The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-09
GREAT BATTLE FOR GARCIA.
DECISIVE VICTORY WON BY INsUR-
GENTS AT JIGUANI.

spaniards Surprised on Morning Of
May 22-FOrced to Retreat to VIII
Iage of PaIma-ReinfOrced and Re-
newed BattIe-Cubnn Attack on
Rear Compelled Them to surren-
der-Many Prisoners TaIken-Heavy
Spanish Loss.
New York, June s-News has just
reached the Cuban Junta in this city of
a victory achieved by the Cuban forces
over a division of the Spanish army at
Jiguanl, province of Santiago, on May %
1t was one of the most decisive battles
which the patriots have gained in many
months, and the most important one since
the war was declared by the United States
against Spain.
A column of Spanish soldiers 1900 strong
acting under orders from Havana to aban-
don the interior towns and advance toward
the coast, evacuated the town of La
Piedra, after having destroyed their forts
and Notifications to prevent them from
falling into the hands of the insurgents,
and camped at Jiguani, where they expect
ed to remain awaiting further orders
They were also joined there by a derach-
ment of 800 Spanish soldiers from Santa
Rita, and the two forces were united in
camp at Jiguani.
The Spaniards were surprised on the
morning of May p by being attacked by
a division of the First Corps, belonging to
Gen. Calixto Garcia S command, under the
leadership of Col. Jose Jesus Rabi. With
him also were Col. Lora commanding the
First Cavalry, and Col. Montaire of the
infantry regiment Cuba Libre" The
Cubans altogether numbered a little more
than 1000 men, while the Spaniards had
full twice that number.
The Cubans advanced In good order, be-
ing well equipped with arms and ammuni-
ton, and took the enemy completely by
surprise. AT the start the Spaniards scat
tered, but afterwards made an effort to
rally their forces. They only succeeded in
being able to retreat in regular order to
the village of Palma.
There they were reinforced by several
hundred men from Aguiacote and Arroyo
Blanco, and turned upon the Cubans, and
the battle was renewed with fury The
Spaniards we're beginning TO recover some
of the ground which they had lost, when,
at a most opportune moment, the Cuban
regiment "Aguilera" came up from Gen
Garcia's command, and attacked the enc
my in the rear. simultaneously with this
the regiment Santiago attacked them
upon the left flank, so that the Spanards
were forced to fight, hemmed on both
sides. The Cubans succeeded in taking
several advantageous positions, which
they maintained throughout the fighting.
In their flight from their camp a Jiguani
the Spaniards were forced to leave behind
of hair ,11r1itf
so that they were TO a considerable extent
handicapped in fighting, while, on the
other hand the Cubans seemed to be well
equipped and on the aggressive.
After six hours hard fighting at Palma,
which is only a short distance from
Jiguani the Spaniards raised a flag of
truce and expressed themselves as being
willing to surrender. Terms were speed
lily arranged, and The Cubans took as pris-
oners one Spanish colonel, seven captains
and several other officers, besides 1903 SOL
diers.
six dead, besides a large number who were
wounded Included in the Spanish loss
were thirteen officers.
The Cubans sustained heavy loss, but
it was considerably smaller than that of
the Spaniards. 1t is reported that there
were forty-hve killed, including five Of
flcers of lesser rank, and about sixty
wounded.
After the battle, which was one of the
bitterest of the war, the Cubans returned
10 JiguanL There they recovered a large
quantity of arms and ammunition from
the deserted Spanish camp, together with
provisions and supply wagons, which the
enemy had been compelled TO leave behind.
These were much needed, and were sent
to the headquarters of Gen. Garcia's camp
at Bayamo.
The people of the two towns of Jiguani
and Santa Rita came out to greet the vic
torious Cuban army, and there was great
rejoicing among the inhabitants, who had,
before that time, been forced to conceal
their sympathies while the towns were oc-
cupied by Spanish soldiers
Gen. Jesus Rabi at once set to work or
sanlzlng a civil government for the towns,
acting under the orders of Gen. Garcia in
proclamation which he issued two days
after the battle.
HONORS FOR THE HOBSON HEROES.