The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-19
An Intercepted Letter From Their
Commander at Guantanamo.
NOW ON HALF RATI0NS
PROVISIONS WILL BE EXHAUST
ED THIS MONTH.
Operations of the Americans De-
scribed By the Enemy-Spanish
Batteries Have Little Ammunition
Insurgents Were Pleased By
the Arrival of American Troops.

Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press
Camp McCalla, Outer Harbor of Guam a.
namo. Friday. June II, per the Associated
Press Dispatch Boat Wanda via Kings
ton, Jamaica, Saturday, June 1S)-The
following intercepted report from the
Spanish military commander at Guanta-
namo was taken from the body of an I'M
! fortunate messenger who attempted TO
pass the Cuban lines. 1t gives the official
Spanish version of the attack OF the
American fleet in the capture of the outer
harbor of Guantanamo a week ago and
disclosed the fact that starvation Is fac
ing the Spanish troops in eastern Cuba.
! rms Is Verl1eo by extracts, already teie-
GraDhed, taken from recent issue of a
newspaper OF Santiago de Cuba, and from
the TACT that number of Spanish regular
soldiers have surrendered TO Captain Nc
Gaia, oftering as a reason for so doing
the necessity of obtaining food. The let
"Caimanera, June 1S.-To the Command
ing General OF the Military Division of
Santiago de Cuba:
AT dawn on Saturday seven ships ap-
peared before the port of Caimanera and
flred grapeshot ana all kinds of projectiles
on the Plaza del Este until they set fire
ing the houses which We're occupied by a
detachment of American marines.
The cannonadlng continued with more
or less intensity until O'Clock in the af-
ternoon- As the Plaza del Este had two
Notwithstanding guns and some intrench-
mentS, the detachment could do nothing
before six ships firing on them from ali
sides, and they retired into Aanagua and
10 CuZZO hill, where they remain today
making sallies on the beach. From that
Gay the troops occupied Punta CaracOles,
observing the movements of ships, which
occupy all the outer port with war trans
ports, a variable number of armed ships,
other vessels of war and armed merchant
ships Tie total is never less than four
/ nd
the ViSlidnt gunbOat Magnet is ready TO
fall or them where damage can be done.
remain in Caimanera and will only leave
Nhen think II necessary. | have not
been able TO antagonize the American
ships with rifle fire Forts SandoVal and
Cayo Toro fired their pieces of artillery,
but their effectiveness was interfered with
ny the shortness of their range or when
the ships retired to the center of the
channel and took up a position in the mid
die of the bay. SandOval has not over
and Caimanera battery did not fire. re-
serving its FIRE until the ships entered the
channel. which is where its guns are.
INSURGENTS PLEASED.
Il am told that the insurgent forces at
Baracoa have come down to SgnaboS, be-
ing apparently greatly pleased at noting
that the American squadron has taken
possession Of the outer bay. as if for a I
base of operations the American ships
having anchored as if in one of their own
Since Saturday the Americans have cut
the cables which are at the entrance and
the center of the harbor and l have not
been able TO repair them, but they have
cannon shots on Monday. 1t appears from
the work which is being done that the
americans are preparing to plant the
harbOr with mines or TO place their ships
so as to disembark troops at Plaza del
Este, their favorite place. If this turns
out TO be the case. and that I have been
the first to call your attention TO it, I
would suggest that some Of our vessels
should come here. The members of the
ire brigade ere in good spirits.
ON HALF RATIONS.
81 am continuing to serve out half
rauonS OF everything and in that way /
snail be able to reach 10 the end of the
mouth only, especially in bread | have
no flour of any kind. as l have previously |
said. and l have no way of getting any. |
IS there has been no grain here Tor some |
lime past We are equally short of
Iuinine in the hospitals. However. 1 have /
taken possession OF the private drug /
stores and will have enough until the end /
II the month The town is suffering from |
At Craigo Moro the cable |
house was riddled with shell but Z stu
stands, and if the Americans abandon the ,
5ort' which / doubt. ever! thing viii be .
lone to re-establish communication. TO
which end | have everything ready.
II oday there is in the harbor a large
lrmored vessel the Oregon and seven
more vessels. with a large transport. the
T. Paul. which appears 10 be Il store
hip. They patrol the plaza with arnor-
d launches.
I return to Caimanera after seeing the
'earer of this dispatch started. He is
sorthy of my confidence. As messenger
I brigade he has rendered me great SER
ice BY sea I have a ready youth. who
las served in the navy and who volun-
eered to go. l earnestly recommend him
o your eXceIlercy, should he arrive.
(Signed.) "FEIIX PAPFIA
Commanding Section Brigade, Eastern
Military Division Of Cuba"