The age-herald., 1898-05-27
LAYING PLANS
 FOR INVASION General Garcia's Forces Anxious to Cooperate with the
 American Army

Washington, May 26.-Secretary Alger and General Miles conferred with two of ficers of the staff of General Garcia, Gen. eral Enrique Colazo and Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Hernandez, who come direct from Garcia,s headquarters bearing credentials from him to effect plan of cooperation with the American forces. They accom- panied Lieutenant Rowan, of the United States army, on his return from Garcia's camp and shared with him the dangers of a two days voyage in an open boat from the north coast of Cuba, until picked up by a small sloop which carried them to Mas sau.
 Colonel Hernandez says Garcia has his headquarters at Bayamo, one of the large towns in the central part of the island. It was surrendered by the Spanish forces a few weeks ago after Garcia and his troops had maintained a long siege. General Garcia and his staff, with a body guard of several hundred men are quartered inside the city.
 The commanding generals headquarters are In one of the principal buildings on the k main street called Commercial street. With him is General Rabi and his staff and body guard The infantry and cavalry are quar- tered in the suburbs of South Bayamo. Tents are not used, but in their place the
 
 leaves and guinea grass, which are more effective than canvass as a shelter against the hot sun. In all about 5000 men are thus quartered. They are well armed with Remingtons and Mausers captured from the Spaniards. Most of them have mach etes, but only the officers carry other small arms. The cavalry has small horses much like the Indian mustangs, hardy and re- liable. Mules are used for pack purposes. Colonel Hernandez says that the commis- sary and quartermasters department is unknown in the sense used by army off, cials He says the troops are kept well fed, however, and In good spirits.
 There are no dress parades and none of the regularity of daily drills used in the United States army. The main occupa- tion is in gnaking long daily marches to keep the men hardened. The Cuban gen. erals say the arrival of Lieutenant Rowan aroused the greatest enthusiasm through out the Cuban camp. There was no notice of his coming, and the first seen of Lieu tenant Rowan was as he galloped up Com mercial street, followed by the Cuban guides. who accompanied him from Flori- da. He was warmly greeted by General Garcia, and the two held three hours conference. It was decided that Lieuten- ant Rowan should return that afternoon and General Garcia assigned General Col lazo and Colonel Hernandez, with three guides, to accompany him. He had come in from the south shore, but the party went out northward. They had expected to secure a large sail boat. but the best thing afioat was an open yawl or life boat with a cubic capacity of 104 feet. Sails were improvised out of tents carried by the officers. The first night out was stormy and the small craft was barely kept afoat, but after that the weather was good.
 General Hernandez says communication Is maintained with General Gomez and with points along the coast. From these he has a general idea of the Cuban forces, outside of those with General Garcia at Bayamo. He estimates that there are 12.- 60O men, all of them well armed, east of La Trocha, and constituting forces in the eastern division of the island under Garcia. These include the 5000 at Bayamo, the oth-. CTS being scattered at various points. He estimates that General Gomez immediate command at about 5000 men, with 5000 men scattered at various points. In all there are, according to the estimates of General Collazo and Colonel Hernandez. about 20,- 900 to 25.OOo troops actually in the field.
 It is understood that the purpose of the present visit of Garcia's officers is to give that generals assurances to the authorl- ties here of his desire to give every possl- ble cooperation to the American move- ments. Similar assurances have come from General Gomez and have been presented by Secretary Quesada-
 The officers will remain some days longer and then return to General Garcia's camp.