I wondered how Zaldivar could have been a successful businessman in the United States without a good knowledge of English, but didn’t ask, deciding it wasn’t worth it.
“There’s only room for Captain Bendel and a couple of Cuban officers at the table, so pick which ones you want,” I said to the subaltern, who suddenly looked uneasy. He translated my statement loud enough for the men in the passageway to hear. A commotion instantly started.
I sat down and waited while the raucous process of determining who was who in the battalion pecking order evolved in the passageway. At long last, one voice emerged louder and angrier than the rest, ending the dispute. To my shock, it was disturbingly familiar.
Three men then entered. The first was Captain Karl Bendel of the Norden, an old friend. He was also Agent R33 in my clandestine network of operatives. Next was a solid-built, serious-looking middle-aged Cuban with a badly stitched purple scar across his forehead.
The last man entering was he of the familiar voice, surprising me in the uniform of an infantry captain in the Cuban Liberation Army. He was Mario Cano, a bespectacled Cuban-American lawyer from Tampa and longtime member of the Cuban revolutionary organization, who was also none other than the husband of my daughter, Useppa!
Before I could say a word, Cano gazed straight at me without emotion, clearly not wanting anyone to know our connection, and announced, “Sorry for the confusion, Commodore. I am Captain Mario Cano, battalion adjutant.”
He then introduced his companion. “Major Ramon Barida is second in command of the battalion, and a veteran of General Lacret’s division in Cuba. Major Barida speaks English well.”
Well, that explained that. Zaldivar had given money and political influence to the exile government, getting a commission in return. But the real soldier was Barida, who served under the general in charge of the area we were heading toward.
As they sat down, I said, “Welcome aboard, Major. We are honored to have a combat veteran of Cuba with us. We don’t have time to waste, so I will ask some quick questions in order to understand your situation. How many men does the battalion have? Are there veterans among them? Has General Lacret been advised of your coming? Will he provide security forces for your landing at Isabela and subsequent move inland to Sagua Grande?”
The colonel glanced around nervously. Barida ignored him and said, “Sir, I was in New York and received orders to join the unit just before they loaded onto Norden. Colonel Zaldivar recruited the men two months ago. It is a small rifle battalion composed of one hundred seventy-eight officers and men in total, sir, including some unimportant staff people.
“There are two privates, three sergeants, and two lieutenants who have had battle experience inside Cuba. The rest are factory workers and tradesmen from around the southern U.S. states. Many are not even Cuban, but they are from Latin America. Their training has been minimal, but they are enthusiastic for the cause. The battalion is organized as two companies of eighty men each. The armament for each soldier is an 1892 Krag-Jorgensen rifle and sixty rounds.
“As for General Lacret, he does not know we are coming and no plans have yet been made to join our forces with his division. That will happen once we arrive at Isabela on the coast tomorrow and move inland to Sagua Grande.”
Barida quickly added, “Also, I want to say we appreciate the United States Navy’s efforts to help us, sir, and are honored to be allies with you.”
None of what he said made me feel any better. “Major, how many people back in Jacksonville knew your plans before Norden left port?”
“Six men know we are arriving in Cuba at Isabela, sir. All of them are in the political oversight committee. No one in Jacksonville knows the operational plan of how and when we are landing at Isabela, because we were never given one. We were only told to go to Isabela with the navy and join General Lacret after we arrived at Sagua Grande.”
The cabin grew quiet, except for the colonel, who was wheezing. His subaltern rushed in from the passageway with a water canteen and he gulped it down. I thought I caught a whiff of rum, but wasn’t sure.
“Thank you, Major Barida, for the candid assessment. I thought such would be the case. Captain Southby and I have come up with a plan of action for tomorrow. Captain Southby will now brief everyone on it.”
43
Briefing “The Liberators”
Anguilla Cays
Cay Sal Bank
Her Majesty’s Colony of the Bahamas
Wednesday
27 April 1898
A large chart of the Bahamas and northern coast of Cuba had been spread out on the table, and now it was accompanied by memoranda books of each ship captain and Cano. Every eye went to Southby as he put one hand on the chart at Anguilla Cay and the other at Cayo Cristo, on the Cuban coast.
