The herald., 1898-05-14
CHAOS IN CAMAGUff
FAMINE STALKS ABROAD AT
NUEVITAS
SPANISH SOLDIERS HUNGRY
Many Join the Insurgent Ranks to
Escape Starvation-Arms for
Cubans Are Landed
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, May ia dispatch to the
World from Nuevitas, Cuba. by way of
Nassau, N. p, says:
Chaos reigns at Camaguey and famine at
Nuevitas. Every boat in this harbor,
steam and sail, has been damned into the
narrow channel, to be sunk at the first sign
of an attack.
| Two thousand soldiers guard the entrance
twelve miles from the city, and four old
| cannon have been mounted on an island In
| the harbor.
People are starving. Salt pork costs a
dollar and a half pound; rice so cents and
goats bring 500 each.
The Spanish commander told the starving
citizens to go into the country as he could
not feed them.
Many soldiers are joining the insurgents
to get food. The conditions at Puerto
Principe are still worse. The surrounding
forts are almost abandoned.
| A column of 5000 Spaniards started for
Moron, carrying flag of truce. When
fired upon by the insurgents the commander
sent word that he was no longer making
|
to fight the Americans.
| General Lopez Rece replied: Spain can
not fight the United States without fighting
us. Their war is our war;" and again
opened fire.
The Spaniards lost 800 men in the four
days march to the sea. Pacificos, spongers
and fishermen are being pressed into the
Spanish service. The Spanish columns on
the way to the coast are burning all the
country homes.
| General Masso has ordered Generals Go
mez and Garcia to meet himself and Cabi-
net at Moron Trocha. where there will be
q concentration Of the Cuban forces.
Should Be Taken
| WASHINGTON, May 13.-Major-Ge General
Fitzhugh Lee, who is spoken Of as the
most likely man for the post of Military
Governor of Cuba until the republic is
| established, says that Cardenas, which
was attacked by four American gunboats,
| will be an important point strategically to
be possessed by the United States forces.
| about twenty miles back In the country
at Jovellanos, think it is" he said, 'all
| the railroads of Cuba form a 5uncture, and
| with Cardenas in the hands Of the Ameri-
cans the invest of Havana would be
materially advanced by the possession OF
that place. No supply could reach Ha-
vana by the regular channels from the in
terror and, with the blockading fleet In
| front Of the city. its fate would soon be
determined finally. In my opinion the at
tack upon Cardenas was for the purpose
Of getting at Jovellanos"
Arms for Insurgents
KEY WEST, May 10. 7:05 am.-The
transport steamer Gussie which left here
with big expedition for Cuba on Wednes-
day night, had lively engagement with
the Spanish at Cabanas. province of Pinar
del Rio, yesterday, but succeeded In &C
complishing her mission.
The Gussie, which came here from Tam
pa, carried 1000 rifles and large quantity
of ammunition intended for the Cubans.
The expedition was directed by Captain
]. H. Dorst, of the U. s. cavalry, who took
with him over 100 men of the First In
After q rough voyage the Gussie was
met off the Cuban coast by the auxiliary
gunboats Wasp and Manning, which es-
corted her in. AS they approached the
shore O large body of Spanish soldiers
opened fire upon the expedition and the
gunboats replied with effect, enabling the
expedition to land. On shore the battle
was renewed. The Spanish troops had re-
tired to their works and the woods and
directed constant but inaccurate fire
upon the landing party. The latter was
reinforced by a body Of armed insurgents
who had been informed Of the coming Of
the expedition. Then, under the fire Of the
gunboats, the Spanish force was COM
PEELED to withdraw and the mission of the
Gussie was accomplished.
One of the American party was shot in
the back. The Spanish loss il not known
but must have been heavy.
One Man Hurt
NEW YORK, May 1S.-The Evening
Worlds correspondent with the Gussit
expedition, which landed at Cabanas OF
Thursday telegraphed today that after tn,
landing that the bodies of three Spanish
soldiers killed by the American fire wer,
found. The name of the only man wounded
on the American side is James F. Archi
slightly that he did not need surgical at
tention.
:; Only Reporter
SAN FRANCISCO, May 13.-J. T. J
Archibald, who was wounded at Cabana,
! during the landing of the American troop
yesterday, Is well known in this city, hav
ing been prominent in insurance and soci
ETY. circles.
Young Archibald did not enlist in the Firs
infantry, but accompanied that regimen
as the correspondent Of the Evening Pos
; of this city.
Everything Packed
TAMPA, Fla, May 13.-Before Saturda,
It is possible that the entire body of troop
:. at Tampa and Port Tampa will be loade
in big transports lying at the wharves a
o Port Tampa and oil will be In readiness TO
the final word. Every one of the eleve
: regiments of infantry, the Ninth Caviar
J. and the ten light batteries Of artillery hav
0 received orders to be ready to break cam
at moments notice. These orders wer
: supplemented by orders to pack every
kI.a -