Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-18
ARMY OF THE CUBANS
Its Present Strength Close to Forty.
Three Thousand Men.
INNUMERABLE SMALL BANDS.
A Reckless, Daredevil Force,
with But One Idea, and That
to Free Cuba-What May Follow
Unheeded.


nsurgent army is close to 1900 men.
Cubans estimate the number OF the men
In the field as high as 5000 men, but even
II unarmed camp-followers. men in charge
OF provison-trains. hospitals, and camps
were counted. IL is doubted II that mum
Der could be found actually in service.
There are thousands of Cubans who would
willingly cast their lots with the patriot
army, but lack Of arms and ammunition
prevents. The insurgent forces operate
as a rule, In zones or districts, and are
organized on military lines. The columns
OF Gomez. Maceo. Lacret, and Banderas
are, however limited to no one province.
but pass from one to another, under the
direct orders of Gomez
The commander-in-chief is now In Ma
tanzas, and the others have reinvaded
Habana province. Following is a state
ment Of the strength and location Of the
forces OF the principal Cuban leaders:
Maxine Gomez, in Matanzas. 6.ocO
Antonio Maceo. Miro. Zayas, and Others
In Habana, 5000.
Serahn Sanchez, in Santa Clara, 400.
Jose Macec. Rojas, and Rodrlques, IN
Santiago, $500.
Lacret, In Habana, 1900.
Quintan Banderas. in Habana, 1900
Masso Alvarez, Castillo, Mestro' anu
Nunez, in Habana, 5000
Delgado. Bermudez, Sanchez' ana o'nels'
Pinar del Rio. $500.
Aguirro. Diaz. Hernandez. and Patacios'
In Habana, 900.
Mayi Rodriques and others. in CANA
quay. 800
Revez. Benitez. Vara, Wilson. and Men
dieta in Santiago. 1000.
Rafael Cardinal, in Matanzas, go
Verona, Ruperto Sanchez, and Others
in Pinar del Rio, 500.
Olivia and others, in Pinar del RIO.
COO.
Clotilda Garcia, in Matanzas, 600.
Garlic, Joaquin Garcia, and others, III
Santiago, 800.
Roloff. Pancho, and Perez. in Santa
Clara. 800.
Mlrabel, Ferrer, and Veita, In Santa
Clara. 500
Rego. sixto. Rogue. Palao, and Sanchez.
in Santa Clara. 500.
Cortuna. Vidal. and Juan Bravo IN
Juan Toledo and FL Ingiesto, in Santa
Clara, 400.
Matagas, in Matanzas. 400.
Robau, Cebreco, Ruen, and Planas, In
Santiago. 400
Borroto. Lencho, Sarinas, and Eduardo
Garcia, in Matanzas, 400.
Auet, Morton, Dimas Martinez, ana
Sotolongo in Matanzas. 400.
Villaneoa, Costa, Aguilar, and otners'
In Habana. 300.
Muneoz, Chapotin. Sacorra, and Limo
perez in Santa Clara. 30.
Total 42.sO0
The distribution, according to provinces
Is. Habana 1880; Matanzas. 5000; santa
Clara, $500; Santiago, $500; Pinar Del Rio'
$3.50; Camaguey, 1900. Total, E'SO.
MANY LOCAL BANDS.
In addition to the above there are In
Vulnerable local bands OF from fifteen 70
fifty. or even 100, men. These don't form
part of the fighting force. and should not
be counted as part Of the army 1heir
chief functions are 10 carry out Inc oruers
OF General Gomez, prohibiting the grind
ing of cane, the movement or troops ana
eunnlies by rail etc. These small bands
serve as recruiting agencies. and when
thew grow too large for local operation
they are attached to one Of the army
columns.
OF the army proper, fully two thirds
are we'll mounted, and about half are Wen
armed. The others are armed with shot-
guns revolvers, or only with the maehete'
Some of Maceos men have oid-style
muzzle-loading guns, and lead is so scare
that telegraph-wlre chopped into short
lengths is used for the charge. Spanish
surgeons have on several occasions re-
norted soldiers wounded with bits OF wire.
The insurgents have a few pieces oil
mountain howitzers. captured from gov
ernment troops. There are, perhaps,
dozen of these guns, and they nave oeeh
used with disastrous effect against the
small wooden forts which the spanish
troons erected at various points.
THE cuban "army Of liberation" as II
10 called. has grown TO its present size IN
,ha face Of almost insurmountable diff
entities. From the beginning II has been
outnumbered by the army OF Spain in the
ratio of never less than four 10 one IL
has barely escaped annihilation In many
encounters when ammunition ran out IL
hos lived on forage, been almost con-
stantly under FIRE. and is to-day reck'
loss daredevil army, with but one ldee
in view. and that is 10 free Cuba. "ha'
comes after is not given thought.
MACEO NEAR CANDELARIA.
From a STAFF Correspondent of the united
Press)
uARANA. March 17.-It is reported tha'
Antonio Maceo, the second In commSn
OF the rebel forces. is near CandeiaIla' IL
the province OF Pinar de- hio'
Ar meeting OF the Reformlst party
here II was decided TO take no part IN ths
election of members OF the Cor'es' y
being held impossible for the party 10 u'
80 because Of the disturbances caused %
the war This was cabled 10 Mhurio
Renl,es have been received from the ieau
ars there commanding the action OF th'
>ar,,, declaring that the elections In Cuoa
,,,r onlv be simulated, and advising ina
the Reformists only take part IN eiee''on'
when the provinces are pacined.
RJMoRED DEFEAT OF MAcEo.
MADRID. March IA dispatch IRON
Habana TO the impartial says tnat Gene
raj Ijnarez has defeated Maceos lorct
roar candelaria, a town in the eastern
mart OF the province Of Pinar del hio.
SUNLIGHT FLASH SIGNALS.
BALTIMORE, MD, March H.-Th'
snani.h authorities in Cuba, In order u
overcome the Inconvenience occasione'
by the cutting Of telegraph wires by th'
insursents. have decided TO adopt
system of sunlight fash signals, slmilal
IN that used by the United State:
signal Corps. Sixty heliographs were
shipped to-day to Don Manuel Baliespin
AZ Habana, who will introduce th'
system I'm the Spanish army. TWO nun
dred more instruments have been con
tracted for, and will be sent as rapioi,
"a posslble by the manufacturer, In thi'
city.