The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-27

'sASAiAANu ASN, -. ". May zp.--Sec-
retary Alger and General Miles confer
red to-day with two officers from the
staff OF General Garcia. General En-
rique collazo and Lieutenant Colonel
Charles Hernandez, who come direct
from Garcla's headquarters, bearing
credentials from him to effect a plan
OF cooperation with the American
forces. They accompanied Lieutenant
Rowan, of the United States army, on
his return from Garcia's camp. and
shared with him the dangers OF q two
days voyage In an open boat from the
north coast of Cuba until picked up by
small sloop which carried them to
Nassau. They reported first to the Gu
ban delegation here and Secretary
ouesada was careful to keep their pres
ence secret until General Miles had
made the fact known. This relieved
them from further secrecy and to-day
General Collazo and Colonel Hernandez
gave an interesting account OF General
Garcla's forces and surroundings, and
the general equipment Of the Cuban
army. 80 -
Colonel Hernandez says Garcia has
his headquarters at Bayamo,t one of the
largest towns in the central part OF the
Island. 1t was surrounded by the Span
lish forces few weeks ago after Garcia
and his troops had maintained q long
siege. General Garcia and his staff,
with body guard OF several hundred
men, are quartered inside the city.
Gnrcia's sHra,iqunriers. =
The commanding generals headquar-
ters are in one OF the principal build
irgs on the main street, called Com
mercial street. With him is General
Rabi and his staff and body guard. The
infantry and cavalry are quartered 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 canvass as q
shelter againstthe hot sun. In all abou.
5000 men are thus quartered. They are
well armed with Remingtons and jMau-
sers captured: from the Spaniards. Most
ofthem have !machetes, butt only the
officers carry other small arms. The
cavalry have email horses, much like
the Indian mustangs, hardy and reli-
able. Mules are used for pack pur-
poses. Colonel Hernandez says that
the commissarv and quartermasters de-
partment Is unknown in the sense used
by army officials here. In lieu of these
the companies not fully armed are or
ganiaed as "predios." The duty of the
"predios" is to bring meat, ample SUD.
plies being secured from Puerto Prin:
cipe. 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 are no dress
parades, and none OF the regularity Of
daily drill used In the United States
army. The main occupation Is in max
ing long daily marches to keep the men
hardened. q. 'a15lE.z,
RoHvan's Arrival a Surprise.
The Cuban generals say the arrival Of
Lieutenant Rowan aroused the greatest
enthusiasm throughout the Cuban
camp. There was no notice OF his COM
ing and the first seen OF Lieutenant
Rowan was as he Galloped up CONNER
cial street followed by the Cuban
guides who accompanied him from
Florida. He was warmly greeted by
General Garcia, and the two held
three hours conference. II was decided
that Lieutenant Rowan should return
that afternoon, and General Garcia as
signed General Collazo and Colonel
Hernandez, with three guides to accom-
pany him. He had come In from the
south shore, but the party went out
northward. They, had expected to Sc
cure large sail boat, but the best
thing available was an open yawl or life
boat, with q capacity OF only 104 feet.
Sails were improyised out OF the tents
carried by the officers. The first night
out was stormy and the small craft was
barely kept afioat, but after that the
weather was good.
+ Colonel Hernandez says communica-
ton Is maintained with General Gomez
and with points, along the coast. From
these he has q general Idea OF the Gu
ban forces, outside OF those with Gem
erai Garcia at Bayamo. He estimates
that there are 1000 men. all OF them
well armed, east Of La Trocha, and
constituting the forces In tho eastern
Division OF the island, under General
Garcla. These include the 5000 at Bay
an,o, o,~the others being scattered at var
ious points. He estimates General Co
mcz' immediate command at about
1000 men, with 5000 men; scattered at
various points. In all there are, accord
Ing to the estimates OF General Collazo
and Colonel Hernandez. about 10000 to
$4,000 troops actually In the field. 3
1t Is understood that the purpose OF
the present visit OF Garcia's officers is
to give that generals assurance TO- the
authorities here of his desire to give
every possible cooperation TO the
American movements Similar nssur-
ances have come from General Gomez,
and have been presented by Secretary
Quesada. The Cuban officers have made
a good impression here and the author
tiles were ngreeably surprised to find
them mem OF ability and soldlerly bear;
Ing. speaking English well. They will
remain some dnys longer and then re-
turn to General Garcia's camp. z Il 4
PHILIPPINE INVASION KS
Retarded by a Inct ofTrnnsports 10 Con.