Evening star., 1898-06-22
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. GARCIA.
Gen; Shafter and Admiral Sampso,
Visit Cuban Genernl.a Camn

Gen. Shafter and Admiral SamDson
Visit Cuban Generals Camp.
Richard Harding Davis in the New York
Herald of today gives the following graphic
account of the visit of General Shafter and
Admiral Sampson to General Garcia S
headquarters. 1t it dated General Garcia $
Camp, Asseradero, Cuba, Monday via Port
Antonio, Jamaica, Tuesday:
The first landing of the regular army has
just taken place at this little point of land,
twelve miles west of Santiago.
1t was landing for conference only, and
the most interesting feature OF it is that,
without military escort of any sort, Cen
eral Shafter, the commander of the army
of invasion. and his staff; Admiral Samp-
son and Lieutenant Stanton, his chief of
staff, have landed in small boat on the
shore of the enemyNs country within twelve
miles of 12,0G0 Spanish soldiers and the
Castle of Moro, without musket or a re-
voiveri'to. protect them The Marblehead
lay off shore.
ANragged escort of Cuban soldiers met
them on landing, but of United States SOL
diers, except in the sense that the officers
of the highest rank in the army are SOL
diers,' there was not one
1t Is a historical moment in the history Of
Cuba, If not of America, for General Gar
cia, General Shafter and Admiral Sampson
have met for The first time. They are
grouped together. under sun SO hot that
1t burns the eyes. on a high cliff overlook
ing a magnificent valley of royal palms,
which meets motioness blue sea broken
only by lines of white breakers on the
shore, and which further out is broken
again by the slow moving hulls of thirty
transports and thirty ships of war.
The three commanders are seated on
boxes under the palm leaf roof of an open
hut. One of them has blue print map on
his knees, and before they roll it up again
the attack on Santiago will be decided upon
and her fate sealed.
Five Negro Sentries.
Outside this hut are five negro sentries,
naked to the waist, and on the open space
about the hut are hundreds of the Cuban
army officers, we'll armed and well uni
formed. privates Of every shade of skin,
with every make Of weapon. and small
laughing boys, armed with machetes or not
armed at all.
The palm leaf hut where the conference
is taking place Is open to the hot air at
both ends, and ON each side and standing
about 1t or kneeling on the ground in order
to obtainsa better view is the strangest
gathering of persons that this war has
thrown together.
Col. AstOr Present.
Colonel John Jacob AstSr is crowded by
black giant with only d guard belt to
cover his naked shoulders There are also
General Ludlow of the Engineers. General
Costello and Lieutenant Miley and Ad-
miral Sampson
Colonel Goetzen. the German attache, in
spotless white, and Cuban officer, in
linen blouse and with bare feet, are talk
ing in signs, and with them is Captain Lee,
the British attache, booted and spurred,
with Held glasses, helmet and immaculate
kharki.
Captain Stewart Brice, In the uniform of
the volunteer aEmy-a blue jacket with
breeche5 rolled above the knee-and a
group OF ensigns from the warship act as
a background to the principal actors, and
still further back of them are the Cuban
soldiers. squatttng on the ground, curious
ana interested, and showing their teeth In
broad smiles Of welcome and touching their
straw hats when any one of the American
officers looks their WY.
Gen. Garcia's Camp.
Any land would seem fair after a week
on the troop ship, but there are few lands
more fair than this one, and few places on
1t more beautiful thansthis camp of Car
cta.s, lytps between the great mountains
and the great sea- shaded by the royal
.saIast ps,ns nor nnascsaered p the brilliant and
The c1lfSeedSe fsl ended, and General
Shafter and the edmiliia are bidding good
bye to General Gafcias who looks. with his
beard and mustache " the third empire
like a marshal of FrsAice sss,sss- 49, =
What tho conference Has dectded we shall
know tomorrow. For the present the news
Is that the army of tpyRaiop has arrived.
Its first landing has taken place.