“Gentlemen, this briefing will cover several factors in the following order: transit from here to Cuba, squadron formation and communication, estimated enemy forces, transit in channel to Isabela, the shore assault, naval gunfire support, the Cuban battalion’s landing, the naval landing party defensive perimeter, care of casualties, and the withdrawal of naval forces from Isabela. Please hold your questions until the appropriate phase of the briefing. Understood?”
Everyone had been scribbling notes, but now they looked up and nodded.
“Very well, first the transit to Cuba. Here at the Anguilla Cays, we are approximately forty-six miles northeast of the outer channel approaches of Isabela. In order to conceal our approach to the target area, the squadron’s transit will not be a direct approach on the rhumb line, but instead will deviate to the west and then south.”
He paused for them to write their notes, then continued. “The squadron will get under way at sunset tonight, steam south at eight knots around the shoals below Anguilla Cay, then alter course to the west. This westerly course will be close offshore of Cay Sal Bank, a dangerous route but less traveled. Two hours later, we will execute a line-ahead standard turn to port and steam due south, across the Nicolas Channel toward the Cuban coast. We will be making a perpendicular landfall at Punta Chernas on the west side of Cayo Cristo at eight bells.”
Noticing the puzzled look on Barida, he quickly added, “Sorry, Major, that’s four a.m.”
The Cuban nodded his understanding and Southby went on. “At Punta Chernas, the squadron will follow Kestrel in a line-ahead standard turn to port and steam east along the coast of Cayo Cristo. This way we can make the final approach to the outer channel to Isabela from the still-dark western horizon, instead of having any possibility of being silhouetted from the nautical twilight on the eastern horizon, which begins at five-eleven a.m. We will be inside the Isabela channel at five a.m. and hit the town at five-thirty. Actual sunrise is at six-oh-four. Is the transit from here to Cuba understood? Questions?”
There were none. “All right, now as to our formation. Once we are under way from here, the squadron will steam in line-ahead formation, maintaining it all the way to the attack on Isabela. On the transit to Cuba, maintain a quarter-mile separation between ships. Maintain three hundred yards separation between ships once inside the Isabela channel.
“The squadron will be darkened the entire time, with great care by the engineers to prevent embers or illuminated smoke. Communication between ships will be by narrowly focused signal lamp. All ships’ bells will be muffled and all lights will be completely doused, except for one small blue light on the transom, which is shielded to all points but directly astern. A green light above the white light will mean to increase speed slightly. A red light above the blue light will mean to decrease speed slightly. Three red lights mean stop immediately. Three green lights mean to get under way at slow speed. Each ship will be ready to instantly signal these changes to the ship astern of you once you see them from the ship ahead.
“Your helmsmen will have to follow that blue light carefully, because it will be low and possibly obstructed
by waves occasionally. Sharp lookouts and signalmen are crucial. Any communication beyond these I mentioned will be for crucial information only and done in Morse by focused signal lamp or, if close enough, by speaking trumpet. Concealment and surprise is everything. Understood?”
They indicated they did. The colonel took another swig and stared at the bulkhead. Cano cast an apologetic look my way.
“Very well,” said Southby. “The squadron formation will have Kestrel in the lead, then Osprey, then Falcon, then Norden, and Harrier as the rearguard.”
Flag Lieutenant Yeats placed a detailed chart of the coast around Isabela atop the large one. Each captain already had a copy on his ship and had been told to memorize it, but everyone around the table leaned over to peruse the chart, even the colonel.
Southby pointed to the village of Isabela. “For those who may be unfamiliar with our target, here it is. The enemy forces expected include two Spanish naval vessels stationed at Isabela. Mayari is a sixty-five-foot, twelve-knot gunboat mounting a forty-two-millimeter rapid-fire bow gun and a thirty-seven-millimeter Maxim gun aft. Lealtad is a fifty-foot boat with bow machine gun and unknown speed.
