Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
LACRET EXPEDITION
THE MOST POWERFUL ONE EvEB
SENT TO cUDA.
IT is ASTOHISHIEGLY SUCCESSFUL.
II Is Met by the Cubans with Brass
Hand, That Plays National Airs
Uniformed by uncie sasl-Arns for
Garcia.

(CopyflShted, lS9s, by Associated ITess.)
KEY WEST. FLA. May sl.--over 20
men. with pack train and great guam
tity Of arms and ammunition. sailed for
Cuba on the Plant Line steamer Florida.
on the night of May 2lst. These men and
the equipment constituted an expedition
about to operate Independently, and to
defend itself against any body OF Spanish
troops which might oppose II.
The expedition was under the command
OF Colonel Jose Lacret, formerly insur-
gent commander-in-chief in Matanzas
province. lie assumed the direction os
affairs Immediately on the landing OF the
expedition. Until then General Joaquin
Castillo was In control.
In the landing of the expedition teo
United States army was represented by
Captain j. A. Dorst, and Thomas Estrada
Palma was represented by J.. Z. Cartsya,
who has been the landing agent Of nearly
every filibustering expedition for moro
than a year. Messrs. Castillo, Czrtaya,
and Dorst will return to Key West.
General Julio Sanguiliy. on the way to
report TO General Maxine Gomez, was
also on the boat.
1t is the most powerful antl-spanish
expedition ever sent to Cuba About 800
OF the men are Cubans, The others aro
Americans. The engineer corps OF the
expedition is composed entirely OF Ameri-
cans, under Aurelian Ladd. The men
were dressed In canvas uniforms fur
nlshed by the United States Government.
and the Commissary Department. had
rations enough so last fifteen days after
the landing. The pack-train consisted or
seventy-five mules and Twenty-Five
horses. The expedition Carried 1900
rifles and 100000 rounds of ammunition
for General Calixto Garcia.
FIT FOR ANYTHING.
The expedition Is composed Of hardy
young fellows, who looked 1T for any-
thing.
The expedition was conveyed by tho
cruiser Marblehead, the torpedo-boat-de-
stroyer Eagle. and other warships.
Two younger brothers OF the late Gen.
eral Nestor Aranguren are with the ex-
pedition.
The expedition was landed on the COAST
OF Cuba on Thursday morning. May 18th.
When the Florida. escorted by the Osce-
ola, drew up close to shore az the place
selected for the landing. she sent scouts
to sea II all was clear. These scouts
were greeted by Generals Feria and
Rojas, with some I.500 armed insurgents.
Consequently. far from there being any
hostile demonstration upon the part Of
the Spaniards, the landing Of the ex-
pedltion was In the nature or a triumpbal
invasion. Tho Cubans who were in
waiting for the party had brass band.
and welcomed the newcomers with ma
tionai airs.
The work OF unloading the cargo OF
the Florida was promptly begun and car
ried on by the 4s2 man composing the
expedition. There was nothing In the
nature of an interruption. The work
was finished on Friday.
JUST As EASY!
While the cargo was being unioaded.
the Osceola, an auxiliary gunsoat with
her guns ready for action, scouted about
the vicinity looking for an enemy but
the Spania rds apparently had no suspicion
of what was taking place. So easily was
the dangerous mission accomplished. that
while some members OF the party wers
getting the supplies ashore. others were
providing themselves with fruit, sugar.
and other products OF the landing place.
a large stock Of which was brought back
for Key West friends.
Nevertheless, no precautionary measure
was neglected and the moment the work
was concluded the Florida and the Os-
ceola slipped away. leaving the insur-
gents to convey their reinforcements INTO
the interior, which, IL is confidently be-
leved, was done without any casualty.
The returning members OF the Florida
party brought with them several hundred
private letters. which. IL Is understood.
give a complete insight into the present
conditions prevailing IN the blockaded
island.
The local Cuban colony is eiated over
the astonishing success OF the expedition.
At the Cuban landing-place, people
crowded about, trying to exchange fruit
for clothes and shoes, Of which they
stand in great need.
CUBAN FLAG FLYING.
When the Florida arrived she had a
Cuban flag hanging over the railing OF
the upper deck, and yellow flag flying.
A health officer delayed the landing OF
Captain Dorst and General Castillo and
others for several hours.
The expedition landed a large quantity
OF bacon. as well as army rations.
LANDING NEAR GUANTANAMO.
Midnight-The War Departments abso-
lutely fOrbids correspondents telegraphing
the name of the landing-place Of General
Lacret's expedition.
Later information raises strong pre-
that the landing was effected,
as originally planned. not far from Guam