The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-28
LOST
BY INSURGENTS
Seventeen of Than Killed in an
Encounter With the Cuban
Federal Forces.
PALMA PROMISES AMNESTY
ACTION CRITICISED BY FOREIGN
ELEMENT.


day when the government was issuing
its 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 the 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 upward. contemplated an attack on
Cienfuegos. Colonel Vale, with( d de-
tachment of rural guards. waS dis
patched 10 Cienfuegos for the purpose
OF engaging Guzman and breaking UP
the band. The encounter of the two
forces today resulted in the worst dis
aster which the insurgents have bus-
tanned UP to this time. They lost se1en-
teen men killed and many wounded,
while the loss to the government force
was one man killed. The government
is without further particulars of the
fight.
Insurrection Shaky. y
That the Instruction is in a shaky
condition seems to be a fact, although
the end may not be as near as mem
bers of the government profess to be-
lieve. Ex-Congressman Faustino (Pino)
Guerrero, the insurgent leader operat-
ing In the province of Pinar del Rio.
in signed statement telegraphed to
the Associated Press tonight, declares
that he is as determined as ever that
the last presidential election shall be
annulled before there can be peace in
Cuba.
That Guerrera's force of 1000 men is
well armed and supplied with ammuni-
ton and food is amply verified. Their
greatest drawback 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, TAX
ing in return therefor orders on the
Cuban government" and in many
cases refusing TO accept and considera-
ton.
Offer of Amnesty.
The governments offer of amnesty.
which was issued this afternoon. is va
riously received. 1t Is impossible to
say what its effect will be upon those
to whom it is addressed. Alfredo |
zelayados, president of the senate and
leader OF the Liberal party, stated that
he was unable to express any opinion
as TO whether the insurgents would
grasp the opportunity offered them of
but said in his opinion
as lawyer Secretary Montalvo could
not legally issue such an order, for the |
pr resident may make such a prociama- |
ton, which must be countersigned by
some member of the cabinet Secre-
tary MOntalvO, on the contrary, stated
tonight to the Associated Press that
the offer of clemency was issued by
the direct order of President Palma and
also gazetted officially. The secretary
added that the document was in reality |
an order of the secretary of the in
,-fr
dent to General Rodriguez, commander
Of the rural guards.
Criticised by Foreigners.
The foreign element, including many
Criticise the offer of am
nesty as u weak and Disappointing ac-
ton. showing a desire for peace at any
price and a willingness to sacrifice the !
pc ssibility Of future security to a pres
ent expediency.
Secretary Montalvo's orders does not
provide for the relief of alleged con-
spirators who are now in jail in Ha-
vana, and the question has arisen as
TO what shall be done with them. A
number of insurgents are
known TO be returning quietly to their
homes in the province of Havana and
IN the eastern part of the province of
Pinar del Rio. In the latter province
the situation remains UNCHANGED. |
Guerrero knows nothing of the Mon
talvO order. and if he die it is alto
gether unlikely that it would affect his
course materially.
Guerrero Will Hold Out.
At present there is every reason for |
expecting that Guerrero will hold out
for some time to come. The district in |
which he is operating is inhabited by
who are practically all tenta- |
tive if not active sympathizers with |
he instruction. Then. too, Guerrero |
mas billy Businesses to which he retires !
nightly and from which it will be prac- |
-ically impossible TO rout him. a IA |
vorable feature Of the situation i'm |
Pinar del Rio is that Guerrero will not |
light If he can help It. He intends. |
ne says, to remain out indefinitely i'm |
protest against the subservience of the |
Palma administration.
The Associated Press is reliably in /
formed that Asberb's force, the main |
body. now i'm the province of /
amounts to $50 men, and that
here are not exceeding 100 more i'm
small parties. The eastern part of the |
province of Pinar del Rio IS practically /
but there have been only 4
getty depredations there by small |
bands.
There is some question whether the |
Santa Clara band calling themselves |
Mendieta's party We're actually COM /
handed by the captured leader, but un-
loubtedly he was with them most of /
he time.
The Matanzas insurgents cut little |
figure. and Cuba province remains |
luiet.
VISIT TO REBEL CAMP.