The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-01-07
CUBAN VICTORIES
Brilliant Achievement of Insurgents
Under General Garcia.
A VERY DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT
The Spanish Army Under General
Pando Nearly Annihilated and
Forced to Retreat.
VERY DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT


Gen. Pando. vino was expected in San
tiago dc Cuba with two battalions, has
arrived there on q steamer from Man
zanillo. The disaster encountered by
his troops at the Caato River was more
terrible than was at first reported.
He returned to Manzanillo with only
half of the men composing the three
columns with which he started from
there. 1t is estimated that over 1000
Spanish soldiers have perished in the
three fights between Pando and Garcia.
and about 1000 moro have disappeared,
their whereabouts being absolutely un-
known to the Spaniards. 1t is believed
that many of them have persisted Of
hunger in the open country. Or have
been chased like wild beasts by the in
surgents.
Gen Pando is harshly criticised III
Havana by Spanish military men.
The responsibility for the disaster rests
entirely upon him, because he started
from Manzanillo with his army poorly
provided with food and after the first
unsuccessful attempt to dislolge Garcia
from his position famine spread
among the Spanish soldiers. Many
Of them deserted to search for variety
of food in the country, and met their
ead at the hand Of Garica's vanguar(ls
Since the war began no Spanish
military defeat has caused such intense
excitement in Havana. The press
censorship tries to prevent all knowl-
edge Of the affair from getting abroad.
An official statement has been given
out to revive hopes of the Spaniards.
1t says:
"On the road to Cauto del Embarca-
dero the insurgents fed, utterly beaten
by the Spanish troops. They aban-
doned their trenches and camps. their
cattle, and large quantity Of dyna-
mite and other explosives. besides
many arms. Their killed and wounded
were very numerous, but they took
them away on their retreat -
Nobody has been deceived All the
real news coming by cable from Man
xanillo and pigeon -holed in the Cap
tain Generals Office confirms the re-
ports Of the Spanish disaster.
Defeat has followed on defeat Gen.
Segura met the same fate of Gen.
Pando He failed in fresh attempt.
with $500 men, to control section CT
the Cauto River.
Between Minas and Campo Florido.
two railroad stations a few miles from
Havana. the latter being the place near
where Col. Ruiz was shot, strong
force of insurgents, commanded by
Brig. Nestor Arangeren, completely
routed Spanish detachment of 600
soldiers The fight took place on and
around the Rafel bridge. After the
Spaniards retired Arangueren blew up
the bridge with dynamite. It was
considered very strong Spanish mil
itarv position in this province. ......
Positive news bias been received in
Havana of the safe landing on the
northern coast of Santa Clara Province
of big expedition for the patriots.
The supplies We're delivered to the
Cuban forces sent to receive them by
Gen. Maximo Gomez.
Near Sancti Spiritus fierce engage
ment took place recently between the
insurgents under Gomez and the Span
iards under Gen. Aguierre Nothing is
known in Havana Of the results except
that the Spanish Official report says
that the insurgents lost twenty killed
and two prisoners, while Gen. Agui
erre's forces had only two killed and
seven wounded.