The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-18

petitions which carried arms to the Cubans
have developed the finest kind of courage.
Captain Connell and Lieutenant Crawford,
who participated in these expeditions, were
with the Cubans during a sharp engage
ment with the enemy. Captain Dorsts sew
eral expeditions have been of great service
to the government, his last one in particu-
lar, bringing important results. He started
from Key West but. instead of going di-
rect to Cuba, he went north and east of
Nassau, then turned south and landed on
the Cuban coast at a port called Banes. 1t
has been held by the Cubans and is a good
harbor, with about twenty-one feet of wa
ter Protected by a small gunboat, Captain
Dorst landed a steamers load of supplies
for the Cuban army, including $500 rifles,
over a million cartridges and a great guam
tity of stores. A thousand Cubans came to
him while there.
''The special Importance of this trip, how
ever, was in opening up direct communica-
tion between General Garcia and myself.
Two of Garcas staff officers had returned
from Cuba with Rowan, and came to Wash
ington to see me. One of these l sent to
Banes, with the supply of arms, with in
structions to General Garcia, saying
wanted him to move all his forces to San
tiago de Cuba. He had by that time been
fully equipped by Captain Dorst. The mes
sage. to General Garcia was sent June 2; it
reached him June g. and l got his reply by
cable from the Mole st. Nicholas on June 9.
He had about 5000 armed Cubans before he
received the munitions of war by Captain
Dorst The supplies sent him will enable
Garcia to adequately equip over 1900
Cubans.'
GARCIA WILL COOPERATE.
General Miles was asked for the communi-
cations between him and Garcia and, glanc-
ing them over, he gave their general pur-
port, saying: I'm my communication to him
I asked him to move as large force as
possible to the vicinity of the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba and cooperate with our
army and navy on their arrival, which,
hoped, would be within few days. He
was to drive in and harass any Spanish
troops near Santiago de Cuba, threatening
and attacking them at all points, and pre-
vcrting any reinfoccements from reaching
that point. Pending the arrival of our
troops he was 10 seize any positions east or
west of Santiago de Cuba or both which
could be used to advantage by our artillery.
He replied that he would regard my wishes
and suggestions as orders, and would imme-
diately adopt measures to concentrate his
forces as indicated. All his subordinates are
ordered to assist in The disembarking of the
United States troops and to place them
selves under orders.
General Garcia said he believed it possi-
Bile for the artillery positions to be taken as
l had suggested. He sent a force at once
to prevent aid and reinforcements going to
Santiago de Cuba. The energy of mis- course
is shown in the reports of the last few
days for | see that General Rab and his
men have taken strong position just west
of Santiago de Cuba. While there were un-
avoidable delays at Tampa, very annoying
to myself and others, l at least had the
consolation of knowing that every day
enabled the Cubans to make their march
across the country and get positions which
would be of the greatest value to our troops
when they landed"
General Miles does not apprehend any long
or serious delay in disembarking the troops
on Cuban soil. The transports have large
number of small boats to assist in this
work. The engineer corps has large barges
ard pontoon train by which they can put
together a floating pier, SO that unless there
is very rough the men are com
PEELED to dsembark in the surf. which is
not anticipated the disenbal kation Is ex-
pected to proceed rapidly. When General
Continued ON second PaEea