The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-26

their hats.
Love rules the camp, the court, the
grove, and the Florida girl, as she strOllS
over to the Tampa Bay Hotel in the even
ing arm in arm with her blue-coated sweet
heart (even though he may only occupy
that place for the short space OF a day or
week., and loiters on its poTcheS or in its
flower bordered walks, is having the good
time of her life, and would not change
places with any one.
Several staff officers have been ordered
from this command to the Philippines,
some OF whom have already left, others go
to-day. There wepe rumors last night of
the transfer OF two regiments of cavalry
and one of infantry to that field, but ]
cannot trace them to any authoritative
source.
Quartermasters are searching over this
part of the State for suitable grounds for
camping larger bodies of troops, but that
essential, good water, seems to be difficult
to find in quantities sufficient for large
bodies of men.
While am not an authority in matters
OF the kind, | may perhaps be allowed to
say that | do not see the necessity for
rushing large bodies of troops to this point
to be held here Indefinitely. The railroad
facilities are limited, the country pro-
duces nothing required by army. man or
beast, the additional transportation of
supplies is costly, and when we are ready
to begin our forward movement across the
bring troops from Chickamauga here, or
one day take them to Jacksonville or
Mobile for shipment.
/ have said that the ends of the world
are gathered here. Last evenings train
brought a lady from the North who, after
divan in the rotunda where she could
watch the doors, and looked sharply at
every uniform which entered
At length the right one came, and
husband" was very much astonished when
greeted by his wife, whom he thought was
with her mother in a Northern State.
Thinking that his command would be re-
tanned for some time at ChickamaUga, she
went there, only to find that it had left a
few hours before her arrival, and her tele-
gram, addressed to him here, was put into
his hands after they had met.
The failure of Capt Dorst and his de-
tachment, on the Gussie, to make sue
ceSsful landing on the Cuban coast has
provoked much comment unfavorable to
Cubans and their cause. The landing
place and probable date had been arranged
on his other trip, but when the steamer
reached the shore, some distance west of
Havana, instead of meeting friends the
company OF infantry which was landed was
attacked, at close range, by a considerable
force Of Spaniards, but the only person
wounded on the American side was a San
Francisco newspaper man, who had his left
arm scratched by bullet.
FoIr Spaniards, one an officer, were
killed, and a number thought to be wound
ed were carried off by their comrades OF
course, no landing of stores could be made,
and the expedition returned to Key West,
and, later, to Port Tampa, where the vessel
now les.
In this case, as in several others which
| could specify, much harm was done by
thoughtless or unScrupulCus correspond
ents, eager for news. While the desire to
+ f0r g
his paper is laudable one on the part of
the correspondent, he should have sense
enough to know that any information Cf
important movements, given in advance,
will lie read by foes as well as friends, and
It's dissemination may cost dearly IN lives
a I'd money. -
Among the hundreds of Spanish-speak-
ing people here there are numerous spies
o tn there is not the shadow of doubt
and any information they can get is at
once transmitted through secret channels
20 MADRID and Havana.
| am pleased to notice in the papers of
to-day that the late Spanish Minister at
Washington, now in Toronto, is to be dis
tu.bed He has been in constant Gem
munication with Spaniards ON this side
the line, and has doubtless kept his Gov
ernment we'll informed of all movements of
our Army and Navy, and abused the hospi-
tally of the Canadian Government by so
doing.
The trip of Lieut.. Rowan, of the 18th Inf,
who has been for some time in the Intelii-
gence Department of the Army, to the
camp Of Gen. Gomez, was hazardous
Jamaica, and from there landed on the
southeast coast OF Cuba in company with
two or three men who were familiar with
the country, and, sometimes on foot, at
others on horseback, penetrated to Baya-
mo, in the province OF Santiago de Cuta,
81,
insurgent chief The place had only lately
been abandoned by Spanish garrison.
But short time was required TO transact
the business with which he was charged,
and then, without rest, he was off for home,
travelling as before, and toward the
northern coast. On reaching it, the party
at once put out to sea in small open
boat, the only one to be had, hoping to fall
in with seine OF the blockaGing fleet. On
the third day out they were picked up by
spOnger and carried to Nassau, from which
place, after some delay, they got to Key
West. AS bearer of dispatches to the in
the officer would have had but
"shOrt shrift" if captured, and the first
easy breath he drew after he landed ON
Cuban soil was on his arrival at Nassau.
The 9th Cav. had something of diversion |
on Sunday, when the scrub in the woods |
their camp caught fire, and the |
flames threatened to destroy their tents. |
The palmetto scrub is from one to three |
'eet high, and very dry, and burns almost |
as rapidly as straw, and it required hard |
and hot work to extinguish the fire.
They charged it, mounted, with wet |
blankets, but the wetting had to be re-
newed~twice before the fight was over, and |
several men and horses were slightly |
Had the fire got start among the tents, |
he result would have been most disastrous,
or with the wind blowing from the south |
East, it would have swept the whole camp,
lot only of the 9th Cav, but of all the bat
cries adjoining it.
Two men, whose names / did not get, |
ave been here for some time in confer |
,nce both with our officers and the promi- |
lent Cubans. They claimed to represent
IN organization numbering nearly 1000
men of the late Union and Confederate
lrmies who were DESTROYS of going to Cuba,
Is an organization. to fight for the ins,r.
tents. But as they would be upon about
he same footing in the eye OF international
aw as would privateers, they received no
from the Army officers, and
,ut little from the Cubans. To me the
organization appeared to be formed most
or what it could make than for fighting
or anyone's liberty, or for the good of any
8
lamentable affair took place at Camp
lakeland day before yesterday, white
,itizen of the place being killed ina shoot
ng affray in which some soldiers of the
9th Cav. were engaged. The afffay grew
ut of the refusal of man to sell soda
water to the soldiers, and the story, as |
old to me, puts the soldiers wholly in the