“Stationed eighty miles west at Cárdenas, are the gunboats Ardilla, Alerta, and Ligera, all of them similar to Mayari at Isabela. There is also a ninety-foot armed tug, Antonio Lopez, with a fifty-seven-millimeter Nordenfelt gun and several smaller caliber guns, stationed at Cárdenas. All four vessels at Cárdenas periodically patrol the coast near Isabela and put into that port. We do not know if they are there right now, but must be prepared to face them.
“Spanish Army forces ashore near Isabela consist of one infantry regiment and some pro-Spanish militia. Major Barida, do you have any recent estimate of the Spanish numerical strength in the area of Isabela and Sagua Grande?”
“Yes, sir. As of when I was there one month ago, there were approximately eight hundred Spanish infantry troops operating inland near Sagua under the command of the notorious Colonel Arce, and also an eighty-man company of Spanish volunteer militia which patrols the roads in ten-man groups. In the last several weeks, the enemy has mobilized its inactive reserves and militia across Cuba, so there are probably some reinforcements in the area. We know the Spanish plan is to reinforce all potential invasion areas on the northern coast with reserves, including light field artillery, once war with the United States is declared. Isabela is one of those, but not considered a priority.”
He presented the enemy’s order of battle dispassionately. I was finding Major Barida an intriguing fellow.
“Thank you, Major,” said Southby. “Gentlemen, from Punta Chernas the speed will remain at eight knots, and the course will be to the southeast along the Cayo Cristo coast. We will continue a mile past Punta Practicos to the outer buoy of the five-mile channel into Isabela. The buoy is a white and red striped nun, standing about six feet above the water. Keeping the buoy to starboard, we will execute a hard right turn to lay the course of south-southwest into the channel. There will be two buoys on either side. A mile into the channel, we will pass between the islands of Cayo de la Cruz on the north side, and Cayo Maravillas on the south side.”
Barida raised his hand. “Sir, there are fishermen living in huts on the beach of Cayo Maravillas. They will see us enter.”
I interjected, “An important point, Major Barida. Thank you. Are they pro-Spanish or pro-independence?”
He shrugged. “They are pro-fishermen, sir, who only want to be left alone to get fish with their sailboats. I do not think they would alert the Spanish in Isabela, but there could be a traitor among them who might light a signal fire.”
“Or a Spanish naval lookout newly positioned on that beach,” said Cano.
“We could secure the island with a small landing party ahead of the squadron entering the channel, sir,” suggested Farmore, Senator Lodge’s protégé commanding Harrier.
I went over it in my mind, then said, “Thank you, Captain Cano and Lieutenant Farmore. Once we are past those two islands and inside the bay, we have only another four miles to go, which should take thirty minutes at the most. We’ll take our chances. Please continue, Captain Southby.”
“Yes, sir. As you can see, the channel is pretty straightforward and carries thirty to forty feet of water. Halfway to the docks at Isabela, we will pass Cayo Paloma to our starboard. After that, we will pass Punta Sotavento on our portside, which is the end of a very thin peninsula, on which sits Isabela. The docks are on the northern side of the peninsula. Before we reach the docks, we’ll pass Cayo Mendoza to our starboard. This area is the shallowest part of the channel, with shoaling to twenty-two feet at low water.
“Now, as to the assault itself. Listen carefully. It is vital to eliminate confusion once we are in the confined area of the port. At Cayo Mendoza, all ships will reduce shaft revolutions to a speed of dead slow ahead.
“At Cayo Mendoza, Kestrel and Osprey will turn hard to the southwest and proceed to the large wharf a quarter mile away on the town’s harbor front. The other ships of the squadron behind them will stop in the channel and wait. The wharf has thirty feet of water on both sides. Kestrel will take the inland or south side, Osprey will take the seaward or north side. Shore parties will immediately surge ashore from both ships. Kestrel’s sailors head to the right and south, and Osprey’s men will head to the left and north. Lieutenant Yeats will be in command of all sailors ashore, assisted by Bosun Mack. As soon as Osprey’s shore party has landed, she will back away from the wharf. Kestrel will remain on her side of the wharf for the duration of the operation, unless exigent negative circumstances dictate otherwise.”
