New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
FOUGHT FOR FOTR DAYS.
CUBANs SAY THEY HAVE WON A STUBBORN
BATTLE IN PUERTO PRINCIPE-MORE
ALLEGED SPANISH OT-TPAGFs


The details Of one Of the ongost-dra n out bat
ties between the Cubans and the Spanish forces
which have been fought since the rebellion in the
island began received yesterday by the Junta,
In this city from General Lope Recio. who Is in
command OF the Cuban forces in the Province Of
Puerto Principe The battle began February Il,
and running engagement for four days II
the plans Of the Spanish forces had succeeded they
would have captured the Cuban stronghold IN tho
mountains Of Naiasa. which was the Cuban armys
base Ct supplies for the province
According to the Official report of General Reco
the Spanish forces left the city of Puerto Principe
on February IS with the intention OF capturing
Najasa On the third days march. when at the
plantation Matilda twenty miles from Najasa,
the Cuban cavalry in command OF Brigadier-Gen-
eral Branlio Pena met the Spanish guerilla forces
known as the Cadi= gueras under the command
Of Lieutenant Perojo. The Cubans numbered saw
onty men. and they est down the Spanish guerilla
force among the killed being the lieutenant in
command
This preliminary skirmsh was hardly before
the Cuban forces opposed by the Spanish cav
airy in command Of Major Capaz The Cubans at
tackled so fercely and the Spaniards sur
prised that they did not even have time 10 draw
their swords and defended themselves with tho
butts OF their carbines. They were soon routed
and fed from the field In this second encounter
the Cubans captured eighty horses and equipments
Their loss was fourteen men. ana tney lOund lorry-
seven Spaniaris dead the field The report says
that as a result Of this defeat Major Cspas has
been court martialled
Following this battle there was continuous hEht
for three davs the main body Of IN. Span
i.h forces numbering four thousand men under
the command OF General Castellanos. and i've hum
dred Cuban cavalry and like number OF infantry.
under General Recio. The engagement was a fierce
one and II resulted In the Spanish forces being
compelled on February "a 10 retreat 10 Puerto Pr.n.
c,ne without getting nearer The Cuban stronghold
than the plantation where the FIRST skrmlsh took
Mace According 10 the cuban generals report
tho Cubans buried 293 Spanish soldiers the fed
while the Cuban loss only seyenty-elght Ac-
cordng TO the report OF this same battle given In
the Spanish paper "El Fanal. published AZ Puerto
Prncipe the battle went In favor Of the Spanish
forces after they had fired $500 shots as well as
nearly fifty shots from their field pieces The
turn Of their forces 10 the city Puerto Principe
Is EXPLAINED by the statement that 1T was con-
sidered advisable not 10 proceed further"
In connection with this report General Recio
made the following statement OF the killing Of
D,ego Betancourt and one OF his daughters by
snor,sh soldiers He said The policy followed by
snanlards In the field against the pacincos Is the
n,n as /, was under General Weyler The Span
tarJe continue numbering and destroying just as
re- aid under the barbarous General The span
tsh forces under the command Of Pedro Gonzales
is ~, lime ago went TO the plantation Of Diego
n,anconrt near Puerto Principe. Bctancourt was
~ IN he'd but because nc would not accede 20
their demands he was az one nd his s.ysntssn
WIZ IA daughter and when her sister. who Is nf-
go Gears old attempted 10 escape. one OF the
spanish solder. ran Th a, Is only one OF the many
VIZ. VIZ q, their recent barbarous acts In this prov
ince"