The Mena weekly star., 1906-09-13

Against the Rebels, Many of Whom
 Were Killed or Wounded Cuban Gen.
 eraI Arrives at Tampa.
 Havana, Sept. 11-Government military and railroad officials and the newspaper correspondents were all thrown into state of excitement Sun day evening by men who arrived here from Paso Real with stories that the armored train which left Havana Frl- iay had met with various obstacles .,eyond Herradura, had been thrown from the tracks and it's 300 men, ma chine guns, horses and equipment captured. As these tales were con firmed by the Western railroads first telegraphic advices from Paso Real they were believed to be true until authentic reports of actual occurren- ces were wired by those who had re turned to Paso Real from the scene.
 The real facts of the case are that Colonel Avalos, who was believed to be surrounded in Pinar del Rio city and the armored train made a june ton east of Consolation del Sur, and the government forces to that ex. tent are improved. The news of this fact caused much relief in official circles.
 The train proceeded Saturday even ing from Paso Real to 2 12 miles east of Consolation del Sur at which point the rails had been removed and replaced locomotive and three cars which had been thrown from the track The insurgents attacked but were driven off by the two machine guns handled by the American Captain Webster. S
 It is believed that many insurgents were killed, but the number is not known. Meanwhile a large portion of Colonel Avalos' force had come eastward from Pinar del Rio for the purpose of making junction with the machine gun corps. At Consolacion del Sur their advance was disputed by a large band of insurgents and a lively fight ensued. The insurgents were driven off and several of them were killed or wounded. Avalos ana his men continued their journey east ward Sunday morning and made a junction, first with the cavalry force of Captain Ravenna, which is scout ing ahead and finally with the dis abled troop train. The train has not been molested since the junction was effected, but the bridge over the San to Clara river eastward from the train was blown up Sunday, together with two smaller one, preventing the use of the road beyond Herradura.
 There is some alarm in Havana on account of the nearness to the city of several hundred insurgents belong ing to the forces of Asbert, Loyna2 and Castillo, some of whom are of ten seen in the hills at Jesus del the city. Intimaticns received from these bands are to the effec; that they are merely awaiting the out come of the peace negotiations, prac, tically all the insurgents in the prov, inces of Havana and Santa Clara having ceased operations for the pres, ent in accordance with the tentative agreement with the peace commis sionerS
 The fourth week or the rebellion opens with the governments forces better equipped and improved in discipline, but enlistments are slow President Palma's action in calling 8 special session of congress is meeting with some adverse criticism. Many persons believe that no good purpose will be served by discussion, of the causes of the war and of peace pro posals by the congress.
 Tampa, Fla, Sept. 11.-A Cuban general, travelling incognito arrived Monday on his way to Washington on a government mission. Three hun dred passengers also came on the same steamer, fleeing from the trou- bles on the island. They report that the rebel army has now more than 1000 men armed and equipped. The situation, they report, is more gloomy than ever before and the Cuban gov ernment, they assert, is powerless to help itself
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