The officers’ faces tensed on hearing that. Southby didn’t have to elaborate what those circumstances would be.
“We need the shore parties to fan out and take control of the immediate wharf area within the first five minutes. This won’t be easy, because you’ll only have thirty men ashore initially. Surprise is what we want, so be fast and quiet if at all possible. If the alarm has been given by this point, be loud and lethal to anyone in your way. Are we clear?”
Even grimmer faces nodded and he went on. “The Spanish gunboat docks are about a hundred yards to the south of the wharf, and will be on Kestrel’s starboard side. If the gunboats are at the docks when we arrive, our ship’s guns will destroy them. We will also cover the only real street in the town with our guns. If there is a field artillery battery or infantry in town, we will take them under fire. I want no confusion on this—Kestrel will provide gunfire support to the shore party. Other ships will be responsible for engaging enemy vessels should they appear in the bay to resist our assault.”
He paused again until everyone wagged their heads in the affirmative.
“Remember, the wharf is temporary for all ships except Kestrel. As Kestrel and Osprey arrive at the wharf, all of the other ships will stop and loiter by Cayo Mendoza. I want Osprey leaving the wharf as fast as possible. When Osprey departs the wharf, she will steam around the peninsula to the southeastern side and loiter a mile offshore with sharp lookout seaward and landward. Falcon will be next at the pier to quickly discharge her shore party, then she will depart to loiter over near Osprey. When Falcon departs the wharf, Norden will come in and send the Cuban battalion ashore, along with all their supplies. Offloading equipment and supplies will have to be done by hand. There are no derricks. At the same time Norden is offloading, Harrier will send in her shore party by ship’s boat. That will give us a total of forty sailors ashore in the initial assault.”
Ignoring the wheezing colonel, who had yet another swig, Southby turned to Major Barida. “Disembarking your men and offloading your field artillery and supplies from Norden will be difficult to do quickly, but by that time it’ll be daylight and the wharf area will be secured. Your entire battalion should be ashore, equipped and formed up ready for battle, and heading inland by nine o’clock at the very latest, to get inland before the Spanish
can react and get large forces to Isabela. Understood, Major Barida?”
Also ignoring his colonel, Barida said, “Yes, sir.”
The colonel, to whom the subaltern had been translating all the aforementioned, suddenly spoke up for the first time, giving his minion an earful. The subaltern showed not a hint of embarrassment as he put it into a flat English monotone.
“Colonel Zaldivar says no, not worry, gentlemen. There will be no fighting at Isabela. For two hundred years the peasants of the area belonged to his father when they were slaves, and they are still loyal to his family. They love him and will welcome all of you as their glorious liberators.”
Disgust darkened my officers’ faces. Barida studiously examined the chart as Cano examined the beams overhead, slowly shaking his head. Bendel slapped his well-provisioned belly and laughed out loud. “Good damn joke, Colonel!”
The subaltern began nervously tapping his knee. The colonel glowered at his unappreciative audience.
“Yes, well, time will tell, Colonel,” I said as cheerfully as I could muster. “Let’s continue, Captain Southby.”
With an audible sigh, he did. “Ah, yes, sir. Well, please remember, gentlemen, our naval vessels have no doctors and only a limited amount of medicines, all of which will be kept either inside the naval perimeter in the town or out aboard Norden. Cuban and American casualties incurred at Isabela will be brought by small boat out to Norden. Casualties from farther inland from Isabela will have to be taken care of by General Lacret’s Free Cuban Army forces.
“The sailors will man defenses at the edge of town for three days, at the most, to ensure a route of withdrawal for the battalion if the Spanish are stronger than anticipated and things go badly. I repeat, gentlemen, The U.S. Navy is leaving Isabela no later than Saturday, the thirtieth, at noon.”
An Honorable War Page 20
