Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-03
LANDED SAFE IN CUBA
Col. Rafael Portundo There With
Million Cartridges.
SIX TWELVE FOUNDERS ALSO
A Supply of Rifles, Hospital Sup
plies and Dynamite.
OF HER CUBAN MATTERS S
OTHER CUBAN MATTERS S

Gonzalo de Quesada, charge d'affaires of
the Cuban republic, received telegraphic
advices this afternoon of the safe landing
of the expedition sent out under Col. Rafael
Portundo with large cargo of arms and
ammunition.
This news, the friends Of the Cuban
cause say, is of vast Importance to
the Cuban cause. 1t means, they assert,
the unavoidable prolongation Of the
war for one year. at least. To Spain
it is a strong blow. The cargo alluded to
contained six twelve-pounders with large
supply of ammunition and over 1,00O,O 900
cartridges. Besides these munitions, there
Was large supply of dynamite.
Hundred Men in the Party.
Fully 100 men We're in the party and are
now safe in the camp Of the Cuban army.
Col. Portundo is we'll known in Washing
ton, where he spent much time last year.
He Is the Cuban secretary of foreign re-
lations, and man of splendid nerve and
great military skill. Also with the eApe-
dition was DR.. Carlos Poey of Washington,
who went as surgeon, and two very we'll
known young men of Baltimore, Osman La
trobe nephew of Mayer Latrobe, and Mr..
Janney, both graduates Of Johns Hopkins
University.
The Two Vessels.
The two vessels on which Col. Portundo
took his guns and ammunition were the
Three Friends and the Laurada. 1t is
supposed a third vessel was employed to
take the cargo from these vessels and land
it.
The vigilance of the Spanish gunboats
ard the detectives il this cCuntry was fo-
once completely foled. Besides. the ar
tlllery, cartridges and dynamite, the ex-
pedltlon carried a large quantity of mcdi-
cine and hospital stores, and thousands
or rifles. The expedition Is said to have
left Jacksonville week ago last Mon
day
importance of This Summer.
The Cubans regard the coming summer
as the most important period in their struy-
gle. This is their weather, and they pro-
pose now, with their abundant supplies and
ammunition, to fight the Spaniards with
yellow fever as their ally. To those who
know the situation this Portundo cxpe,i-
ti6n is regarded "a; likely to gain Cuba her
loEg-sought freedom.
The Cuban Flag Incident.
Although it cannot be verified in official
quarters, there is good reason for the be
lief which prevails in diplomatic circles
that the United States government through
the Secretary of State, has dsavowed all
responsibility for the display OF the Cuban
flag in the Decoration day parade in New
York city. One of the most striking fea-
lures of that parade was a small company
Of Cuban soldiers marching under the
Cuban flag. This ensign was proudly dis
played and was fianked on either side by
the stars and stripes. The company of
cuban patriots was composed of white and
colored men from the Queen of the An
titles. They Wore light brown uniforms
and soft, white hats, and We're armed with
machetes. They marched the entire length
of the line and were given an enthusiastic
greeting at ali points. They We're assign
ed places in one Of the divisions of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
1t is said that Senor DeLome the Spanish
minister, made the incident the subject OF
an official communication to the Secre-
tary Of State, inquiring specifically If the
display of the Cuban flag in the public
manner stated was to be taken as an in
dication that the United States acknowl-
edged that the flag representative of
anything. So far as can he learned the
Secretary Of State replied that the United
States government disc Ia lined all responsi-
bility for the incident in question, adding
that while United States troops took part
in the parade it was organized and man
aged entirely by the municipal authorities
of New York city, and was not national
affair. These alleged assurances are said
to have been satisfactory to the Spanish
authorities, and the incident is officially re
garded closed
None of the officials of the State Depart
ment or the Spanish legation would say
anything on the subject today.
American Citizens Released.
Secretary Olney has written a letter 70
Senator Lodge, in which he says: Com
mercial Agent Barker, at Sagua La
Grande. has notified the department that
William A. Clean AID Louis NJ. Clean were
released on May is, in cor sequence of a
royal decree, granting amnesty to political
prisoners against whom no positive proof
Of guilt had been lodged but that the
general commanding that zCne, who went
to the military Jail to carry out the de-
cree, took occasion to inform these two
prisoners that their release was provisional
and that he desired to impress upon them
1T was thus far intended as a gracious act
on the part of the queen. They are re-
qLired to present thems elves to the mill
tary court eveiv third lay
The prisoners referred to in this letter
are citizens OF Massachusetts. They were
arrested at Sagua La Grande, Cuba, and
thrown into prison. and although they
protested that they Were Ant rican citizens
and had transsressed no law, they were
kept in close confinement foy about two
months Finally news of their confinement
reached this country, an1 steps were taken
to secure their protection.