The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-24
CARACAS ARMY ROUTED.
ReDoEted TO Have Attacked spaniards
on Their Way to Surrender.

ON Their Way to Surrender.
NEW YORK, July ga dispatch to the
xIkrald from Santiago. via Port Antonio, ia
IIaiea, says: Great excitement was caused
IN Santiago to-day Thursday by story
brought in by Cubans that 1900 Cuban in
surgents, composing General Garcia's army
fos the eastern department of Cuba, were
routed in a fierce engagement with de-
taehment of Spanish troops bound for SAINT
iaEo 10 surrender. In this battle. which
toik place at a point several miles 70 the
north of the city, forty-one Cuhans We're
killed, the Cubans say, and many more
were wounded. The Spanish loss was much
smaller, it is. saidg
Nothing happening in this vicinity recent
lyS has taken the American officers and
Troops so completely by surprise this
story of battle between Cubans and Span
iards. Our troops had come to look on the
insurgents as eaters rather than as fighters.
and they scarcely believed the reports that
Garcia's men had lain in ambush and had
opa.4ed the fight by attacking the Spanish
troops 1t is not known whether Gen. Gar
ci8 was aware of the number of the enemy
hewas attacking If he thought he had en-
countered a small force of Spaniards and
cofild overpower them easily, it was grave
mistake, apparently. There were at least
$3.50 Spaniards in the body. according to
retort, and they drove Garcias men into
fuIl retreat a few hours after the battle
began.
When the Cuban general withdrew his
troops TO the mountains he resolved to move
on Holguin, about sixty miles TO the north
west of this city If the Americans would
MOI allow him to wreak vengeance on the
Spaniards in Santiago, the Cubans proposed
to storm some other important place and
taEE possession of K on their own account.
1t svas with this Object in view that General
Garcia withdrew his troops from the Amer
iaaslslines and refused longer to act as an
sklsst,f General Shafter. He decided to cap
tune Holguin if possible, and to set up a
C,tioan government making that place a
CuSlarr Headquarters for eastern Cuba 1T
IS not stated how far TO the southeastward
General Garcia's men had proceeded on this
mission when the Spanish troops were en-
coGntered. They had been marching fer
many hours, however, and must have been
we'll on their journey.
The Cubans and Spaniards met on the
road between Santiago and Holguin. The
Spaniards 1t is said, had been gathered
from the fortified towns in the vicinity and
we've proceeding to Santiago under the
terms of surrender agreed 10 Dy Genefai
Tosai. They were seeking to carry out in
coed faith the agreement made with Gen.
eral Shafter. They were not looking for a
fight and were caught off their guard.
General Garcia, II is said, ordered his men
10 form so that they would be concealed in
the chaparral. hoping to annihilate the first
section of the Spanish troops. His plans
were promptly put into execution, but the
Spaniards. quickly recovering from the de-
liberalization caused by the opening Shots
fought hercely. and General Garcia's am
buGcade was a failure.
although unsuccessful in his attempt to
trap the Spaniards General Garcia, accord
Ing to the cubans who brought the story,
sent word to the Spanish that they sur
render forthwith. To this demand the Span
ish commander returned an emphatic re-
fusal. General Toral." he notified GEN
eraI Garcia. has surrendered to the Amer
lean army.an0t TO the Cubans@
Despite the information that these Span
iaf3s were a part of chose included in
General Toral's surrender. General Garcia
is said TO have ordered his troops to pre-
pare to fight. The cubans quickly took the
positions to which they had been assigned,