The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-16
MISSION A FAILURE,
CAPTAIN DoRsT FAILED TO LAND
MUNITIONS IN CuBA.
spapinrds We're TOO Numerous 10
Permit the Americans to
Get to the shore.

Copyright, 1905 by Associated Press)
Key West Fla, May 15-The steamer |
Gpssie, which left Tampa with two CON
pantes OF the First infantry on board in |
charge OF 1000 rifles and 200 900 rounds OF |
ammunition intended for the insurgents
in the province of Pinar del Rio, remained |
off the coast of Cuba Thursday, Friday aud |
yesterday conveyed by the auxiliary gun
boat Manning. in vain attempt TO land
her cargo Captain j. H. Dorst of the com
mand of General Miles and former United
States military attsche at Vienna, headed
the expedition. which returned here this
morning Her commander who appeared TO
be much crestfallen, having failed TO ac-
complish the mission entrusted TO him, re
fused to discuss the matter beyond admit
ting tho failure aud saying the Gussie VIII
return to Tampa
Previous to leaving Cuban waters the
Dorst expeditionary force had skirmish
with Spanish cavalry near Cabanas. fifteen
miles west of Havana. where an attempt
was made to land part OF the cargo. On
Friday morning Captain Dorst abandoned
tho attempt at that point and steamed
eastward to Malanzas. where an attempt
TO land troops at Point Maya, two miles
east of the harbor proved futile.
The Gussie and her convoy Manning
steamed until about two miles of the shore
when the rattle of the musketry from
considerable force Of Spanish soldiers con-
cealed behind underbrush ashore warned
them that they would receive lively well
come II they landed The Spaniards seemed
to have been furnished information OF the
contemplated landing at both points.
After this second failure CAPTAIN Dor. t
decided to abandon the attempt to land
the arms and ammunition aud returned to
Key West, where, as already clbed he
arrived this morning,
A more disguised looking lot Of troopers
than those aboard the Gussie this morning
IL would be hard to ind. They had re-
ceived orders not to speak Of their tgip and
sullenly lined the rail OF the Gusse as
the Associated Press launch ran alongside
OF her But grunts were the only answer
which could be obtained to the quest Gus.
Soon after arrival OF the Gussie, Captain
Dorst was rowed ashore aud re. ort d the
failure Of his expedition by cable to the
war department.
Naval officers here say that If Captain
Dorst had secured the co operation OF
some Of the ships of the blockade squadron
at the point selected for landing, the Span
iards ashore could have been shelled and
a way would have been cleared for tn,
landing of the soldiers and the cargo they
had in charge, hut no instructions were
given TO the ships to co operate with Cfp
tain Dorst's expedition and the Gussie was
several times compelled to heaye to Will
cruising up and down the coast by th,
! blockade vessels, whose commanders wer'
under the apprehension that she was try
ing to run the blockade.
The United States gunboat Machias
which was lying on Matanzas on Frdi.
night. reported that signal lights were sect
. ashore east OF Point Sabilla. and some o
her officers say they believe the insurgen1
having ascertained that the rendezvous q
Point Maya had been discovered by tn
enemy, desired a landing to be made n
another point. but Captain Dorst held Z
his original plans and found the S9anis
troops awaiting him.
, Captain Dorst says the failure OF the Ell
petition was due 90 the fact that the Gu
bans were unable 10 meet the landing part
! at the rendezvous and the Americans coul
not land supplies with no one to receiy
them.
4 The arrangements for making landin
at Cabanas were made ten days ago by Cap
tain Dorsi with General Delgado in com
mand OF the insurgent forces In advance Z
e Pirar del Rio and the supplies to be land
> ed near Matanzas were 90 be conveyed I
General Gomez by force Of insurgents en-
camped three miles back from the coal
D line. Both Of the Cuban parties were un
S able, apparently, to appear at the render
, vous, owing TO the activity OF the Span
iards.
n Captain Dorst is convinced that th
I munlcation along the coast and that the
h can quickly raise enough troops TO pr
!. Vent the landing Of small force such 2
u the one he commanded. and The captal
= believes the only way arms and ammnn
ton can be sent TO the insurgents IL
Hand them under the cover OF the warshipi
20 guns sufficient to beat off an attack. Thel
he adds. the arms and ammunition shoui
be conveyed inland by United states sol
diers
The captain says the company which wa
ID landed through the surf at Cabanas nan
narrow escape. The soldiers we're IRE
upon by Spanish cavalry conceaien IN IN
lie tangled underbrush and the fire was r.
:, turned with the result that one spanish OF
~ fcey and three men were hit. only on
d man OF the Americans was wounded- IN
latter newspaper correspondent. receive
= 4 slight fic-h wound In the arm The was
land the MAnnlnx, sheiled the woods an
q covered 'the retreat Of the soldiers TO y
N Q0G6D az yfiday ne spsnsafas. 30
y ~ esss |pn ,s. ! essa s,s. e' s. ~