The herald., 1898-05-12
'CUBANS N the FElD
ANXIOUS TO COOPERATE WITH
AlEERIcANs
GOMEZ PROUD OF HIS PRoWEss
But Will Welcome Assistance Rem
dered by the United States to
Shorten the War
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE courier who
is on his way here with letters from Gem
eral Gomez to President Palma of the Gu
ban legation has stopped at Tampa and
will not reach here for a day or two. Gem
eral Nunez of the Cuban army, after COM
ferring with the Cuban authorities here
and with General Miles left for Tampa
last night.
Although the courier will bring detailed
advices from Gomez, the Cuban>ohicialB
here are we'll informed on the general
status of the Cuban forces in the field, and
this subject has been gone over fully
with the war department officials. In
general way 1t is stated that entire har-
mony exists between the Cuban authorities
and the war department as to the reserve
and the effective fighting force of General
Gomez and GeNcral Garcia. The Cuban
authorities are ready and willing to have
the fullest cooperation by the United
States troops on Cuban soil, and It Is said
there is no ground for reports that General
Gomez desires to act single-handed In Sc
curing Cuban independence. Naturally 1t
is thought in high Cuban quarters, that
General Gomez feels some pride in having
sustained war for the last three years
single-handed against the organized forces
of Spain, and doubtless believes that In
time he could achieve complete victory.
But, it is said, he is fully alive to the fact
that this would take time and large in-
crease in the arms, ammunition, rations
and medicines at his disposal In the mean-
time he has exercised the only prudential
course in pointing out the climatic dan
of a "a limited QfafaQ f0rcm
into Cuba.
Concerning the strength of the Cuban
forces in the field, the Cuban representa-
tives here say that present advices fully
bear out all that Cuban authorities have
claimed. namely, that there are in all about
900 men, either under arms or ready to
take arms as soon as guns and ammuni-
tion are at hand. OF this number, 1t is said
that about 1900 lack arms and equipment.
leaving about $4,000 now in the field rea-
sonably equipped, although additional am
munition and supplies would be most ad-
vantageous to these latter This rs 900 does
not exist in any one camp. On the con-
trary, Cuban officials say their forces have
adopted the tactics essential to fight
against heavy odds. and have scattered
their forces into small groups over an area
of 5000 square miles. These small groups
are best able to carry on guerrilla war;
fare, which diverts Spanish attention to
every part of the island. The immediate
command of Gomez is said to number 1000
men, and is located in the rich Santa Clara
district. Some distance away, in the prov
| ince of Santiago de Cuba, are the forces Of
General Garcia, the seven bands of which
are said to aggregate 15,OO0 men. The dis
tance of Garcia from Gomez Is said to
make juncture between them impractica-
BILE, and as there are no means of speedy
communication. 1t is expected that Lieu.
| tenant Rowan, the United States officer
| who made a daring and successful land.
ing in Cuba and proceeded inland to GEN
| eral Garcia's camp, will arrive at Key
West tomorrow. 1t Is understood that
Lieutenant Rowan has already stated,
whether by report or otherwise is not
known, that the Cubans in General Gar
cia's district occupy number of towns
vacated by the Spanish and that the Cuban
administration of these towns is in the
hands of "fine men," This last expression
gives special satisfaction to Cubans here.
They are hopeful that President Masso
will remain in the western provinces and
be ready to come with his cabinet to the
first large seaport city that is occupied and
there set up the civil administration Of the
republic of Cuba.