Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-02
THEY ARE READY TO COOPER ATE;
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
NOW MARCHING ON HAVANA.
GOMEZ WORKING HIS WAY TOWARD
THE CAPITAL.
VIII Be Within Striking Distance
When n Crisis Occurs-General
Blanco Concentrating His
Troops for Defense
of the City.

Tampa, Fla. March While Americans
and Spaniards are absorbed heart and soul
i'll the complications possible 10 arise from
the Maine disaster. the CuhdnS, third
party in the crisis and the most important
as prime cause, are very successfully at
tending to their own affairs. General Emilio
NuneZ and Captain John O'Brien have just
returned to Tampa after landing two large
expeditions heavily cargoed in the eastern
and western ends of the island. The Daunt-
less, by deed as we'll as by name, has again
run the Spanish blockade. for how many
times the government would Ike mucn 10
know.
General NuEez was able to meet the Gu
ban leaders and to confer with them re-
Sardins the policy and plans of the reyoiu-
tionary government and armies IN the
event Of war between the United States and
Spain. l found him to-day slowed away IN
the Cuban cigarmakers' quarters OF Tampa
keeping weather eye open for United
States marshals. As had the pleasure of
pedition Of last winter. l was able to run
the gauntlet of his guardians. He said:
Just as soon as the battleships of the
United States open fire On the defenses OF
Havana General Maxine Gomez will begin
an attack on land from the rear.
The plans for concentrating the CUBAN
forces have been prepared by Gomez ana
met. The forces will keep up the attack
siege by land until Havana surrenders or
is blown to pieces. They are ready TO CO.
which the United States may make DS
landing an army of invasion. A declaration
of war would enable the Cu6ans TO secure
arms and ammunition in sufficient abund-
ance to equip more than 5000 veteran SOL
diers who know the country and the tao
tics of the enemy. In that & event A. they @ could
out reinforcements- We have the generals
and the men and need only rifles, cartridges
and cannon. Tho news of the Maine disas-
ter had spread throughout the insurgent
forces Of the island within twenty-four
hours after the occurrence by way OF our
underground railroad. which has almost the
speed of the telegraph.
As to the latest movements OF the Cuban
armies General Nunez told me Garcia Is
now besiegirg Bayamo. General Pando.
with 2o 900 men. is endeayoring to force his
way up the Cauto river to dislodge him in
the open country between Garcia and Ha-
vana. Gomez is slowly working his way
toward the capital burning plantations IA
he advances. His intention is to be within
striking distance of Havana If a crisis
comes in the relations between America and
Spain. Blanco Is gradually withdrawing
his columns in the field and reducing the
garrisons Of other cities to strengthen the
forces in Havana, and as the Spaniards
withdraw Gomez moves forward from the
east. hile Rodriguez and Diaz are march
ing from the west to be in touch for gen.
eral concentration.
been received in this city of the arrival in
Cuba of two large expeditions with men
and ammunition for the patriot army. The
landings were effected at places on the
northern coast of Santiago de Cuba and
Matanzas on February 10 and Is respect
lively.
The expeditions included 100 rifles. 1000. 900
cartridges, 900 machetes and large guam
titles OF dynamite. clothing and medicines
Among the men in the expeditions were
l Surgeon General Eugenio Sanchez Agra
monte, Colonel Manuel Lechuga, a veteran
| of the ten years war; Captain Regueyra.
| Captain Jose Grave de Peralta. Lieutenant
Oscar de Cespedes Lieutenant Felipe VAL
des and Lieutenant Antonio Aguilar.