Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-08-25
CUBAN REBELS
CAPTURE SAN LUIS
Was Taken After a Fierce Fight
Rural Guards.
THE REVOLT SPREADS RAPIDLY

Havana, Aug. SJ.-Ihe insurgents
IN the province OF Pinar del Rio cap
tured their first city there Wednes
| day. The force led by Pine Guerra.
nm ex.congressman and an influential
man, and who was thought To be many
miles eastward, and sunlyy other in
surgent bands. attacked San Luis
which is situated on the railroad
about 10 miles west of Pinar del Rio
city a sharp and decisive engage
ment followed. during which a number
OF men were killed or wounded. The
town was defended by less than 100
rural guards 30 of whom surrendered
TO the insurgents and are held as pris
Oners. The 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 5000 inhab-
itants the insurgents have obtained
an important base for future oper.
ations.
The reports of the commanders of
the rural guard are to the following
effect:
The bands of Guerra, PoZo and 9th
| ers. aggregating about 400 men, con
centrated in the vicinity Of San Luis.
Seventy rural guards. under com
rland OF Major Laurent. were TO at
tack the insurgents from the east
and 80 men, under Lieutenant Azcay.
mara 10 attach fro untha Wpgt Agony
arrived first and got into an illtimed
engagement with a far superior de
tachmcnt. with the result that he was
forced To retreat hastily TO San Luis.
pursued by portion OF the enemy.
The rural guards took refuge in their
quarters. and Guerra's men remained
in possession of the town. In the ar
ternoon Major Laurent had a hot fight
| with the insurgents under Guerra and
other insurgent commanders. and re-
ports that several were killed or
wounded He pursued Guerra, but so
far as known did not retake the town.
According to other fragmentary re-.
ports the insurgents continue in pos
session of San Luis. Railway trains
have not been interfered with.
A telegram to the government stat
ed that Major Laurent, with his de-
tachment Of rural guards. fought
Guerra and his 300 men for three
hours. completely defeating him. kill.
ing or wounding many insurgents and
taking three prisoners. The dispatch
adds that the rebels dispersed In all
directions. being chased for long dis
tances. None OF the rural guards were
hurt. Another portion OF the insurgent
forces continues In occupation OF San
Luis
Three large bands OF insurgents are
out In the province OF Santa Clara
The insurrection appears TO be grow
ing. but the loyalists OF the towns
claim that they will be able to resist
the movement.
with the correspondent OF the Asso-
ciated Press. said:
Our situation at first was one OF
unpreparedness. as Is usual In such
cases We are taking little time TO
prepare to cope with IT, But there is
positively no cause for alarm The
movement in Santa Clara province is
small. In Matanzas II Is trifiing and
the bands In Pinar del Rio are smaller
than reported and poorly led
While the foregoing is typical of the
utterances Of government officials. there
are evidences of threatening increases
in the numbers OF the insurreetionists
In the province of Santa Clara the dis
affection Is widespread and In the
province OF Havana great many peo-
pie are In sympathy with the insur-
gents. In some cases whole commune
ties appear TO have been carried away
by the recrudescence of insurrectionary
times The extent to which this will
lead 10 open rebellion is still uncer-
tain