The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-06-21
THE REBEL ARMY.
It is Said Gen. Gomez Can Concentrate
Thirty Thousand Armed Men.
A Definite Plan for the Cooperation of
the Troops Under Gomez With United
States Forces When Time Comes
Has Been Arranged.

New YORK, June 2O.-Capt. Rafael
Conte. of the Cuban army, has arrived
at the headquarters of the Cuban
Junta in this city with dispatches
from Gen. Gomez. He was accompan-
led by a lieutenant of the army of
liberation.
Capt. Conte and his companion left
Gomez in Las Villas. The general
then had with him a body guard of
only 90 men-a cavalry escort. There
was little food in the region where
Gomez was making his headquarters,
SO he did not mass any large number
of men there, but had them spread
over a large extent of territory and
directed their movements from his
headquarters,
He has all the necessary arrange
ments made for the concentration of
troops when the proper time comes,
but keeps them scattered and en-
plOyed in a guerrilla warfare in the
meantime so that they may find food.
concen trate 80, 600 armed men in
short time at any point where 1t is de-
sirable. There are several thousand
more men who are attached to Gomez
army, and are only waiting for arms
TO be available for defensive or often
sive operations.
In a sllirmish with guerriilas about
three weeks ago, Gomez was wounded
in the left arm by Mauser bullet.
The would healed quickly, however,
in spite of the generals advanced age,
and when the captain left hcadquar-
tiers the old chief was able to use his
arm as we'll as before he was hit.
After leaving Gomez the ENJOYS
made their way to the sea coast, living
upon sweet potatoes and fruit which
they found along the way. For two
days they were without food at all.
Finally they reached the sea coast be-
tween Matanzas and Cardenas and
were taken by fishing boat to small
cave, where they waited until vessel
of the blockading feet was reported,
when they put off in a row boat and
were picked up six miles off the coast.
The vessel which picked them up
was the tug Osceola, Capt. Purcell.
The OsceOla is one of the auxiliary
fleet They were nearly naked and
nearly famished when they were taken
on board the OsceOla, but the officers
of the vessel supplied them with food
and clothing and carried them into
Key West From there they came on
at once TO this city with their dis
patches.
Gomez is now especially DESTROYS of
receiving arms and food 1t is under
stood that definite plan for the CO.
operation of the troops under Gomez
with the United States troops, when
the time for such cooperation arrives,
has been arranged between the general
and the war department at Washing
ton. Meanwhile Gomez will keep his
forces. scattered.
Capt. Contc says that from informa-
ton received from GOmez's spies it is
known That IN all the garrison towns
held by the Spaniards sickness is maxi
ing great ravages among the troops.
The hospitals in Havana are so over
crowded with sick that proper medical
attention can not be given them, and
the number of dead increases every
day
The coal supply of Havana is nearly
exhausted, and what there is left has
been taken i'll charge by Blanco, who
has his officers supervise consumption.
The electric lighting company recently
received an order to shut off their dv-
DamoS at 9 o'clock so that the coal
might be husbanded. Promptly at the
hour at which the electric light works
Shut down Havana is now in darkness.