San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-06
BERMUDA SUCCEEDED.
MEN AND AMMUNITION LANDED
WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.
General Garcias Son Says That Maceo,
With Nine Thousand Men, Surprised
Pinar de Rio, Routing the Spanish,
The Victory Was Complete.


pher dispatch from Carlos Garcia,
son OF Gen. Calixto Garcia. the
leader of the Bermuda expedition
to Cuba, has been received by NJ.
Stern, Of this city. The dispatch
was written at Manzsnillo, which
is about 80 miles west Of Santiago,
on April 2. Mr.. Stern held it in
his hand last night as he trans
lated it, interfering the necessary
explanations.
"The message says: Every.
thing is as 1 prophesied.' Mr..
Stern said that before the ship had
sailed, Carlos said that il there was
not interference in the United
States waters they would have no
trouble in eluding any Spanish
vessel.
"'The explanation to this is easy
enough said Mr.. Stern. The Ber-
muda was rated as having a speed
of from 10 to II knots, so that she
could out sail any Spanish war ves-
sci. She was equipped with new
engines when she was in the dry
dock in South Brooklyn. These
engines and boilers were made by
the Cramps, and were the finest
that money could buy. This re-
placing Of engines was kept a close
secret at the time. 1t was even
guarded from Cuban sympathizers.
$3.50 that while the Bermuda
was presumably a slow old ocean
tramper, she was in reality a re-
markedly swift ship, and no
Spanish cruiser could hope to catch
her. AS a matter OF fact she had
no occasion to show her speed
"The dispatch says that the men
and heavy artillery were landed in
a bay between Bahis Hondo and
Muriel, which is about so miles
west OF Havana, in a straight line.
There was absolutely no in
reference. The two Hotch-
kiss guns and the six other
heavy pieces of artillery were
taken off, with the ammunition for
them. The ship with the remain
ing arms and ammunition was
sent to Santo Domingo. 1t went
abroad the north shore Of the
sland through the Bahama chan
mel.
The 1S6 men in the expedition
were landed on the evening Of
March %. They made a march Of
40 miles inland where they were
met by Gen Maceo, thus carrying
out the plan to the letter.
1t was decided that an attack
should be made upon Pinar del
Rio, which is the largest inland
town, and a Spanish stronghold.
Maceo had caused the report to
reach the Spanish garrison that he
had started on a long march.
"The message says that Maceo
and Garcia, with 5000 men, swept
down upon Pinar del Rio early on
the morning OF March % and 1t
was a complete surprise. TIL e
Spanish troops numbered about
5000 and were thrown into a panic
by the onslaught. The use Of the
heavy artillery which Garcia
brought added to their terror The
message says CONSERVATION
reigned, and Spanish troops were
thrown in wild disorder. Officers
could not form their men. We cap
tured two heavy pieces of artillery,
LOO Mauser rifles, 100000 car
tridges, $500 swords and stores,
and burned q number of houses,
sparing the weak. The Spanish
lost $50 killed and 120 wounded.
Cuban lost $50 killed and wounded
"After this victory, which is one
of the most important that the Gu
bans have won, inasmuch as 1t
will be almost impossible for the
Spaniards to find a shelter for their
troops in the interior, during the
rainy season, Gen. Garcia took 500
men on horseback and eastward ,
making the hardest possible
marches.
"Carlos Garcia says that they
had not the sighted trouble in
passing the Trocha,' which is a
line Of Spanish troops, and they
went on swiftly to the eastern part
of the island. Many volunteers
Joined them. When they arrived
at Santiago, they found that the
Bermuda had landed her ammuni-
ton in a bay a few miles east OF
Santiago. The ship arrived on the
night of March rs, but the landing
was not made until the following