The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-05
GOMEZ IS HL READY
To Cooperate With the
Forces of the United States
UNCLE SANS MESSENGER
Lieutenant Whitney, and His
Mission to Cuba.

New York, May 4The Journal prints the
following:
Camp of General Gomez, estate of La
Riforma, Province of Santa Clara. Cuba,
April 20, by special courier to the coast,
thence to Key West by Journal dispatch
boat:
Liutenant Henry H. Whitney. OF the
Fourth United States Artillery. reached
General Gomez's camp last night with an
! escort provided by Colonel Bermudez
who met him on the coast, near Caibarien
| last Tuesday morning.
Lieutenant Whitney carried letters TO
the insurgent chief, and
instructions from General Miles of the
United States army. These instructions
direct the Cuban army to move to point
where they will unite with an army under
Brigadier-General Nunez, which is to be
equipped by the United States. Nunez's
army will bring along complete equip
ments for 10000 men.
point on the northern coast is to be
seized and fortified as a base of supplies.
The commander-in-chief and Lieutenant
Whitney naturally declined to reveal to
me the point selected for the base, but
the Cuban officers say it is Cardenas.
From the same source I gather that the
first offensive action of the allied troops
is TO be against Matanzas, which is only
twenty-five miles from Cardenas. The
idea is that Captain-General Blanco viii
not dare weaken the force he has gath
cred for the defense Of Havana to re-
lieve Matanzas. This point once taken,
the base of operations will be transferred
to that city, and the investment Of Ha-
vana will follow.
The insurgents are mad with delight.
All day they have been shouting, Viva
los Estados Unidos!' and Viva Teniente
Whitney" They are now standing in
crowds about the house which is the
Generals headquarters, to get look at
the slim young fellow in the blue uni
form.
Lieutenant Whitney's trip here was an
exciting one. He was landed by torpedo
boat from the cruiser Marblehead on
Monday night. The light draught tor
pedo boat piloted by a Cuban boatman,
came inside Tragoso Key and put Lieut.
enant Whitney and two Cuban guides,
ashore in a small bay TO the west of Cal
BARREN. They hid their saddles and equip
ments on the beach and started inland
afoot Just at daybreak, when about five
miles from Remedies, a challenge rang
out
"Altol Quien va?''
BY the hail they knew the challengers
were Cubans. and promptly responded:
viva Cuba Libre"'
Had the challengers been Spaniards
the hail would have been alto! Quien
viva ?"
The chaUengers proved to be a patrol
from Colonel Bermudez's column. They
imediately took Lieutenant Whitney and
his guides to the Colonel. Bermudez en-
braced the American, and his staff could
not DO too much for him. Lieutenant
Whitney breakfasted with them, while
a party was sent back to bring up the
saddles and camp kit from the beach.
Colonel Bermudez insisted on Lieutenant
Whitney's taking his own horse. and pro-
vided him with an escort of dozen men
and two servants. The young envoy had
hurry orders, so pushed along. He dined
that night with General Garlic, of te
insurgent forces who detailed one of his
staff to go on with Lieutenant Whitney
to General Gomez's camp He also doubled
the escort. General Garlic had already
had notice of Lieutenant Whitney's COM
ing from a spy in Calbarien. who also
reported that the Spaniards knew of his |
landing and were hunting him.
Every rebel in the command cheered as
the American rode out. At sunset the |
party went into Las Ventas. a little town
off the railroad near Camajuani. Two |
civil guards were the only garrison, and !
they made no resistance. The inhabitants |
of the town, for there are some left, gath |
cred at the little Posada. The women |
lifted up their chclldren 10 be kissed by |
the American, and tat Pennsylvania boy |
got more things to eat than any one |
would dream could be gathered in the
famine-stricken town. for the Spaniards |
have twice burned tho place and the in
hahitanbs consisted only of those who had |
managed to hide in the little hills near |
by while the Spaniards killed OF carried |
of the rest.
They camped there that night. and be-
fore sunrise were on their way again
They crossed the railroad near Placetas,
at the fleadwaters OF branch OF the Zaza /
river. and the rest Of the journey followed |
pretty closely the water course. Lieuten-
an; Whitney altered the usual happy
lucky marching OF his escort. and after
the first dag proceeded in orderly nil
itary fasion. with an advance guard.
nani,ers and rear guard, but Lieutenant
and the Cuban officer rode with
the advance most OF the time
South OF Piacetas, on the projected
route of the railroad thai is 20 connect
Placetas wiki Sancti Spiritus. the Amer
lean envoy got 4 glampse OF the enemy
in the shape Of Spanish guerilla band Of
200 men. Lieutenant Wnilney and his es-
oort turned to the eastward. The span
iards saw them and chased them into the
N4z2rino hills. Lieutenant WhifnAv