The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-23
FIRST CITY TAKEN
BY INSURGENTS
San Luis Is Captured by Cuban
lnsurrectiOnists After a
Sharp Battle.
FORMS GOOD BASE FOR
OPERATIONS IN FUTURE
Rural Guards Are Compelled to
Surrender and Are Now
Held Prisoners.

HAVANA, Aug. 22.-The insurgents
In the province of Pinar del Rio cap
tured their first city there today. At o
o'clock this morning a force led by
and influential man, who was thought
to be many miles eastward, and sundry
other insurgent bands, attacked San
Luis. which is situated on the railroad
about ten miles west of Pinar del Rio
city, A sharp and decisive engagement
followed, during which q number of
men were killed or wounded.
The town was defended by less than
cne hundred rural guards, fifty of
whom surrendered TO the insurgents
and are held as prisoners. The insur-
gent forces are in possession of the
railroad station and of the town, which
"a resuming its normal condition. BY
the capture of San Luis, which has
about 5000 inhabitants, the insurgents
have obtained an important base for
future operations.
The enlistment of recruits for tho
rural guards in Havana is proceeding
rapidly. The Government has received
a report that exCongressman Carlos
Mendieta, a leading citizen of Santa
Clara, has taken up arms with large
force.
Secretary of the Treasury Font Ster
ling, one of the most reliable members
sociated Press this afternoon that the
Government had been definitely in
formed that the insurgents in Santa
Clara province were, with the exccp-
tiop of machetes and rcvolvers, mostly
unarmed.
The Mayor Of Aguanate, in Havana
province, and several other Mayors,
apparently are uncertain whether to bo
loyal TO the Government or otherwise.
The city of San Luis has popula-
tion of about 5000, and is situated near
the San Sebastian river nine miles
south by west of the city of Pinar del
Rio, in a region noted for the produc
tion of tobacco
1t became known later in the day
that practically all the inhabitants Of
the town of Agucate had, with the
Mayor, declared themselves in ipsur~
rection against the Government.
y dispatch from Rancho Veloz, prov
ince of Santa Clara. says that band
Of insurgents has been ORGANIZED there
under Col. Rcinos, and it is believed
that ex-Congressman Mendieta is with
them.
Gov. Nunez of Havana province says
that the organization of his local loyal
bands has begun here.
Final precautions are being taken to
proI ect the reservoir at Vento and the
pumping station at Palatino. Parties
of insurgents have been seen in the
ncighborhood of both places.
4 number of officers have been com
m1ssioued to buy hundreds of horses
for the rural guards now being re-
cruited
Government Is Confident.
Gen, Rodriguez. commander OF the Ru-
raj Guard, tonight. after relating the in
cidents OF the day, said TO the Associat-
ed Press
You can tell the American people that
Cuba is entirely competent to cope with
the insurrection. The food of rumors in
all directions about the organization OF
insurrectionary bands in great numbers
are not borne out by our reports, OF, so
Tar as can be learned. by the facts. The
result OF the encounter at San Luis is
still not known definitely, but 1t is
known that We inflicted some losses on
the enemy In that vicinity. The much
talked-of movement In Santa Clara prov
fnce has not been encountered and no
insurrectionists have been seen there by
OUT forces.
we have today equipped and sent out
in various directions 300 volunteers
under competent officers We have plenty
OF rifles and ammunition for all who en-
list at present. and more have been or
dered from the United States. Besides
We have thousands Of old but serviceable
guns. We believe the loyal people are
taking UP arms for the Government fast
er than the insurgents are increasing"
While the foregoing Is typical of the
utterances OF Government officials. there
are evidences OF threatening increases In
the numbers Of the insurrectionists In
the province OF Santa Clara the dsaf-
lection Ia widespread, and In the province
of Havana great many people arc in
sympathy with the insurgents. In some
cases whole communities appear to havo
been carried away by the recrudescence
OF iDsurrectionary times. The extent to
which this Will lead to open rebellion Ia
still uncertain.
A gentleman who Just returned from
Agunacate, where he spent several days,
stated to the Associated Press this after
noon that as many as 500 men, most OF
them armed, were riding about the yicin-
Try proclaimIng insurrectionary ideas
The principal event today was the fight
ing at San Luis. The reports of the com
manders Of the Rural Guard are TO the
following effect:
Rural Guards Attacked.
The bands OF Guerra, Pozo and Others
aggregating about 400 men. concentrated
this morning in the vicinity of San
Luis. Seventy rural guards. under
command OF Maj. Laurent. were TO at
;ack the insurgents from the east,
we're TO attack from the west. Azcuy
arrived first and got into an ill-timed
engagement with far superior detach-
inent, with the result that he was forced
70 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 This afternoon Maj Laurent
had a hot fight with the insurgents. under
Guerra and other insurgent commanders
and reports that several were killed or
wounded He pursued Guerra, but so
far as known did not retake the town
According TO other fragmentary reports
The Insurgents continue In possession of
San Luis Railway trains have not been
interfered with.
One hundred recruits we're started
westward this evening on board a special
train. but II Is not likely that they will
be permitted TO reach San Luis
A detachment OF 100 recruits! on the
nay 10 Gnines, had q slight encounter
today with insurgents. but no one on
either side was hurt.
At attempt is being made with o0n