The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-11
THE BATTLE Of NAJASA.
-Four DAYS Pitched Battle Between
Cubuns and Spaniards.
VICTORY WAS WON by THE PATRIOTS
lars Before They Were Routed.
Another Brutal Outrage.

! New York, March 10.-The Cuban junta
has received by messenger the official re-
| port of General Lopez Rio. who commanded
| the Cuban forces at the battle OF Najasa
Cn February 21-24 The details Of the
| battle show that while the Cubans were
ortnumbcred four 10 one, for four days
| they held their position aud caused the
| Spanish troops TO retreat, leaving 2i3 dead
| OH the field. The messenger who brought
the official news also brought a copy OF a
/ Spanish paper admitting the return of the
Spanish soldiers, but asserting that the
four Gays lighting resulted IN victory for
Spain.
On February IS General Jiminez Castel-
lanos LETT the city OF Puerto Principe with
1900 Spanish soldiers. III addition TO three
squadrons OF cavalry the Spaniards had
two small Krupps.
The day previous Castelanos was told
that the Cuban stronghold in the hills OF
Najasa was not well protected and could
be taken Najasa is situated In plateau
less than forty miles from the city of
Puerto Principe. 1t is the Cuban base OF
supplies for Puerto Principe province, and
is used a hospital station. Several at
tempts have been made to take it in the
past. Owing to it's natural advantages,
1000 men, 1t is said, can hold it against
ten times that number. The road leading
10 IL Is bad, and offers ambush and pro-
lection In case OF attack. On the morning
of February q, while more than ten miles
from Najasa, the vanguard of the Spanish
army, composed OF guerillas under Lieu
tenant Perojo. was attacked at turn Iii
the road.
The Cuban cavalry, under Brigadier
Branlio Pena, numbered 90 The van
guard composed so men. OF the 90, three
| ,Nn1 4 ,1,rNne
lost IA men.
The Spanish cavalry, under Major CopaA,
was attacked by the full Cuban cavalry,
400 strong. The loss in this charge by the
Cubans was slight. The men under Copaz
were defeated without their firing a shot.
the Cubans charging them from the front
and rear. The men were literally cut 10
pieces. They defended themselves with
the butts OF their carbines.
The Cubans secured so cavalry horses
with equipments, 100 carblnes and amlnu
milton. Afser the cavalry rout they were
forced to retreat, the Spanish army,
1000 strong. came into action. Retreatlns
for more than a mile, the Cubans made
second stand behind rocks and checked the
advance of Castellanos' troops until night !
fall, In the night the Cuban wounded |
We're sent to the rear and breastworks |
thrown up that would each protect half a |
Goaen Cubans The troops were moved 10
hieHtT ElCuHu anu everything possible !
done to make Notifications.
Tho next day the Spaniards attempted 10 |
take knob of ground holding twenty men. |
After eevreal Intellectual attempts one of |
the Krupp guns was used and the position i
was abandoned for one higher up. During |
thn sheliuS OF the small Notifications the |
Cubans twice caused the piece 10 be with
drawn out of rifle range.
There was no attempt made to advances |
by the Spaniardy on tho ed. They kept up |
continuous fire shooting whole voleys |
whenever a Cuban showed his head.
Twice on the third day General Castel-
lanos made an attempt to advance. On
both occasions his troops were driven back.
On the Gath. the fourth day Of the fight,
he suffered a less OF more than 100 killed,
and withdrew. leaving his dead upon the
field They retreated TO Puerto Principe |
ord announced that they had defeated n
force OF 5000 Cubans
The dead were buried by General Rios
troops His own loss was rs killed and
mere than 100 wounded. Major Copaz, tho
commander OF the Spanish cavalry, was
court martialed after the first days fight
for cowar1ice.
The Spanish official reports state that
ttey fired 65,27o Mauser bullets ana 80
SHELLS IN four days.
BY the same messenger who brought
General Rios reports came the story OF
Spanish outrage upon Diego Betancourt, a
pacifico. Betancourt was found sick in bed
on his plantation by Spanish column un-
der Pedro Gonzales. He was attended by
two of his daughters, - and II years old
respectively. After the soldiers murdered
the father. the elder girl was subjected to
indignities which led 10 her death The
Younger girl attempted TO escape. She was
caught, Her struggles provoked Spanish
soldier, who severed her lett leg near tao
knee with stroke OF his machete. The
eirl was left to die where she fell
The news of Betancourts 3rath was an
bounced In Havana as great victory By
the Weylcr organ