The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-23
 AGGRESSIVE Captured Their First City. TOWN OF SAN LUIS FALLS General Pino Guerra Commands the
 Rebel Troops. Disanection of Prominent Persons in Havana Alarms Government and Step. VIII Be Taken to
 Check II.

Havana. Aug. 22.---The insurgents in the Province of Pinar del Rio captured their first city there today.
 At o'clock this morning the force by Pine Guerra. an ex-congressman and an influential man, and who was thought to be miles eastward, and sSn- dry other insurgent bands attacked san Luis. which is sits.ated on the rail-
 road about ten miles west of Pinar del
 Rio city
 A sharp and decisive engagement fol- lowed. during which number of men
 were killed or wounded. The town was
 defended by less than 100 rural guards, fifty Of whom surrendered to the insur- gents and are held as prisoners. The i insurgent forces are in possession of the railroad station and of the town. which is resuming its normal condition. By the capture of San Luis. which has about 10000 inhabitants. the insurgents
 have iobtained an important base for
 future operations.
 While the government is surprised at the uprisings in Central Cuba, the dieaffection of prominent persons in l Havana province and the unreliabflity of acme of It's ostensible friends. it Is nevertheless encouraged by the evi-
 tdnces of loyalty in the rapid enlist
 ments and also by the fact that the insurgents In Pinar det Rio are not gaining any accessions and are not yet bold enough to attack any popu- lous neighborhood.
 The passing of the last two nights without an attack on. the city Of Pinar del Rio has somewhat increased the feeling of confidence in government circles. The fnsurgent fierce command cd by Pino Geurra is only eight miles east of the city of Pinar del Rio. how ever. and other smaller bands appar- ontly are waiting to join Guerra in an attack on the provincial capital Tho 'enltstments of recruits for the r;.rat guards tn Havana are proeesdAnR rapidly The people in the towns con | ttnue asking for arms in order 70 ue- fend the government. but the impossi- ,nant motives In the Cuban char acter adds another element to the un- l certainty of the situation. 1rha Caovernment has received q re- | rArt that ex- x-Congresman Carlos Men aseta a leading citizen of Santa Clara has taken up arms with q large .oIce' While the report is not connrmeu' tne
 Government officials are incilneo lo pe lieve 1t. as Mendieta has been regaroeo
 with suspicion.
 secrstary of the Treasury Font Sterl- ing one of the most reliable members of inc Government, informed the As soc (ated Press this afternoon that the
 Goyernment had been definitely in-
 formed that the insurgents In santa
 ClalR province were. with the excep- fion of machetes and revolyers, mostly unasmed.
 The Mayor of Aguacato. in Havana nrovInce and several other mayors, apparently are uncertain whether 10 be loyal to the Government or other wise.
 ii became known later In the day that practically all the inhabitants CT the town or Aguacata have, with the Mavor declared themselves in tnsur- rection against the Government. disnAtch from Rancho Veloz, province of santa Clara, says that band of insurgents has been organized there under Colonel Reinos and 1t is believed
 that ex-Congressman Meideta is with then.
 Governor Nunez of Havana province.
 says that the organization Of his loyal bands has begun here.
 several precautions are being taken to protect the reservoir at Vento and the pumping station at Palatino. Par
 ties of insurgents have been seen In ths neighborhood of both these places
 American dealers have been commits
 sioned to buy hundreds of horses for
 the use of the rural guards now De-
 ing recruited M
 Later this afternoon report of the csnture of San Luis by insurgents
 vAe confirmed. Pino Guerras force
 of instrg ents appeared outside san Luis at 9:30 this morning. A severe
 fight followed, during which several men were killed or wounded on both sjdes Eventually the insurgents cap t,red the town and fifty rural guards who are now being held prisoners.
 Guerra Is now in complete conArol of San Luis. which Is reported to be completely quiet
 The city of San Luis has a popula- ton of about 5000 and is situated near the San Sebastian river, nine miles south by west of the city ot Pinar del Rio in a region noted TOT Sne pro ductlon of tobacco
 AT the palace here there was a dispo- sition late this afternoon to minimize the importance of the insurgents sue cess at San Luis, the statement being made that while the insurgents were in possession of the town, the rural guards in their quarters were still holding out.
 The agent of the Western Railway at San Iuis station. which is a mile and third from the town. reports that the town has been taken by insurgents, who have surrounded the station. The agant did not know the number killed or wounded. but believed 1t was small. The fighting was quickly over.
 The garrison of San Luis Is known to number less than nifty. The popula- tioa of the town Is 800.