The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-31
Detailed Statement by
General Garcia.
ARMY OF 10000 TROOPS
Members of Genera Garcia.
STAFF Hold a Conference with Secre.
tary AIseE and General Vile. over
Plans TO Eject Cooperation Between
TIE Cuban and American Armfe-
eubans Enthused by Lieutenant

Washington. May os.-Secretary Aleer
and General Miles conferred today with
TWO officers from the staff OF General
Garcia, General Enrique Collazo and
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hernandez.
VINO came direct from Garcia's head
quarters. bearing credentials from him
10 effect a plan OF cooperation with the
American forces. They accompaniei
Lieutenant Rowan. of the United States
army, on his return from Garcia's camp.
lheE reported first to the Cuban dele
CATION here. and Secretary Ouesada was
careful TO keep their presence Secret I'M
Il! General Miles had made the fact
known. This relieved them from further
secrecy and today General Co!lazo and
Colonel Hernandez gave an interesting
account OF General Garcia's forces and
surroundings and the general euuipment
Of the Cuban army.
Colonel Hernandez says Garcia has his
headquarters at Bayamo, one of the large
towns IN the central part Of the island.
1t was surrendered by the Spanish forces
a few weeks ago after Garcia and his
troops had maintained a rong siege. Tents
are not USED, but in their place the men
haStiIy constructed coverings made of
PAIN leaves and guine grass. which are
more effective than canvass as a shell
Ter against the hot SUM-. In all about
500 men are thus quartered. They are
well armed with Remingtons and Maui
sers. captured from the Spaniards.
colonel hernandez says hat the COM
nlssary and quarter1naster's depart
fnentS arc unknown in the sense used by
army officials here. In lieu of these the
companies not fully armed are organized
as "predios." The duty of the ''predios"
Is TO bring meat (ample supplies being
Sa61Irn6 from p11a~ta Dr;n1;~1A a~l -
etables which are grown quickly in the
woods, and the troops are kept we'll fed
and in good spirits. There is none of the
regularity of daily drills usual in the
ton IS in making long daily marches to
keep the men hardened.
The Cuban general says the arrival OF
Lieutenant Rowan aroused the greatest
enthusiasm throughout the Cuban camD.
Inere was no notice of his coming and
the first seen OF Lieutenant Rowan was
as he galloped up Commercial street, fol-
lowed by the Cuban guide who accom-
panied him from Florida. He was warm
ly greeted by Genera Garcia and the
two held a three hours conference. 1t
was decided that Lieutenant Rowan
should return that afternoon and Cen
eral Garcia assigned General Collazo and
Colonel Hernandez, with three guides.
to him. He had come in from
the south shore, but the party went out
to the north shore.
CUBAN ORCE IN THE ISLAND.
Colonel Hernandez says communication
is maintained with General Gomez and
with points along the coast. From these
he has a general idea of the Cuban
forces, outside of those with General
Garcia at Bayamo. He estimates that
there are 1900 men, all of them well
armed. east of la trocha and constituting
the forces in the eastern division of the
island under General Garcia. These in
clude the 5000 at Bayamo, the others be-
ing scattered at various points. He esti-
mates General GOmez's immediate COM
mand at about 1900 men, with 5000 scat
tered at various points. In all there are.
according to the estimates of General
CollaZo and Colonel Hernandez, about
10000 to 5000 troops actually in the field.
1T is understood that the purpose of
the present visit of Garcia's officers is to
give that generals assurance to the au-
thorities here Of his desire to give every
possible cooperation to the American
movements Similar assurances have
come from General Gomez and have been
presented by Secretary Quesada. The Gu
Dan Officers have made a good impress
sion here, and the authorities We're agree
ably surprised to find them men of abili-
ty and soldierly bearing, speaking Eng
lish well. They will remain some days
longer and then return to General Car
cia'S camp.