The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-27
CUBAN STAFF OFFICERS.
Two Of Them Have a Confercnc.
with General Miles.
WILL COOPERATE WITH AMERICANS.
Twenty Thousand Armed Men
In the Field.

Washington, May 26.-Sccretary A1ger
and General Miles conferred with two oifi-
GERS from tho staff Of the Cuban repre-
sentatiyes today bearing credentials as TO
the plan OF cooperation with the American
forces They accompanied Lieutenant
Rowan OF the army on his return from
Garcia's camp and shared with him the
dangers of two days voyage IN an open
boat from the north coast of Cuba until
picked UP by q small sloop. which carried
them to Nassau. They reported iirst to the
Cuban delegation here aud Secretary Ques-
ada was careful to keep their pres nee
secret until General Miles had made the
TACT known. This relieved them from
further secrecy aud today General Colsa4o
and Colonel Hernandez gave an interest
ing account OF General Garcia force aad
surroundings and the general equipment
o. The Cuban army,
Colonel hernandez says Garcia has his
headquarters at Bayamo, one OF the larg
est towns ia the central portion OF the Is
iahd. IL Was surienuereu w tne Stauisn
Iuices rev weeks ago alter Garcia aiiJ il1
troops mad maintained Il long s1ese. Gen
efal Garca ana his stan, Witu a pDdygual Il !
Oh several hundred men, are quartereu IN
Siue the city. ne commanding general 3 |
headquarters are IN ond UI the p,inctpai |
buiidihgs on the main street, called Com |
mereial street With him IS General Ran
and his STAFF and bodyguard. Infantry aud
cavalry are quarter1d IN the suburb OF |
S0uth Bayamu. rents are not uBeu, but |
Ill the place the men hastily constructed |
coverings made Of palm leaves and guIata |
grass, which are more effective than eau
vas as shelter against the hot slin.
In all about 5000 men are thus quartcred. |
lhey are well armed VITA Rtmingtbns ana
Alausers captured rrOm me SpaniArds. Most
oil them have machetes but only the OIL
GERS carry other small arms Tne cavalry
nave small horses, muth like the Indian
mustangs, hardy and reliable. Mule, are
ased for pack purposes. Colonel Hernandez |
says mat the comnlisHuy and quarter
masters department Is unknown ia the
sense used by army officials here In lieu
OF thess companies now fully armed ar
organized az "predos."
Iher duty Is TO bring meats, ample sup
pies being secured from Puerto Principe
and vegetables which arc grown quickly in
the woods. The system works perfectly.
Colonel Hernandez says and the troops
are kept well fed and In good spirits. There
ia none Of the drill used in the United
states army. The main occupation IL in
making long daily marches to keep the men
hardened
me cubans say Lieutenant Rowan's ar.
ilVal caused much enthusiasm Rowan MAS
warmly greeted By General Garcia and the
Two held three hour conference It was
decided that Lieutenant Rowan should re-
turn that afternoon aud Garcia assigned |
General Collazo and Colonel Hernandez.
with three guides to accompany hlm He
mad come In from the south shore They
mad expected to secure II large sail boat,
nut the best thing available was an open |
yawi or life boat, with n cubic capacity |
OF only lOA feet. Sails were improvlsed out |
or tents carried by the officers. The nrst |
night out was stormy and tho small craft |
barely kept afloat. but after that the wealth |
er was good.
colonel Hernandez saws communication Is J
Is maintained with Gomez with points I
along the coast From these he has "A |
general idea Of the Cuban forces outside of |
those with General Garcia ~ Taynmo lie
estimates that there are II 200 men all Of
them well armed. east OF the trocha and
constituting the forces Of the eastern divi- |
sion OF the island under Garcia These
include 5000 at Bayamo the others being
rcnttcrcd nj various points He estimates
General Gomcz's immediate command at
about 1900 men. with 5000 mon scattered al |
various points. In all there are, according
70 the estimates OF General Colloao aud |
General Hernandez about %. 900 to e5,uo
troops actually IN tho field,
u Is understood that the purpose OF the |
present visit cc ,'arclas officers Ia N give |
general assurances to the United States of |
his desire Of siving every co-operation to |
tho American movements. Similar assur-
ances have come from General Gomez. Tho |
Cuban officers have made good mnres-
sion bore md the authorities were nr~e-
eoly SURPRISED TO And them men of abil-
'ty. and soldierly bearings. speaking English
Wei, They viii remain some DAYS longer
and then return to General Gavcia's camp
THE SECOND C\tJ