Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-11
THE Gu BAN AR M Y
Entire Harmony Between General Gomez and
the War Department.
He is Willing to Have the CO-Opera-
ton of United States Troops
on Cuban Soil.

Inc courier VINO IS on his way here with
| letters from General Gomez to President
| Palma of the Cuban delegation has stopped
| at Tampa and viii lot reach here for day
or two. General Nunez of the Cuban army
after comforting with the Cuban authori-
| ties here and with General Miles left for
Tampa last night. Although the courier
will bring detailed advices from Gomez,
the Cuban officials here are already well
informed as to the general status of the
Cuban forces in the field, and this subject
has been gone over fully with the War
Department officials. In a general way it
is stated that entire harmony exists be-
tween the Cuban authorities and those Of
the War Department as to the resources
and effective fighting force of General
Gomez and General Garcia In particular,
it is pointed out that the Cuban authorities
are ready and willing to have the fullest
cooper alton by United States troops on
Cuban sell, and it is said. there is no ground
for reports that General Gomez desires to
act single handed in securing Cuban indie
pendencc. Naturally, it is said in high Gu
ban quarters. General Gomez feels some
pride in having sustained a war for the
last three years, single handed against the
organized forces of Spain, and he doubtless
believes that in time he could achieve a
complete victory. But it is said he is fully
alive to the fact that this will take time
and a large increase in the arms, ammu-
milton, rations and medicine at his dis
posal. In the meantime it is said. he has
only exercised a prudential course in point
ing out the climatic dangers of sending
large United States force into Cuba.
Strength of Cuban Force.
Concerning the strength of the Cuban
forces in the field, it is said that recent adj
vices fully hear out all that the Cuban
authorities have ever claimed, namely, trat
there are in all about 10000 men either I'M
der arms ready to take aims as soon as
guns and ammunition are at hand. OF this
number, il is said that about 200 lack
AIMS and equipment leaving about 5000
ROW in the field and reasonably well equip
ped. although additional ammunition and
supplies would be most advantageous. 1t
is pointed out, however, that this 5000
does not exist in any one camp, or series
of camps, in the usual sense of organized
military operations On the contrary, the
Cuban officials say their forces have adopt
eG the tactics essential to a fight against
heavy odds, and lave scattered their forces
into small groups over an area of 5000
square miles. These small groups are Lest
able to carry on guerilla warfare, which
diverts Spanish attention to every part of
the island. The immediate command of
Gomez is said to he 5000 men, and this is
in the rich Santa Clara district. Some dis
tarce away. in the province of Santiago de
Cuba, are the forces under Gen. Garcia.
the several bands of which are said to ag
g-egate 1900 men. The distance Of Garcia
from Gomez is said to make juncture be-
tween them impracticable. as there are TO
means of speedy communication.
Lieut.. Rowan Expected.
1t is expected that Lieutenant Rowan.
the United States officer who made dar-
ing and successful landing in Cuba and pro-
ceedei inland to General 0arcaS camp
will arrive at Key West tomorrow. This
will doubtless afford the authorities here
much more data on the situation of the in
surgents. 1t is understood that Lieutenant
Rowan already has stated, whether by re-
port or otherwise is not known, that the
Cubans in General Garcia's district occu-
Ply a number of towns vacated by the Span
ish. and that the Cuban administration of
these towns is in the hands of fine men,"
This last expression gives special sati5fac-
ton TO Cubans here, it is evidence
of the effective and regular civil admins
tration they have introduced on the island
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. 1t had been under
stood that he intended to move his head
quarters to the eastern end of the island,
where military operations are not likely to
occur, but his plan is likely to be changed
so as to keep him near the points of prob
able occupation in the west.