The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-18
NEWS FROM GOMEZ
READY TO DO HIS PART WHEN
CALLED UPON
The General Wounded in the Left Arm
Insurgents Need Arms and Food.
Coal Supply Exhausted

NEW YORK, June 1s.-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
accompanied by a lieutenant Of the army Of
liberation.
Capt. Conte and his companion left Co.
mez in Las Villas. The general then had
with him bodyguard of only sixty men-a
cavalry escort. There was little food in the
region where Gomez was making his head
quarters, so he did not mass any large MIN
Der of men there, but had them spread over
large extent Of territory and directed their
movements from his headquarters.
He has ali the necessary arrangements
made for the concentration of the troops
when the proper time comes, but keeps
them scattered and employed in guerrilla
warfare in the meantime so that they may
ind food.
The captain claims that Gomez can con-
centrate 10000. armed men in short time t
any point where 1t Is desirable. There are
several thousand more men who are at
tached to Gomez's army and are only walt
ing for arms to be available for defensive
or offensive operations.
In a skirmish with guerrlllas about three
weeks ago, Gomez was wounded In the left
arm by Mauser bullet. The wound healed
quickly, however, in spite Of the general S
advanced age, and when the captain left
headquarters 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
any food at all. Finally they reached the
coast between Matanzas and Cardenas ana
were taken by fisherman to small bay
until a vessel of the blockading fleet was
reported when they put off in a rowboat
and were picked up six miles off the coast.
The vessel which picked them was the
tug Osceola, Captain Purcell. The Osceola
is one of the auxiliary fleet. They were
nearly naked and nearly famished when
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 dispatches.
Gomez Is now especially DESTROYS of re-
ceiving arms and food. 1t is understood
that definite plan for the cooperation OF
the troops under Gomez with the United
States troops; when the time for such CO.
operation arrives, has been arranged be-
tween the general and the war department
at Washington. Meantime Gomez will keep
his forces scattered.
Captain Conte says that from Information
received from Gomez's spies, 1t Is shown
that in all the garrisoned towns held by the
Spanish sickness is making great ravages
among the troops. The hospitals in Ha-
vana are so oveycrowded with sick that
proper medical attention cannot be given
them, and the number Of dead increases
every day.
The coal supply Of Havana is nearly ex-
hausted, and what there is left has been
taken in charge by Blanco, who has his
officers supervise consumption. The electric
| lighting company recently received an or
der to shit off their dynamos at o'clock Sc
that the coal might be husbanded. After
the hour at whicA the electric lights are
shut down Havana is in darkness.