Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-09

Seven Captains and 1O3 Men.
They Also Recovered a Large
Quantity of Arms and Ammuni
ton.
New York, June S.-News has
reached the Cuban junta in this city
Of a victory achieved by the Cuban
forces over division of the Spanish
! army at Jiguani, province Of Santiago,
on May 49, 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
I strong, under orders from Havana to
/ abandon the interior towns and adj
! vance toward the coast, evacuated the
/ town of La Pedra, after having de-
/ stroyed their forts and Notifications
| TO prevent them from falling into the
! hands of the insurgents and camped
at Jiguani, where they expected to re-
main awaiting further orders. They
| were also joined there by a detach-
ment of 800 soldiers from Santa Rita,
and the two forces were united in
camp at Jiguan.
The Spaniards were surprised on the
| morning of May % by being attacked
| by division of the first corps belong
! irg to Gen. Galixto Garcia's command,
under the leadership of Col Jose Jesus
Rab With him also were Col. Lora,
| commander of the First cavalry, and
| Col. Montaire, Of the infantry regi-
ment Cuba Libre" The Cubans alto
gethered numbered a little more than
| 900 men, while the Spaniards had full
| ly twice that number.
THE CUBANS ADVANCED
| in good order, being well equipped
! with arms and ammunition, and took
the enemy by surprise. At the start
the Spaniards scattered, but afterward
made an effort to rally their forces.
| They only succeeded in being able to
| retreat in regular order to the village
r, of Palma There they were reinforced
| by several hundred men from Aqua
cote and Arroyo Blanco and turned
upon the Cubans, and the battle was
| renewed with fury. The Spaniards
| were beginning to recover some of the
| ground which they had lost when at
| most opportune moment the Cuban
regiment "Aguilera" came up from
| Gen. Garcias command and attacked
| the enemy in the rear. Simultaneous
| ly with this the regimnt Santiago at
| tackled upon the left flank, so that the
| Spaniardawere forced to fight hemmed
| in on both sides.
| The Cubans succeeded in taking sew
| eral advantageous positions which they
maintained throughout the fighting.
In their flight from their camp at
| .iguani the Spaniards were forced to
! leave behind much of their ammunl-
ton and supplies, SO that they were to
a considerable extent handicapped in
| x,
| Cubans seemed to be well equipped and
on the aggressive.
After six hours hard fighting at
Palma. which is only short distance
| from ,Jiguani. the Spaniards raised
flag of truce, and expressed themselves
! as being willing to surrender Terms
were speedily arranged, and the Gu
bans took as prisoners one Spanish
| nd
| other officers, besides 1913 soldiers. The
! Spanish loss amounted to 70 DEAD, pc
side a large numner VINO were
wounded. Included IN the Spanish
| losses were thirteen officers.
The Cubans sustained heavy loss,
but it was considerably smaller than
| that of the Spaniards. 1t is reported
that there were 45 killed including five
officers of lesser rank, and about oO
! wounded. After the battle the Cuoahs
returned to Jiguani
THERE THEY RECOVERED
a large quantity OF arms ana alhlhu-
milton from the deserted Spanish camp.
| together with provisions and supply
| wabons. which the enemy had oeen
| compelled to leave behind. These we're
much needed and were sent TO the
Headquarters Of Gen. Garcia camp at
| Bayamo.
The people Of the two towns OF il
guam and Santa Rita came out to greet
the victorious Cuban army, and there
was great rejoicing among the inhabi-
tants. who had. before that time been
forced to conceal their sympathies
| while the towns were occupied by
! Spanish soldiers Gen. Rabi at once
set to work organizing civil govern
merit for the towns, acting under the
orders of Gen. Garcia, in a proclama-
ton which he issued two days after
the battle.