Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-19
SENDS nE,NronCEMENTs TO CUBA.
Spnin is Now Fitting out New Military
Ex peditOns.


NEW YORK, July 1S.-Senor Don Arturo
Baldasano y Topelo, the consul general for
| Spain in this city. in an interview with a
representative of the Associated press was
asked for information regarding the reported
death of Jose Maceo. He said that he had
no official Information regarding the matter,
but that II was probable, as the rebel ranks
are said to be rent by dissension. In sup
port of his views he said that formatio
had been received from several white Gu
bans who had recently joined the rebels
that they were obliged to serve as ~privates
under black leadership; that it had caused
much feeling among the whites and that
the blacks would not give them commands.
as the blacks and their descendants had
borne the brunt of the war.
When asked as to the outlook for Spain
in Cuba, he said that ii was excellent; that
the rebellion had, he believed, reached it's
maximum strength; that the rebels were in
two main commands; that the one in Pinar
del Rio under Antonio Maceo was hemmed
in by the new troCha and cannot escape.
The rebels in the eastern part of central
Cuba and in the eastern part of Cuba under
Gomez and others, he declared, had been ad-
yancing to the relief Of Antonio Maceo, but
were reported to be falling back on eastern
Cuba, where marked discomfort was dis
covered in the rebel camps, and that the
presence of Gomez was necessary to main
tain discipline and uphold the authority of
CaliXto Garcia.
Regarding the discomfort among the rebels
Senior Baldasano said that many blacks and
whites were surrendering with horses and
arms. and that under the orders of General
Weyler they were placed on parole and re-
leased.
Regarding the August and September re-
Inducements for Cuba he gave the following
details: There are fifty-six battalions OF
the line in Spain. Each will organize two
eXpeditionary companies of the following
strength: One captain, four subalterns, five
sergeants, ten corporals. five trumpeters and
230 men each. Spain has ten battalions of
sharpshooters. They will contribute two
companies each, organized like the infantry.
The Canary islands have two local
battalions and the Balerio islands three local
battalions. They will contribute their quota
Of two companies each. The men from the
islands will be deemed a local reserve in
Cuba to supply vancancies caused by deaths
and wounds.
The preceding will give 1873 companies,
consisting of 13S captains, 552 subalternS:
total, $50 officers. The rank and file will
consist of $50 sergeants, 1,4S0 corporals, $50
trumpeters and 81, 74O soldiers, making a
total infantry strength of "a 500 officers and
men. A small detachment Of cavalry will
be sent. 1t will be under the command of
a lieutenant colonel, two majors, a captain
and two lieutenants. There will also be
sent a detachment of artillery numbering
,152 men, 500 of whom belong to the field
batteries of the Royal artillery OF Spain,
$50 to mountain batteries. with 292 OF yari-
Gus rank from the artillery establishment
The artillery will be under the command OF
a major, seven captains, ten first and twelve
second lieutenants, also a detachment Of
engineers consisting of 1889 men, of whom
915 will be sappcrs and miners, 800 from the
regiment of military telegraphers and 424
from the regiment of railway engineers.
They will be commanded by a lieutenant
colonel, two majors, seventeen captains and
sixty subalterns.
The total strength of the August and
September expeditions will be as follows:
Infantry, all ranks, 35, 190; cavalry, all
ranks, 4G7; artillery, all ranks, 1882; en-
gineers, 1,6l9; total, 38, 55S. Between August
Is and 20 all the infantry will embark.
The regulars enumerated above will be
accompanied by two full battalions Of vol
u%nteers, consisting of 1000 men. the latter
organized by the bishop of Ovieges, in
AstuTis.