New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-27
CUBANS PROMISE SUPPORT.
ASSURANCES OF COOPERATION WITH
AMERICAN TROOPS.

COLr.AzO AND HERNANDEZ TALK WITH sECRE-
TARY ALGER AND GENERAL MILES.
WASHINGTON May 26-Secretary Ager and
General Miles conferred to-day with two officers
from the staff Of General Garcia, General En-
rique Coazo and Northumberland Charles
Hernandez. who come direct from Garcia's head
quarters. bearing credentials from Him. to effect
p plan CT cooperation with the American forces.
They accompanied Lieutenant Rowan on his re-
turn from Garcia's camp and shared with him
the dangers of two days voyage IN an open
boat from the north coast Of Cuba until picked
up by small sloop. which carried them 10
Nassau. They reported first TO the Cuban dele
CATION here. and Secretary Quesada was careful
to keep their presence secret until General Miles
had made the fact known. This relieved them
from further secrecy, and to-day General Col
lazo md Colonel Hernandez gave an interesting
account Of General Garca's forces and sur
roundlngs and the general equipment Of the
Cuban ARMY.
GENERAL CARCASS CAMP.
Colonel hernandez says Garcia has his head
quarters at Bayamo one OF the large towns In
the central part OF the island. 1t surren-
dered by the Spanish forces a few weeks ago.
after Garcia and his troops had maintained
long siege. General Garcia and his staff. with
a bodyguard Of several hundred men. are quar-
tered inside the city. The commanding gen
erals headquarters are in one OF the principal
buildings on the main street, called CONNER
cial-st. with him General Rab and his
ftar and bodyguard. The infantry and cavalry
are quartered in the suburb OF South Bayamo.
Tent are not used. but in their place the men
hastily construct coverings made Of palm
leaves and guinea grass which are more ef-
feciiYe than canvas as n shelter against the
hot sun. In all. about three thousand men are
thus quartered. They are we'll arrned with
Remingtons and Mauscrs captured from the
Spanards. Most ~ them have machetes. but
only the officers carry other small arms. The
cavalry have small horses much Ike tho Indian
mustangs. Mules are used FOR pack purposes.
Colonel Hernandez says that the commssary
and quartormastcrs departments are unknown
in the sonse used by army officials here. In
place - these the COMPANIES not fully armed
are organized as "prcdlos" The duty OF the
predlos' is to bring meat. ample supplies being
secured from Puerto Principe and vegetables.
which are grown quickly In the woods. The
system works perfectly. Colonel Hernandez says.
and the troops are kept well fed and In good
spirits There arc no dress parades and none
OF the regularity of daily drill usual In the
United States Army. Tho main occupation Is
IN making long daily marches to keep the men
hardened.
The cuban officers ray the arrival 81 Lieu
tenant Rowan aroused the greatest enthusiasm
in the Cuban carnr. There was no notice or MS
coming and the first seen Of Lieutenant Rowan
was as l. rallopel up Commcrcial-st. toI!owed
by the Cuban guides VII" accompanied MN
from Florida. He warmly greeted by Gen
.ral Garcia and the TWO held three hours con-
ference. II vas decided that Lieutenant Rowan
should return that afternoon and Gen.rai lar, fIar
cia assigned General COLLAGE ana colonel Her
nandez with three guides TO accompany him
He had come IN from the south shore. but me
party went out nor,hward They had expected
10 secure n large sahoat. but the best craft
available was an o,en yawl. or !ifehoat, with
cubic capacity Of only lo4 feet sails were I'M
proviscd out Of the tents carried Ivy me "iicers,
The first night out stormy, and the small
craft was barely kept afoat but after that the
weather was good. The hrst morning out the
marty saw twelve American warships ~ Ad-
mIral SIMPSONS feet. but they made no attempt
10 board the ships The next day they were
pIcked up by a sloop of Bahama Key. and car
ried to Nassau. coming thence to Washington.
STRENGTH OF THE CUBAN FORCES
Colonel Hernandez says communication Is
maintained with General Gomez and with points
along the coast From these he has general
idea OK the Cuban forces. outside Of those with
General Garcia et Bayamo He estimates that
there are 1000 men, all 81 them well armed.
east o. La Trocha. and constituting The FORCES
in the eastern division Of the islard. under Cen
eral Garcia These include the 1000 At Bayamo.
the others being scattered NJ various points
II. es,lrnotcs General Coucz's immediate com
mand nj about 5000 men. with GOO men scat
tered at different places. In all there are. ac-
cordng to the estimates OF General CCIazo ana
Colonel Hernandez from 10000 TO 5000 troops
actually In the field.
II is understood that the purpose OF the pres
ent visit OF Garcia's officers Is To give that Cen
craI's assurance 10 the authorities here Of his
desire to give every possible assistance 10 the
American movements. Similar assurances have
come from General Gomez and have been pre-
sentcd By Secretary Quesada. The Cuban Of
ncers have ma le n good impression here. and
the authorities found them men OF ability and
soldlerly bearing. speaking English well. They
will remain several days longer and then return
TO General Garc.a's camp.