Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-08-24
CAPTURE CUBAN CITY.
REBEL BANDS ATTACK TOWN IN
PtNAR DEL RIO PROVINCE.
eELlTTLEs THE UPRISING
Commander OF Rural Guard Says ne
Has Enough Men to Suppress the
Rebeilious Elements Now on
the Island.

province OF Pinar Del Rio captured
their first city there Wednesday. At
nine O'Clock in the morning the force
led by Pine Guerra, an ex-congress
man and an influential man, who was
thought to be many miles eastward
and sundry other insurgent bands at.
tackled San Luis, which is situated on
the railroad, about ten miles west OF
Pinar Del Rio City. A sharp and de-
cisive engagement followed during
which number of men were killed or
wounded. The town was defended by
less than 100 rural guards. so OF whom
surrendered the insurgents and are
held as prisoners. The insurgent
forces are in possession OF the railroad
station and of the town, which is re-
Stunning its normal condition. BY the
capture of San Luis, which has about
10000 inhabitants, the insurgents
have obtained an important base Tor
future operations.
Gen. Rodriguez, commander OF the
rural guard Wednesday, after relating
the incidents of the day, said:
"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, or so far as can be
learned, by the facts.
The much talked Of movement in
Santa Clara province has not been
encountered, and no insurrectionists
have been seen there by our troops.
We have to-day equipped and sent
out in various directions 800 volun
teers under competent officers. We
have plenty of rifles and ammunition
for all who enlist at present and more
has been ordered from the United
States. We believe the loyal people
are taking up arms for the government
faster than the insurgents are in
creasing."
A gentleman who was returned from
Aguacate, where he spent several
days, stated that as many as 500 men.
most of them armed were riding about
the vicinity proclaiming insurrection
airy ideas.
The principal event Wednesday was
the fighting at San Luis. The reports
of the commanders Of the rural guard
are to the following effect: The bands
of Guerra, Pozo and others aggregat
Ing about 400 men, concentrated Wed
nesday morning in the vicinity of San
Luis. Several rural guards under
command Of Maj. Laurent, were to at.
tack the insurgents from the east and
30 men under Lieut. Azcuy were to at
tack lrA .As west. Azcuy arrived
first and got into Az iil-timed engage
ment with far superior detachment
with the result that he was forced tc
retreat hastily to San Luis, pursued
by a portion of the army. The rural
guards took refuge in tkc:r quarters.
and Guerra's men remained in pos
sion of the town. In the afternoon
Mai. Laurent had hot fight with the
insurgents under Guerra and other in,
surgent 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 in
surgents continue in possession of San
Luis. Railway trains have not been
interfered with.
An attempt is being made with zoe
mounted rural guards and regulars tc
corner Quentin Bandera, who with
$50 men, is continuing his lodging tao
tics in the wester npart Of the prov
ince of Havana.
Three large bands Of insurgents are
out in the province of Santa Clara
The insurrection appears to be grow
ing, but the ioyalists of the towns
claim that they will be able to resist
the movement.