The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-11
SITUATION IN CUBA.
Interesting Details as to the
Strength Of Gomez
Eager for Our Aid.

WASHINGTON, May IL, 1S9S-The cou-
rler who is on his way her with letters
from General Gomez to President Palma,
of the Cuban delegation, has stopped at
Tampa, and will not reach here for
day or two General Nunez, of the Gu
ban army, after comforting with the Gu
ban authorities, here, and with General
Miles. le6s for Tampa last night. AL
though the courier will bring detailed
advices from Gomez. the Cuban officials
here are well informed on the general
status of the Cuban forces. :
1t is stated that entire harmony exists
between the Cuban authorities and the
War Department, as to the resources and
effective fighting force of General Gomez
and General Garcia The Cuban authori-
ties are ready and willing to have the
fullest cooperation by United States
troops on Cuban soil and it is said there
is no ground for reports that General
Gomez desires to act single handed in Sc
curing Cuban independence.
Naturally General Gomez feels pride in
having sustained war for the last three
years single-handed against the organized
forces of Spain, and doubtless believes
that in time he could achieve a complete
that this would take time, and large
increase in the arms, ammunition, ra-
tions and medicine at his disposal
The Cuban representatives here say re-
ports fully bear out all that the Cuban
authorities have ever claimed, namely,
that there are in all about 10000 men
either under arms or ready to take arms
as soon as guns and ammunition are at
4, ,no Al
arms and equipment, leaving about 25,o0o
now in the field reasonably equipped.
This %, 900 does not exist in any one
camp. or series of camps. Cuban officials
say their forces have adopted the tactics
essential to a fight against heavy odds
and have scattered their forces into small
groups over an area of 5000 square miles.
These groups are best able to carry on a
guerrilla warfare, which diverts Spanish
attention to every part of the island.
The immediate command of Gomez is
said to number 5000 men, and is located
in the rich Santa Clara district. Some dis
tance away in the province of Santiago de
Cuba are the forces under General Garcia
the bands of which aggregate 1900 The
distance of Garcia from Gomez is aid to
make juncture between them imprac-
ticable.
It is expected that Lieutenant Rowan,
the United States officer who made
landing in Cuba and proceeded inland to
General Garcia camp will arrive, at Key
West tomorrow. This doubtless will af-
ford the authorities here much more data.
1t is understood that Lieutenant Rowan
has reported that the Cubans in General
Garcia's district occupy number of
towns vacated by the Spanish, and that
these towns are in the hands of fine
men,
President Masso Will remain in the west
ern provinces and be ready to come with
his cabinet to the first large seaport city
that is occupied. and there set up the.
civil administration of the republic Of
Cuba
He had intended to move his headquar-
tiers to the eastern end of the island,
where military operations are not likely
to occur. but this plan is likely to be
changed so as to keep him near the points
of probable occupation in the west.