Smyrna times., 1906-08-29
REBEL GENERAL
SLAIN IN BATTLE
Leader of Cuban Insurgents Killed in
Fight With Rural Guards.
DID NOT ASK U. S. FOR AID

Havana. Aug "a - Font Sterling
secretary of the treasury. cleared up
in a statement to the Associated Press
a misleading announcement made az
the palace to the effect that the Cuban |
government had asked the United |
States for eight rapid-fire guns man |
ned by American artillerymen. to be |
used in the suppression OF the lnsur' |
rection. The facts are. according to
the secretary. that the government has
ordered from an American arms manu-
featuring company four rapid-f1re
guns and that these pieces will be
manned by former members of the ar
tillery branch of the American navy
now here If these guns prove to be
effective four or more additional guns
will be ordered, and it is expected
that experienced gunners can be pro-
cured in the United States to man
them The United States has not been
asked to do anything in the premises.
The body of the negro general Quen-
tin Bandera. the most daring insurgent
at Havana, fanked by those of two
mulatto comrades. all frightfully
| gashed by the long, heavy machetes
| of the rural guards who ended their
career
The arrival of Bandera's body here
was the first news of the fight in which
| he met his death. The conflict oc-
Cured at the Silveira farm. near Punta
Brava, Is miles from Havana. A de-
| tachment of 38 mounted rural guards,
under Captain Ignacio Delagado and
Lieutenant Martinez. were searching
| throughout the night for Bandera's
| party While the guards were break
| ing through a wire fence at the edge
of the Silveira farm they were sud
| denly fired upon by Bandera's follow
| ers, 20 in number. The guards rushed
upon the insurgents, but with the ex-
ception of their chief and his two lead
ing comrades they all. succeeded in get
ting away The guards made the chief
and his two companions a special
object of attack. and all three received
several bullet wounds and were horri-
bly, mutilated by machete cuts. Not
one of the guards was wounded. The
bodies of Bandera and his companions
were placed in a wagon and taken to
Havana. An examination of Bandera' S
body showed that his principal wound
was a severe machete blow on the
head. which cut off his left ear and
made an ugly incision in his face. He
also had bullet wounds in his arms anC
breast The condition of Bandera'
two dead companions was even more
shocking Their faces and heads were
terribly gashed, and they also had ma
chete wounds In their breasts and OF
their arms The clothes of all thre,
men showed every evidence of the hare
life which they had been leading Will
eluding their pursuers.
1t was learned that several new in
surgent bands had taken to the brush
The growth of the insurrection Ger
tainly seems to keep pace with tn
preparations for suffocatng it. Mex
to the progress of the combatants. tn
most interesting question seems to b
how to end the war without fightins
Around the discussion of this questio
centres a deal of elimination and re
elimination from both Liberals an
2 Moderates. both sides leveling accuse
tions against the other as to the re
4 sponsibility for precipitating the re
q bellion.
e Interviews. statements and hint
given out by the Liberals all point
the probability that the matter migt
be settled on the basis of the admi!
sion of leaders of their party TO ii
, councils of the government. and SON
form of guarantee that the future ele'
s tions will be conducted with absolu
q fairness
n All discussion of this sort leads il
is evitably to the subject of America
10 intervention If the conflicts shou
d last for long time. Intervention
,e considered to loom up as a tolerab
10 certain eventuality If the governmel
a. subdues the insurrection and chastise
s. wounds or kills members of the Iii
= eral party, the feeling Of rancor is e.
pected to continue for years If Il
insurrectionists prevail it. Is predict,
: that uncertain conditions are bour
TO continue
m TWO DROWNED IN DELAWARE