The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-31
Pioneers Of the U. s. Army
Of Invasion
Get Ashore With Arms and
Ammunition.
400 Men, 1000 Rifles For
Garcia.
100000 Rounds of Cartridges
Carried Over.
GunbOat MarbIehead Conveyed
the Transport.

Kew West. Fla. May 81. the
steamer Florida returned here at
seven a. m, today from Cuba hay
ing successfully landed a most import
ant expedition on the island.
Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press)
Key West, May 31.-Nearly 400 men
with a pack train and a large quantity
of arms and ammunition sailed for the
island of Cuba on the Plant line steamer
Florida, on the night of May u. These
men and the equipment constituted an
expedition able to operate independent
1y and to defend itself against any body
of Spanish troops which might oppose
it.
The expedition was under the COM
mand of Col. Jose Lacret, formerly in
surgent commander in Matanzas pro-
vince. He assumed the direction of af-
fairs Immediately on the landing of the
expedition. Until then Gen. Joaquin
Castillo was in control.
In the landing of the expedition the
United States army was represented
by Capt. J. A. Dorst and Thomas Es-
Cartaya. who has been the landing
agent of nearly every flibustering eX-
pedition for more than a year. Gen.
Sanguilly on the way to report to Cen.
Maxine Gomez, was also on the boat.
This is the most powerful anti-Span-
ish expedition ever sent to Cuba. About
800 of the men are Cubans; the others
are Americans. The engineer corps OF
the expedition is composed entirely of
Americans, under Aurelian Ladd.
The men were dressed in canvas I'M
iforms furnished by the United States
government and the commissary de-
partment had rations enough to last 10
days after the landing. The pack train
consisted of rs mules and 25 horses. The
expedition carried 1000 rifles and p
100000 rounds of ammunition for Gen.
Calixto Garcia
The expedition is composed of hardy
young fellows who looked fit for any
thing
Gen. Sanguilly's return to Cuba is a
remarkable incident in his extraordina-
ry career. His gallant services in the
ten years war. His arrest in Havana
at the beginning of the present insur-
rection. His sentence to death and his
release at the intercession of Secretary
Sherman, on a promise to remain out
side of Cuba, has made him a conspic-
uous man. About six months ago Gen.
Gomez ordered him to report for dutv
and he did not obey. Now he is going
to humble himself before the old man.
and Cubans say that Gen Gomez is
likely to received him gruff1y, take away
his sword and order him to fight in the
ranks. Gen. Gomez is a stickIer for
obedience
General Enrique Colazo, through the
failure of the junta to land him in Cuba
after the death of General Antonio Maceo
was unable to take the command to which
he had been assigned. When he did reach
Cuoa later with an important expedition
General Gomez reduced him to the rank
OF colonel as punishment for his failure
to obey the previous order This action
was taken Notwithstanding the fact that
Couazo and Gomez are very dear friends
The expedition was conveyed by the
cruiser Marblehead the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Eagle and other warships
Two younger brothers of the late Cen
eral Nestor Aranguren are with the ex-
pedition.
The expedition was landed on the
coast of Cuba on Thursday morning
May 26
When the Florida, escorted by the
Osceola, drew up close to the shore at
the place selected for landing she sent
scouts to see if all was clear. Conse-
quently far from being any hostile
demonstration on the part of the Span
lards, the landing of the expedition was
IN the nature of a triumphal invasion.
Inc Cubans who were in waiting for
the party had a brass band and well
coined the new comers with national
airs
The work of unloading the cargo of
Ine fIorlda was promptly begun and
carried on by the 432 men connosine
ene expedition There was nothing in