New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-29
CUBAN REBELS SHOW
INCREASED BOLDNESS
They Attack Two Villages, De-
feat Rural Guard and Capt
ure Men and Arms.
AVOIDING PITCHED BATTLE
General Mendieta Simply Holding
His Ground While Awaiting
the Arrival of Rein
forcements.

havana May 2S-IntelligcnCe reached
Havana to-day OF increased holiness on the
part Of the insurgents, as shown by their
successful attacks on the villages of Ramon
do las Naguas and Yerbaguinea. where they
defeated the rural guard and captured
sergeant and seven privates. together with
arms and ammunition.
These two places are about twenty miles
20 the northeast OF Santiago and are within
the zone of operations in which the ma
rional and insurgent forces are now face to
face. They are included in the hilly. heavily
wooded region between Guantanamo, San
Luis. Lamaya and Palma Seriano. Accord
Ing 10 the reports from Santiago, the ru-
rsles we're routed.
4 collision between tho main opposing
bodies has been hourly expected for several
days. but the revolutionary generals. Este
noz and 1vonet, apparently desire to avoid
close combat and continue guerilla tactics
in which they excel. and which probably
they will be able to carry on indefinitely.
II is believed that General Mendeta IS
simply holding his ground until the arrival
Of the commander in chief OF the Cuban
army, General Montea guido. with strong re-
Inducements. when a general forward
movement Will he begun.
Meanwhile General Mendieta Is doing his
utmost 70 supply guards for the plantations
especially the property of foreigners. but
this Is difficult. on account Of the enormous
area OF the Province Of Oriente and the
meaEre means OF transportatio ton. many re-
Eions being practically impossible for the
movement OF troops.
1000 Negroes Mounted.
Estsnoz and Ivonet have Under them 1000
mounted negroes TO oppose the ConCen-
trated government forces More than half
Of the negroes are armed with rifles and
reyolvers. the remainder carry mache'es.
In addition to these forces. various bodies
NJ insurgents are operating throughout the
province, particularly I'm the vicinity Of the
ports on the northern coast.
Recruiting continues active in Havana.
Nearly 100 men have been enrolled as a
home guard for the defence Of the city.
seven hundred volunteers are organizing
for field service under Colonel Piedra.
The Sunboat Barre sailed this evening for
Orente. loaded with ammunition, cannon.
machine guns and rifles.
All the provinces except Oriente. accord
lng TO the latest reports. are free from any
signs Of disturbance.
General Sanchez Figucra, a prominent
negro leader. in an interview to-day, de-
Jared that the instruction was not Of
racial origin. which would he an imposs-
biity. he added, on account of the affec-
tionate relations which have always existed
between the Cuban blacks and whites. He
attributes the movement to the ambitions
If dissatisfied persons, and he thinks II
vas probably instigated by foreign inter
rsts General Figuera gave it as his opinion
that the government was fully capable of
rep-essing the rebellion.
To Impress the People.
As characterization ~ force, with the
idea Of showing the people the ability of
the Cuban government to cope with any
uprising in the capital or in its vicinity.
column Of six hundred troops. composed
of infantry. mountain and field artillery
and rural cavalry from Columbia Camp,
0araded through the principal streets of
Havana to-day President Gomez re-
viewed the troops
\ body Of insurgents to-day burned
eight thousand tons Of sugar cane, many
Gers and other property on the plantation
~ Marcos Sanchez, in the vicinity OF
Guantanamo belonging TO the American
Iidelity Company.