The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-01

MERRITT II
York, First District of Columbia and the
Fifth Maryland. Brigadier-General L. H.
Carpenter will command this detachment.
General Carpenter has been In command of
the First Division of the Third Corps at
the park. while General Snyder has been in
command of the Third Division of the First
Corps. Each of the eight regiments will be
equipped with Springfield rifles, As caliber,
and 500 rounds of ammunition. These, ex
cept what are in the hands of the men, will
be shipped by rail- Each regiment will pro-
vide itself with two days travel rations in
haversacks and eight days full rations in
wagon train. Fifty days full rations will
be shipped by rail to the chief commissary
at Tampa. 1t is now generally believed
in the park will be sent on to Tampa as soon
as they are in fit condition. The First
Maine Infantry, the Second Arkansas In
fantry and the Fifty-second Iowa Infantry,
which arrived yesterday afternoon and last
night, settled down in camp today. Each
numbers about $50 men.
The First Mississippi Infantry, 1928 men,
under Colonel George NJ. Govan. arrived
forms and arms.
The Second Division was scheduled for
sham battle today, but this morning it was
decided to postpone the event. Regimental
and company drills are keeping men en-
ployed. Inspector-General Breckenridge
states that he will remain here a week
longer.
Miles en- Route
| COLUMBIA, S. c., May 31.-A Special
train bearing General Miles and party
from Washington to Tampa passed
through here at / o'clock this afternoon.
They are travelling as the second section
of the limited over the Southern and
Florida Central and are due in Tampa to-
| morrow morning. A committee of Sa-
vannah citizens met General Miles here
for the purpose of inducing him to con-
centrate some of the troops now at Chick
amauga in Savannah. That city will ap-
propriate $4,000 for for camp ground.
| Santiago Defenses
| WASHINGTON, May 31-Now that Gen.
Miles is gone 1t can be stated that for the
last five days he has held frequent con-
ferences with a prominent Porto Rican,
thoroughly conversant with the situation
in that island and able to give exact in
formation as to the Spanish strength, de-
| lenses, ETC., there.
AS to Santiago province the situation was
explained today by an official we'll ac-
quainted with the conditions there. He
pointed out that it is the most eastern Sec
ton of Cuba and the one completely sep
arated from Gen. Banco, SO far as rail-
road connections are concerned. For that
reason, it will be impossible for Blanco to
hurry reinforcements to Santiago ana
| the Spanish forces already there consti-
| tLte all that it Is possible to assemble for
| its defense. These forces are under Gen.
Pando, with headquarters at Holguin, some
100 miles northwest of Santiago de Cuba
Pando has a force of about 5000 troops
| and is strongly entrenched. A short rail-
way connects him with the port of Gibara,
on the north coast, where there are about
1000 Spanish troops, but while Pando is
strong at Holguin he is harassed by the
presence of small Cuban bands Besides
Holguin and Gibara, Gen. Pando has gar
risons Of from 1000 to 5000 men at Mayan-
tanamo and Baracoa, on the north coast
and at Guantanamo, Santiago and Manzan-
lilo on the south coast. These points are
said to be the only ones held by the Span
ish, for Santiago Is the one province over
run throughout the interior by the in
surgents.
The Cuban commander. Gen. Garcia, has
had his headquarters at Bayamo, rs
miles east Of Santiago. The reports
brought by Gen. Collazo and Lieut.. Rowan
indicate that Garcia has about 5000 men
under his immediate control and about
5000 scattered in bands around Holguin.
Aside from their offensive strength, the
Cuban forces are looked upon as valuable
in that they hold the interior roads and
passes, and keep the Spanish garrisons pen
ned up in the six or seven seaport towns.
1t is said to be impossible for General
Pando to move his forces from Holguin
down to Santiago de Cuba as Garcia's
bands, as well as his main body of troops
are In the way. These forces are said to
be in considerable number within a few
miles Of Santiago de Cuba.
General Garcia's two staff officers, who
have recently been in Washington arrang.
ing a plan of cooperation with General
Miles, left with him last night and there
is a thorough understanding as to the par,
the Cubans are to take in the aggressive
movements about to occur.
Brigadier-General Fillmore has been left
in charge of affairs at army headquarters
Later General Fillmore expects to join Gen.
eral Miles, but just when he is not at this
time able to state. Several of the civilian
clerks at headquarters also left with Gen.
eral Miles last night. but the greater Dor.
ton Of the force remains on duty here
Should necessity arise additional help will
be sent to the front to assist the General
and his staff in their official correspond.
ence. Two Russian officers, accompanied