The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-28
TELLING BLOW AGAINST
 CUBAN REVOLUTIONSTS?
LOSE SEVENTEEN KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED IN
 BRUSH.

Attacked Near CienfuegOs by Force
 Under Colonel Valle-Havana Now
 Reports the Insurrection in shaIky
 Condition-Piuo Guerra, the Rebel
 Leader, Declares Openly That Last
 Presidential Election Must be An
 nulIed Before There Can be Peace in
 the Country.
 Havana, Aug. 27.-At the moment to- day when the government was issuing it's proclamation offering pardon to rebels who would lay down their arms its forces were dealing the most tell ing blow that has yet been struck against insurgents in the field. For several days it had been stated that General Guzman's force of insurgents, which was variously estimated at from 200 upwards, contemplated an attack on Cienfuegos. Colonel Valle. with a detachment of rural guards and volun- teers, was dispatched to Cienfuegos for the purpose of engaging Guzman and breaking up the band. The encounter of the two forces to-day resulted in the worst disaster which the insurgents have sustained up to this time. They lost seventeen men killed and many wounded, while the loss to the govern ment force was one man killed.
 The insurrectton seems in shaky condition, although the end may not be as near as members of. the govern ment profess to believe. Ex-Congress- man Gaustfno (Pino) Guerra, the insur- gent leader, operating in the province of Pinar del Rio, in a signed statement telegraphed to The Associated Press to- night, declares that he is as determin- ed as ever that the last presidential election shall be annulled before there can be peace in Cuba. That Guerra's s force of 2,000 men is well armed and supplied with ammunition and good is amply verified. Their greatest draw back now is the lack of money; but the people of the western part of Pinar del Rio are furnishing them with all the supplies needed, taking in return therefor orders on the Cuban govern ment" and in many cases refusing to accept any consideration
 The governments offer of amnesty, which was issued this afternoon, is varfously received. It is impossible to say what its effect will be upon those to which 1t Is addressed. Alfredo Zayas, president of the senate and leader of the liberal party, stated to- night that he was unable to express any opinion as to whether the insur- gents would grasp the opportunity of- fered them of surrendering, but said in his opinion as q lawyer Secretary Montalvo could not legally issue such an order for the constitution provides that only the president may make such a proclamation, which must be count CT signed by some member of the cab inet. Secretary Montalvo, on the con- trary, stated to the Associated Press that the offer of clemency was issued by the direct order of President Palma and also gazetted officially The sec retary added that the document was in reality an order of the secretary of the interior, issued by direction of the president to General Rodriguez, com mander of the rural guards.
 The foreign element, including many Americans, criticize the offer of amnes- ty as a weak and disappointing action, showing desire for peace at any price and a willingness to sacrifice the possi- bility of future security to present expediency.
 Secretary Montalvos order does not provide for the relief of alleged con spirators who are now in jail in Ha- vana, and the question has arisen as