The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-31

the demands of this Governments ulti-
matum and are prepared to withdraw
their troops from Cuba. In such case the
United States would be placed in the dis
agreeable position before the world OF
continuing to make war upon the country
which holds out the flag of truce. The di-
lemma that would confront US In such
case would be how to secure Porto Rico
without offending against international
law, for 1t can be safely accepted as the
truth that the Administration is deter
mined that Spanish rule In the Western
Hemisphere must cease.
Now that General Miles has gone 1t can
be stated that for the last five days he
has held frequent conferences with a
prominent Porto Rican, thoroughly con-
versant with the situation in that island
and able to give exact information as to
the Spanish strength, defences, etc, there.
was explained by an official well ac-
quainted with the conditions there. He
pointed out that it is the easternmost
isolated from General Blanco so far as
railroad connections are concerned For
that reason it viii be impossible for
Blanco to hurry reinforcements to San
tiago. and the Spanish forces already
there constitute all that it is possible to
assemble for its defense.
These forces are under General Pando.
with headquarters at Holguin, about one
hundred miles northwest of Santiago de
Cuba. Pando has a force of about 5000
TROOPS with him and is strongly en-
with the small seaport of Gibara, on the
north coast, where there are about 1000
Spanish troops. But while Pando is
strong at Holglmn, he is harrassed by the
presence of small Cuban bands at Cuaba
and other points surrounding dolguin.
Beside Holquin and Gibara,. General
Pando has small garrisons of from LOCO
to 5000 men at Mayan, Tanamo and Bar
acoa on the north coast, and at Guantaa-
mo- Santiago and Manzanillo on the
south coast These points are saio to be
Santiago is the only province overrun
throughout the interior by the insur-
gents.
The Cuban commander. General Garcia
has his headquarters at Bayamo. seventy
five miles west of Santiago. The reports
brought by General Collazo and Lieuten-
ant Rowan indicate that aGrcia has about
5000 men under his immediate command.
and about 5000 scattered in bands around
Ho1gun, Vitoria de las Tunis, Jiguaal,
Meron and other points
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
penned up i'll the six or seven seaport
towns. For this reason it is said to be i'm
possible for General Pando to move his
forces from Holguin down to Santiago
de Cuba, as aGrcia's bands, as well as
his main body of troops, are in the way.
Thes forces are said to be in considerable
number within few miles of Santiago
de Cuba.
General Garcia's two staff officers, who
have recently been in Washington ar
ranging a plan of cooperation with Gen
eral Miles, left with him last night, and
there is a thorough understanding as TO
the part the Cubans are to take in the
aggressive movements about to occur
Brigadier General J. c. Gilmore of Gen
eral Miles staff has been left in charge of
affairs at army headquarters. Later Cen
eral Gilmore expects 10 join General
Miles, but just when he is not at this
time able to state. Several of the civilian
clerks at headquarters also left with Gem
eral Miles last might but the larger por-
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 correspon-
dence.