Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-18

the patriotic responsibility it involved.
There have been many very splendid
acts Of heroism, even in the brief time the
troops have been employed" continued Cen
eral Miles. Lieutenant Rowan, now lieu
tenant colonel, and Lieutenant Wilcox, now
captain, in making their journey TO East
ern Cuba and to Porto Rico. gave splendid
illustrations Of the courage, fortitude and
resources Of the American soldier. Three
expeditions, which carried arms to the Gu
bans. have developed the finest kind OF
courage. Captain Connell and Lieutenant
Crawford, who participated in these expe-.
ditions, were with the Cubans during
sharp engagement with the enemy. Cap
tain Dorst's several expeditions have been
OF great service to the government, his
last one. in particular, bringing important
results. He started from Key West but.
instead of going direct to Cuba, he went
north and east of Nassau, then turned
south and landed in Cuba at port called
Banes.. .4s,e., =.
ut has been held by the Cubans and is
good harbor with about twenty-five feet
Of water. Protected by small gunboat.
Captain Dorst landed q steamers load of
supplies for the Cuban army, including
$500 rifles, over a million Cartridges and
great quantity Of stores. A thousand Gu
bans came to him while there. is.
THE special importance of this trip, how
ever, was in opening direct communication
between General Garcia and myself. Two
of Garcia's staff officers had returned from
Cuba with Rowan and came 10 Washington
to see me: One of these sent 10 Banes,
with the supply of arms. with instructions
to General Garcia, saying wanted him to
move all his forces to Santiago de Cuba.
He had by that time been fully equipped
by Captain Dorst. The message to General
. Garcia was sent June 2. reached him June
s. and got his reply by cable from Mole
St. Nicholas on June .. He had about 5000
armed Cubans before he received the muni-
tions of war by Captain Dorst. The SUPP
plies sent him will enable Garcia to ade-
quateiy equip over 1900 Cubans."
General Miles was asked for the COM
munications between him and Garcia. AID.
glancing over them, he gave their general
purport. .a8,..r. -
I'm my communication to him 1 asked
him to move as large force as possible
to the vicinity OF the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba and to cooperate with our army
and navy on their arrival. which hoped
would be within q few, days. He was. to
drive In and harass any Spanish troops
near Santiago de Cuba. threatening. and
attacking them at all points. and prevent
ing any reinforcements from reaching that
point. -, :,
pending the arrival OF our troops. he
was to seize any positions east or west OF
Santiago, or both, which could be used to
advantage by our artillery.
HE replied that he would regard my
wishes and suggestions as orders, and NJ
would immediately adopt measures to con-
centrate his forces as indicated. ts.,-44-
IAN his subordInates are ordered to as
sist in the disembarking of the United
States troops. and to place themselves un-
der orders. General Garcia said he be-
lieved it possible for the artillery positions
to be taken as / had suggested. He sent
a force at once to prevent any reinforce
ments going to Santiago, de Cuba. The
energy OF his course is shown by the re-
ports Of the last few days. for see thai
General Rabd and his men have taken I
styeng position just west Of Santiago
While there were unavoidable delays q
Tampa, very annoying to myself and 9th
ers, I at least had the consolation o
knowing that every day enabled the Gu
bans to make their march across the ceun
try and get positions which would be O
the greatest value to our troops whel
they landed"
General Miles does not apprehend an.
long or serious delay In disembarking tn
troops on Cuban soil. The transports hav'
:, large number Of small boats TO assis
in this work. The engineering corps ha
large barges. and a pentoon train, by whicl
they can put together floating pier, s.
that. unless there Is very, rough sea o
the men are compelled to disembark Il
the surf. which Is not anticipated, the dia
embarkation is expected to proceed rapid
ly. When General Miles was asked IL h
expected an early fight. he answered, ID
conicaliy:
.sThaf's what they'ye gone forD