The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1895-08-03

New York, July 31.-In hall at No.
LII Broadway a small band oi young
men, who say they are patriotic Cubans
Of New York, have been for the past
two months quietly perfecting them
selves in military tactics and sword de-
fence, preparatory it is said, to &C
companying General Rafael Quesada
with a shipment of arms and ammuni-
ton to the Cuban revolutionary army.
The neighbors call it drilling; the Gu
bans say blandly that they are exercis-
Ing for their personal advantage.
AT first the Cubans performed their
nanoeuvres with open windows, but
after a time they put up brown paper
before the windows and doors, so that
of late but little Of what has been go
ing on within could be seen. When
reporter knocked at the paper-screen-
ed door last night. the sound of click
ing steel within ceased and wire
masked face appeared at a small hole
that had been made in the paper at a
window beside the door. An eye from
behind another mask scrutiniZed the
caller similarly, and then one Of the
men IN proper person peered through
the hole and presently opened the door.
He was H. Sanchez.
Mr. Sanchez said that the room was
occupied by the Cuban Fencing Club
(not incorporated), and was used by
more than a score of Cubans who de-
sired to become accomplished in tactics
and fencing. I'VE have been here
about two months" he said. "Origi-
nally there were about fifty Of us who
wanted to prepare for an expedition to
Cuba with General Quesada, whose in
tention it was to take a company from
here to join the revolutionary army,
or more particularly, to convey arms
snd powder to them, for they do not
especially need men.
when General Quesada found by
President Cleveland's proclamation
that he would be in trouble If he sail
ed with a party from here, he left
abruptly on Friday last for Venezuela,
from which point he can work to better
advantage.
ITO take care of the arms suppose
about fifty men will probably be need
ed, and think that about twenty-five
will go from here to Venezuela, where
General Quesada will have about the
same number of others ready, and
from there a start can be made for
Cuba"
Speaking of the situation in Cuba Mr.
Sanchez said: 1--WE expect something to
happen on the island within a few
weeks. The insurgents have dynamite
and they intend to use it. They got
twenty-six cases at Santiago de Cuba
on July 4, we know, and we think Gen.
eral Maceo must have that or some of it
In the eastern provinces by this time.
Some time is required to organize the
army, but we think there will be import
ant actions in short time, when the
revolutionary army will be prepared to
direct operations upon the cities. The
dynamite will be used on buildings and
Notifications
Gonzalo de Quesada, the secretary Of
the Cuban revolutionary party in this
city, made the following announcement
yesterday:
THE Cuban revolutionary party has
received letters from Cuba announcing
the landing Of the expeditions under the
respective commands of Major-General
Carlos Roloff, Brigadier-General Serafin
Sanchez and Brigadier-General Jose Ma
ria Rodriguez, chief of staff of General
Gomez.
The expeditions started from two of
the Bahama Islands in small boats about
two weeks ago. A short distance from
the starting point the whole party was
picked UP by sailing vessels in waiting,
and on Thursday landing was effected
in the province of Santa Clara. The
Joint expedition consisted of about 353
men, an'veterans of the last revolution,
with $50 Winchester and Remington RI
hes, an equal number Of machetes and
revolvers, two small cannon, 500 pounds
of dynamite and 100000 rounds of am
munition.
'tThe following officers, in addition to
those already named, accompanied the
expeditions: Colonel Rogelio Castillo,
Lieutenant Colonel Rosendo Garcia, Ma
jor Higinio Esguerro, Major Enrique
Loynaz del Castillo, Major Rafael vi
vance, Captain Aurelio Noy, Surgeon
General Valdez Dominguez and Fran
cisco Regueyra, Casimiro Regueyra and
Manuel Arderete."
When the Cuban synpathizers in this
city heard the news of the landing Of
the expedition they were in high feather.
Mr.. de Quesada's Office, at 66 Broadway,
was thronged all day with Cubans who
heard the news and who wished to get it
confirmed. It was conceded that this
expedition was the most important one
yet landed on the island.
The total force of the Cubans is now
reported to be about $4,000 men in the
reported to be about $4,000 men In
First Spanish Reserve has been ordered
to take the field.