War in Cuba.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

War in Cuba.

Rumoured Fall of a Spanish Stronghold.

Hundreds of Men Killed.

The New York ' Journal ' prints a Havana dispatch saying that Pinar del Rio, Spain's main stronghold in Western Cuba, has fallen into the hands of the rebels after a mosb desperate and bloody battle. From meagre reports that have leaked out ib i a known that the Cubans were commanded by Generals Maceo and Garcia. The latter had a force of the filibustering party brought by the steamer Bermuda under him. The rebels used the Gatlirig and Hotchkiss guns brought by Garcia. The rebels numbered 9,000 and the garrison 4,000. The American artillerymen did terrible execution with the modern guns.

The garrison fled after a most desperate fi>hb, during which hundreds were slain on both sides. The rebels, following their usual policy, destroyed the town and passed on. The news was brought to Havana by mounted couriers, and General Weyler made haste to deny everything. He a'dmiuted, however, that the righting had been desperate. The Spanish troops i;i the) province of Pinar del Rio are now without; refuge from the rama, malaria »nd yellcv fever which sweep over that part of the island during the rainy 6eason, and which are bo fatal to those who are not acclimatised. Ib is predicted that if the war extends far into the rainy season yellow fever will carry off the Spanish broops in groups. The ' Herald's ' Havana cable says: Gomez has. been in Santa Clara a week. According to trustworthy advices, his movement westward toward Havana Province waa only a strategy feint to disguise his real purpose. He promptly doubled, employing his old fox like tactics, turned eastward, crossed the Mabanzaa border into Santa Clara, and began aggressive operations in the face of General Bandos' army of IS.OOO men. Reports of hie later movements there are meagre, but Gomez is known to have encamped with 3,000 men at Ciootuegoe, juab north of the city of Santa Clara, the capital and centre of the province.

Santa Clara was attacked the next day by a rebel band. So far as known the attack was bold, but ill-advised, the affair ending disastrously for the rebels, though they penetrated to the very centre of the city, which has 30,000 inhabitants. Tho purpose, apparently, was to release a Targe number of prisoners in the City Gaol, and capture the extensive store of ammunition in the areenal. Vidal, tho leader, was killed in the plaza by a shot fired from the gaol. Ib is announced that General Pando's headquarters were transferred from Santa Clara to Cienfuegos after Vidal's repulse and death.

Official reports are ominously silent as to Gomez's movements. It is known, bowever, that ib was to trap Gomez thafcGodoy's men were placed in the ambush that ended in their attacking a Spanish guerrilla column by mistake,

Havana, March 28.—At San Juan de Las Yeras forty volunteers and twenty regular troops engaged a force of 1000 insurgents under Zayas. The Government aoldiers defended themselves gallantly, but lost thirty killed. The insurgents also lost many killed and wounded.

It is again affirmed that, Maximo Gomez fc very sick and thnt he has requested the junta to allow him to leave the island: Maceo, however, is oppoped to hia leaving, saying that he considered the absence of Gomez at thia time would result in the failure of the revolution, although ho waa pleased with the idea of becoming general-in-chief oi the Cuban army.

Ib is now stated that the British 'steamer Bermuda, from Isew York, landed her cargo of arms, ammunition and filibusters between Santiago de Cuba and Capa Mayei. Colonel Navarro, in tho province of Matanzas, engaged the insurgents under Rogue, Junio and Morejon. The enemy numbered aboub 1000 men and left fifteen killed. The troops captured one prisoner, and in pursuingl the insurgents had a skirmish with them at Guasimal, during which three more insurgents were killed. The troopers lost one killed and four wounded.

General AzoJo is in command of the new defensive military line from Marsol, on the north coast of the province of Pinar del Rio, to the south coast near Mnnagas. Trenches have been dug, earthworks bava been thrown up and palisades, protectod by artillery, have been erected.

Skirmishes ore taking placo doily between the insurgents and the Spanish troops in the province of Pinar del Rio, the enemy trying neelessly to pass out of Pinar del Rio. Five columns of Spanish troops, each numbering 2000 men, are purpuing the insurgent* under Maceo. The latter, when last heard from, was in the Cuzco Mountains of Pinar del Rio.