Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-27

General Miles and Secretary OF
War Alger-They Came Over
With Lieutenant Rowan When He
Returned from His Visit to the
Cuban Commanders - General
Garcia's Headquarters and the
strength and Efficiency OF the
Cuban Republics Army.
WASHINGTON, May 26-Secretary Al
ger and Gen Miles conferred to-day Win
two officers from the staff Of Gen Garcia
Gen. Enrique Collazo and Lieut.. Col.
| Charles Hernandez, who come dlrecs
| from Carcass headquarters bearing cre-
dentials from him to effect a plan Oh CO.
operation with the American forces Ihey
accompanied Lieut.. Rowan, of the United
! States army, on his return from Garcia
! camp, and shared with him the dangers
of two days voyage in an open boat
| from the North coast Of Cuba until pick
| ed up by small sloop which carried them
to Nassau. They reported first to the Gu
| ban delegation here, and Secretary Cues
ada was careful to keep their presence
| secret until Gen. Miles had made the fact
| known. This relieved them from further
|
Hernandez gave an interesting account
| Of Gen Garcia's forces and surroundings,
and the general equipment of the Cuban
! army.
| Col Hernandez says Garcia has his
! headquarters al Bayamo, one of the large
towns in the central part of the island.
1t was surrounded by the Spanish forces
a few weeks ago, after Garcia and his
/ troonc ha m iDp6 q long siege Cen
| Garcia and his staff, with a body guard
| of several hundred men, are quartered in
side the city. The commanding generals
| headquarters are in one of the principal
| buildings on the Main street. called Com
| mercial street. With him is Gen. Rabi
| and his staff and body guard. The in
| fantry and cavalry are quartered in the
| suburb of South Bayamo. Tents are not
| used, but in their place the men hastily
| construct coverings made of palm leaves
! and Guinea grass, which are more effect
| i've than canvass as a shelter against the
| hot sun. In all about 5000 men are thus
| CHARTERED. They are well armed with
| Remingtons and Mausers captured from
| the SpaniardS. Most of them have ma
| chetes, but only the officers have other
| small arms. The cavalry have small
| horses, much like the Indian mustangs,
| hardy and reliable. Mites are used for
| pack purposes. Col. Hernandez says that
| the commissary and quartermasters' de-
| partment is unknown in the sense used
| by army officials here. In lieu of these
| the companies not fully armed are organ
| lied as 'predios." The duty of the "pre-
| dos" is to bring meat, ample supplies
| being secured from Puerto Principe, and
| vegetables which are grown quickly in
| the woods. The system works perfectly.
| Col. Hernandez says, and the troops are
| kept well fed and in good spirits There
| are no dress parades, and none of the
| regularity of daily drill used in the United
| States army. The main occupation is in
| making long daily marches to keep the
| men hardened.
The Cuban generals say the arrival Of
| Lieut.. Rowan aroused the greatest of
| enthusiasm throughout the Cuban camp
| There was no notice of his coming and
| the first seen of Lieut. Rowan was as he
! galloped up Commercial street followed
| by the Cuban guides who accompanied
| him from Florida. He was warmly
| greeted by General Garcia. and the two
had three hours conference. 1t was de-
| cided that Lieut.. Rowan should return
| that afternoon, and Gen. Garcia assigned
| Gen. Collazo and Col. Hernandez with
| three guides, to accompany him. He had
| come in from the south shore, but the
parry went out northward. They had ex-
pected to secure large sail boat, bvt
| the best thing available was an open yawl
or life boat, with a capacity of only 1O4
cubic feet. Sails were improvised out OF
| the tens carried by the officers. The first
| night out was stormy and the small craft
! was barely able to keep afoat, but after
| that the weather was good.
Col Hernandez says communication IL
maintained with Gen. Gomez and with
| points along the coast. From these he
has a general idea of the Cuban forces,
| outside of those with Gen. Garcia at Bay
| amo. He estimates that there are 1000
! men. all of them well armed. east of IL
trocha, and constituting the forces in the
| eastern division of the island, under Gen.
Garcia These include the 5000 men at
| Bayamo, the others being scattered at
various points. He estimates Gen. Co
mez's immediat tie command at about 3,C00
| men, with 5000 men scattered at various
| points. In all, there are, according to the
! estimates of Gen. ColIazo and Col Her
| nandez, about 10000 to % Geo troops ac-
| tually in the field
| 1t is understood that the purpose of tho
| present visit of Garcia officers is to give
! that generals assurance to the authori-
| tles mere of his desire to give every possi-
| pie cooperation to the American move
| ments. Similar assurances have come
| from Gen. Gomez, and have been pre-
| scented by Secretary Quesada. The Cuban
| off1cers have made a good impress;on
| mere and the authorities were agreeable
surprised to find them men of abilitv ava
soidierly bearing, speaking English we'll
| Ihey VIII remain some days longer and
| ,hen return to Gen. Garcias camp.