
from the fortified towns in the vicinity
and were proceeding to Santiago under
the terms Of surrender agreed to by Gen.
Toral. They were seeking to carry out in
good faith the agreement made with Gen
Shafter They were not looking for a
fight and were caught off their guard
Gen. Garcia, it is said, ordered his men
to form so that they would be concealed
in the chaparrel, hoping to annihiate the
first section of the Spanish troops. His
plans were promptly put into execution
but the Spaniards, quickly recovering
from the Generalization caused by the
opening shots, fought fiercely and Gen
Garcia's ambuscade was a failure
Although unsuccessful in his plan to
trap the Spaniards, Gen. Garcia, accord
ing to the Cubans who brought the story
sent word to them demanding that they
surrender forthwith.
To this demand the Spanish commander
returned an emphatic refusal. Gen. Toral
he notified Gen. Garcia, had surrendered
Despite information that the Spaniards
were a part of those included in Gen
Toral's surrender, Gen. Garcia is said to
have ordered his troops to prepare to
fight.
The Cubans quickly took the position to
which they had been assigned and the or
der to fire was passed along the line.
Gen. Garcia had decided. It is said, to
attempt to carry the Spanish position by
assault, and his troops pressed forward
when the word was given. Their pro-
gress was firmly resisted al every point
by the Spaniards who, after several
hours fighting, put the Cubans to rout,
with loss of forty-one killed and many
wounded. The Spanish suffered a smaller
loss.
The story of the battle and its dfsas-
,trous results has greatly excited the Gu
hey are demanding vengeance and
derstand why the Americans do
ste their Spanish prisoners of
co