The times., 1898-05-16
THE WAR MUST Be FORCED
Conditions in Cuba Make Fur
ther Delay Impossible.
THE CUBANS TO BE LANDED
Gen. Miles Issues Orders for an EN-
peuItionary Force-Gen. Caiia1O
anlo by the Patriots-Gen. Garcia
Wins an Impc Victory.

Tampa. Fla. May l5.-Gen. Miles sent
telegraphic orders this morning to Gen.
Wade to send TO Cuba 300 volunteers un-
der Gen. Lacret. providing them with all
necessary arms and ammunition.
Gen. Miles's dispatch adds that the
landing is TO be made under the protec
ton of the American ships. for which pur
pose orders have already issued, and at
the place Gen. Lacret considers best.
Gen. Wade has not yet conferred with
Gen. Castillo on the matter and it is
likely that steps for that expedition viii
not be taken until tomorrow. The point
now is to convince Lacret OF the unwis-
dom of landing on the western end of
Cuba. An expedition there can only be
successful If it is composed of less than
hfty men. who. landing at dark, can pass
by stealth through the strong Spanish
lines along the coast from the province Of
Matanzas TO the Cape of San Antonio
The Cuban bands in the interior are TOO
scattered, too sickly and too famished TO
afford any real cooperation.
In spite of the delay caused by the ex-
pectancy about the naval battle to be
fought between either SIMPSONS or
Schley's squadron and the Spanish fleet,
il can be said that the plan for a slow
campaign in Cuba in order TO avoid the
rainy season and the danger Of the yellow
fever, has been abandoned practically
When We start from here it Will be to
land in force and strike a decisive blow II,
the Spaniards.
The awful situation of distress of the
Cubans in the west, the reports about the
rapid determination of the reconcentra-
| dos and the defiant attitude of the Span-
iards have enforced the idea of making a
sharp, quick war through the landing Of
large American army
Cubans Hold Rayamo.
Brigadier General Collazo brought from
Bayamo letter from Gen. Garcia ad-
dressed to Senor Estrada Palma which
is now on its way to New York. 1t says
under date of May 4:
Il am now at Bayamo, your native
town, for so many years held by the
Spaniards against US. This Cuban army
of ragged soldiers. who have endured all
sorts of privations during three years. is
now here keeping order. safeguarding
property and honoring with their be-
havior the lone star flag. You can say to
the American people that not a single act
of retaliation has been committed The
stores kept by Spaniards are open as
usual and those of my soldiers that have
money TO pay are the only ones who
enter them to buy clothes and provisions
Before entering here / issued severe or
ders to prevent any kind of abuse, but
no case has happened in which 1 had to
enforce them.
Il have written TO the government of
the republic to come here and take pos
session of Bayamo. l want our civil au-
thOrities to rule in this town as in Jigu-
ami. and all the towns evacuated by the
Spaniards. The military power must give
way TO the civilian because our army d
that at Washington, is not composed of
soldiers, but of armed patriots, all citi-
zens of the republic.
We have received with the greatest
pleasure the visit of Lieut.. Rowan and
his men. I am sure that Lieut. Rowan
will report to his Government the great
enthusiasm with which we are ready to
cooperate with the Americans for the
final expulsion from Cuba of our COM
mon enemy.
Previous TO the capture of Bayamo by
the Cubans, Gen. Garcia defeated the
combined Spanish columns of Pando and
Luque four miles east of that town He
had mined with dynamite the road on
which the Spaniards were travelling and
opened rife fire on them at the same time
that the mines exploded. Two entire
companies of Spaniards were killed and
the rest of the column put to flight
At late hour here tonight another con-
ference was held about filibusterfng plans
between Col. Wagner, of the Strategy Bu-
reau, and Gems. Castillo and Nunez.