The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-05-28
GEN. CARACAS CAMP.
An Inside View of Affairs as They
are in Cuba.
LIEUT.. ROMANS VISIT TO GARCIA.
He Returns, Accompanied by Two Trusted
Cuban Oficers-The Latter Hold an
Interesting Conference with Gen.
Miles in Washington.

May SL-Sccretary Al
ger and Gen. Miles conferred yester.
day with two officers from the staff oil
Gen. Garcia, Gen. Enrique Collazo and
Lieut.-Col. Charles Hernandez, who
came direct from Garcia's headquarters,
bearing credentials from him, to effect
can forces. They accompanied Lieut..
Rowan, of the United States army, on
his return from Garcia's camp, and
shared with him the danger of Il two
days voyage in an open BOA from the
north coast of Cuba until picked up by
a small Sloop, which carried them to
Nassau. They reported first to the
Cuban delegation here, and Secretary
Qnesada "a careful to keep their
presence secret until Gen. Niles had
made the fact known.
This relieved them from further Sc
crecy. and yesterday Gen. Collazo and
Col. hernandez gave an interesting ac-
count of Gen. Garcia's forces and sur
roundings and the general equipment
OF the Cuban army.
Col. hernandez says Garcia has his
headquarters at Bayamo. one of the
large towns in the central part of the
island. 1t was surrounded by the
Spanish forces u few weeks, after Gar
ella had maintained a long siege Gen.
Garcia and staff. with a bodyguard of
several hundred men, are %quartcred in
the city.
The commanding generals head
quarters are in one of the principal
buildings on the main street, called
Commercial street. With him is Gen.
Rabi and his staff and body guard.
The infantry and cavalry are quartcred
in the suburb of south Bayamo. Tents
are not used, but in their place the
men hastily construct coverings made
of palm leaves and guinea grass, which
are more effective than canvas as u
shelter against the hot sun. In all
about 5000 men are thus quartered.
They are well armed with Reningrons
and Mausers captured from the SPaL-
iardS. Most of them have ~machctcS.
but only the officers carry other small
arms.
The cavalry have small horses. much
like the Indian mustangs, hardy and
reliable. Mules are used for pack pur-
poses.
Col. Hernandez says that the COM
miSsary and qu~artermaster's depart
mcnt is unknown in the sense used by
army officials here. In lieu of these
the companies not fully AIMED are or
ganized as ~''predios. The duty of
, H., Isn-.l:ac" - % H.,,r ,,oot ,.,rI,
supplies being secured from Puerto
Principe. and vegetables. which are
grown quickly in the woods. The sys-
tenn works perfectly, Col. Hernandez
says, and the troops are kept well fed
and in good spirits.
There are no dress parades and none
of the regularity of daily drill Used in
the United States army. The main
occupation is in making long daily
marches to keep the men hardened.
The Cuban generals say the arrival
OF Lieut.. Rowan aroused enthusiasm
throughout the Cuban camp. There
was no notice OF his coming. and the
first seen Of Lieut.. Rowan was as he
gallopped up Commercial street, fol-
lowed by the Cuban guides who accom-
him from Florida. He was
warmly greeted by Gen. Garcia and
the two held Il three hours conference.
1t was decided that Lieut.. Rowan
should return that afternoon. and
Gen. Garcia assigned Gen. CallaZo and
Col. Hernandez, with three guides, to
accompany him He had come in from
H.. .DrtI plA-n h,t a., o,,t-- ,-,,,. !
northward.
They had expected to secure a large
oaiibolt, but the best thing available
an open yawl with Il cubic ca
Of only 1911 feet. Sails were i'm
provised out OF the tents carried by the
officers.
Tn first night out was stormy and
the SNAIL craft was barely kept atioat,
but after that the weather was good.
Col. Hernandez says communication
is maintained with Gen. Gomez and
points along the coast. From
he had Il general idea of the Gu
ban forces. OUTSIDE of taos with Gcn.
.iircia at Biya.GD. He estimates that
are l2,9n men all of them well
Ia -hi~t' Sdot u Il ltDC1ii. Gub CptlSIl- |
.ut!ng forces in the eastern division OF
the island. under Gen. Garcia. These
include the 5000 at Bayano, the others
being scattered al various points. He
estimates Gen. Gomez Immediate COM
uand at about 1900 men. with 5000
men scatterc! at various points. In
all, there are, according to the esti-
mates of Gen. CollaZo and Col. Herman
!ez, about 10000 to -. 200 troops actu-
lilly in the field.
1t is understood that the purpose of
he present visit of Garcia-s officers
: to give that generals assurances to
he authorities here of his desire to
give every possible cooperation to the
american movements. Similar assur-
.nces nave come from Gen. Gomez. and
lave been presented by Secretary
lueSada.
The Cuban officers have made a good
impression here. and the authorities
agreeably surprised tt find them
men of ability and soldierly bearing.
packing English well They will re-
nain some days longer and then re-
urn to Gen. Garcia's camp.
Worth a Million, but it Couldn't save Him.