Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-10
FOUGHT FOR -FOUR DAYS.
to One, the spaniards Were Re
puised-A spanish Outrage.

New York, March 10.-The Cuban
junta has received by messenger the
official report of Gen. Lopericio, who
commanded the Cuban forces at the
battle of Najasa, on February 2l-2i.
The details of the battle show that
while the Cubans were otltnumbered
four to one, for four days they held
their position and caused the Spanish
troops to retreat, leaving 1903 dead men
upon the field.
The messenger who brought the Off
cial news also brought copy of
Spanish paper admitting the return of
the Spanish soldiers, but asserting that
the four days fighting resulted in
victory for Spain.
on Feb. is, Gen. Jiminez Castellanos
left the city of Puerto Principe with
1000 Spanish soldiers. In addition to
three squadrons of cavalry, the Span
ish had two small Krupp field pieces.
Three days previously Castellanos was
told that the Cuban stronghold in the
hills of Najasa was not well protected
and could be taken.
Najasa is situated on a plateau less
than 40 miles from the city of Puerto
Principe. 1t is the Cuban base of
supplies for Puerto Principe province.
and is used as hospital station. Sew
eral attempts have been made to take
1t in the past. Owing to It's natural
advantages, 1000 men, 1t is said, can
hold 1t against ten times that number.
The road leading to 1t is bad and Of
fers ambush and protection in case of
attacks.
on the morning of Feb, 2l,while more
than ten miles from Najasa, the van.
guard of the Spanish army. composed
OF guerillas, under Lieut.. Perojo. was
attacked at turn in the road. The
Cuban cavalry, under Brig. Branlio
Pena, numbered 10 men. The van
guard comprised so men. or the 80,
three escaped and AZ were killed. The
Cubans lost IA men.
The Spanish cavalry. under Major
Copaz. was attacked by the fun Cuban
cavalry. 500 strong. The loss in this
charge by the Cubans was slight. The
men under Copaz were defeated with
out their firing a shot, the Cubans
charging from the front and rear. The
men were literally cut to pieces They
defended themselves with the butts of
their carbines
The Cubans secured so cavalry
horses, with equipments; 100 carbines
ana ammunition. After the cavalry
rout they We're forced to retreat as
the Spanish army, 1000 strong, came
into action. Retreating for ore than
a mile, the Cubans made a sand be-
mind rocks and checked the advance
OF Castelanos's troops until nightfan.
IN the night the Cubans wounded were
sent to tho rear and earthwork.
thrown up that would each protect half
dozen rebels. Troops were moved
70 higher ground, and everything pos
sible done to make Notifications The
battle OF the second day opened with
an attempt by the Spaniards to take
knob of ground holding 20 men.
After several Intellectual attempts.
one OF the krupp guns was used and
me position was abandoned for one
higher. During the sheling of the small
notifications the Cubans twice caused
the piece to be withdrawn out of rifle
range.
There was no attempt made to adj
vance by the Spaniards on the 9od. They
kept up 9. continuous fire, shooting
Mhole yolieys whenever Cuban
Twice on the third day Gen. Castel-
amos made an attempt to advance. on
back.
ON the 24th. the fourth day of the
ngnt,h ne suffered loss OF more than 100
upon the field. They retreated to
Puerto Principe and announced that
lhey had defeated force of 5000
The dead were buried by Gen. Re
Gloss mot Lopericio) troops. His own
loss was rs killed and more than 100
wounded.
Major Copaz, commander of the
spanish cavalry was court martialed
after the first days fight for coward
The Spanish official reports statea
they fired 65,675 mauser bullets and 80
shells in four days. The shooting of the
spanish artillery, according to the Gu
bans. was always wild. No shell fired
according to them, went anywhere near
the mark
By the same messenger who brought
zen. Recios' reports, came the story OF
a spanish outrage upon paclflco, Debin
betancourt. Betancourt was sick In
bed on his plantation and was attacked
by Spanish column under Pedro Con
gales. He was attended by two OF his
daughters, IL and II years old, re-
spectively. After the soldiers muir
dered the father, the elder girl was
subjected to indignities which led TO her
death. The younger girl attempted to
escape. She WINS caught Her struggles
provoked a Spanish soldier, who sew