The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-12

Washington, May 1.-THE courier
who is on his way here with letters
from General Gomez to President Pal
ma of the Cuban legation, has stopped
at Tampa, and will not reach here for
a day or two. General Nunez of the
Cuban army, after comforting with the
Cuban authorities here and with Gen
eral Miles, left for Tampa last night.
Although the courier will bring detailed
advices from Gomez, the Cuban Off
Gals here are well informed on the gen.
eral 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 between
the Cuban authorities and the war de-
partment as to the reserves and the eff
fective fighting force of General Gomez
and General Garcia.
The Cuban authorities are ready and
willing to have the fullest cooperation
by the United States troops on Cuban
soil, ard it is said there is no ground
for reports that General Gomez desires
to act single-handed in securing Cuban
independence. Naturally, it is said in
high Cuban quarters, General Gomez
feels some pride in having sustained
war for the last three wears single
ndilueu, against. the OTSdHlZeu IOICtS
of Spain, and doubtless believes that in
time he could achieve complete vic
tory. But. it is said he is fully alive
to the fact that this would take time
and a large increase in the arms, am
munition, rations and medicines at his
disposal. In the meantime, he has ex
ercised only the prudential course in
pointing out the climatic dangers of
sending a large United States force in
to Cuba
CUBAN FORCES
Concerning the strength of the Cuban
forces in the field, the Cuban repre-
sentativeS here say that present adj
vices fully bear out all that Cuban au-
thorities have claimed, namely, that
there are in all about 10000 men, either
under arms or ready to take arms as
soon as guns and ammunition are at
hand. OF this number, it is said that
about $4,000 lack arms and equipment,
leaving about $4,000 now in the field
reasonably equipped, although addi-
tional ammunition and supplies would
be most advantageous to these latter.
This $4,000 does not exist in any one
camp. On the contrary, Cuban Off
Gals say their forces have adopted the
tactics essential to a fight against
heavy odds. and have scattered their
forces into small groups over an area
of 5000 square miles. IneSe small
groups are best able to carry on a que
rilla warfare, which diverts Spanish
attention to every part of the island.
The immediate command of Gomez is
said to number 5000 men, and located
in the rich Santa Clara district, some
distance away in the province of San
tiago de Cuba, are the forces of Cen
eral Garcia, the seven bands of which
are said to aggregate $1,000 men. The
distance of Garcia. from Gomez is said
to make juncture between them i'm
practicable, as there are no means OF
speedy communication .
1t is expected that Lieutenant Row
an, the United States officer who made
a daring and successful landing in
Cuba and proceeded inland to Cen
eral Garcia's camp, will arrive at Key
West tomorrow. 1t is understood that
Lieutenant Rowan already has stated,
whether by report or otherwise is not
known, that the CubanS in General
Garcia's district occupy a number OF
towns vacated by the Spanish, and
that the Cuban administration of these
towns is in the hands of fine men.
This last expression gives special sat
isfaction to Cubans here. They are
hopeful that President Masso will re
main in the western provinces and be
ready to come with his cabinet to the
first large seaport city that is occu-
pied, and there set up the civil admin
istration of the republic of Cuba.