The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-14
Copyright by Associated Press)

(CCpyTIght by Associated fTeSS)
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda, off Santiago de
Cuba, June IL p. m, via Kingston,
Jamaica, June 12.-NOOn.-FOr three
davs the scene Of the chief military
and naval operations has been Caima-
nera and Guantanamo bay. Ihe
American flag is flying on the shore in
the harbor, first planted on Cuban soil
by United States marines from the
transport Panther, under Lieutenant
Colonel r. w. Huntington, covered
by the guns Of the cruiser Marblehead,
commanded by Commodore McCalla,
whose name is a synanym for activity
and fighting.
The battleshp Oregon has already
coalcd in the smooth waters of the
harbor and has sailed away. The bat
tIeship Texas is coaling today, to be
followed by other ships.
The squadrons Of Rear Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley are
still off Santiago, maintaining a strict
watch day and night to prevent the
possibility of the escape of Admiral
Cervera. From men who have landed
to take observations Of the harbor it
is learned definitely, all agreeing on
the point, that the Spanish cruisers
and two torpedo boat destroyers are
there, but these vessels are regarded
by naval experts, after all, as men in
buCkram."
AS Il naval officer remarked today:
Spain throughout her whole history
has never sought naval fight and
never will. She has always lodged
and is lodging now. Cervera never in
tended to fight. He intended to dodge
and he has succeeded. Spain will
never send another fleet to these wa
ters during the present war"
Severe storms prevail in the channel
between Santiago de Cuba and jana
ica. The press dispatch boats have en-
cOuntered these storms for the last
ten days, making the voyages very
difficult.
The heat adds to the discomfort,
but a daily service is maintained.
TO RE ESTABLISH THE CABLE.
on Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat DauntlesS, off Guantanamo
Bay, Saturday-Noon-By the Associ-
ated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda-via
Kingston, Jamaica, June 12.-1:30 p.
MN controlling the outer harbOr of
Guantanamo, where Lieutenant Col
onel Huntington's battalion of marines
landed on Friday Rear Admiral Samp-
son secures possession of the Cuban
terminus of the French cable to Hayti.
The apparatus in the office at the mar
bOr mouth was wrecked by a shell, but
the cable steamer Adra has instru-
ments and operators aboard ana direct
communication with Washington will
soon be established. The distance
overland to Santiago, around the bay.
is about sixty miles. and the roads
have been rendered impossible by the
CubanS under Pedro Perez.
The first division of the Cuban army
claims to have 1000 men. but these fig
ures are probably over estimated. The
Cubans believe that there are about
9 500 soldiers in the vicinity of Caima-
nera, which lies at the entrance to the
inner harbOr. Guantanamo city is in
land about fifteen miles. The two har-
bors are connected by a narrow chan
neI with a dumbbell effect. 1t is the
outer harbOr which Admiral Sampson
now holds with the Marblehead. the
Yosemite and the Vixen, and with a
batCalOn of marines on the crest of a
blunt topped eminence commanding
the entrance on the western side. In
the inner harbor are two small Spanish
EunbOatS and at Caimanera there IS q
battery.
An expedition Of three steam
launch. s officered by Lieutenant Nor
man. Ensign EustiS. son of Mr. James
d. Eustts, formerly United States am
passador to France, and Cadet G. Van
Orden. under the general command OF
Lieutenart Anderson, Of the cruiser
Marblehead, last night dragged for
mines but found none. Lieutenant
Anderson. VINO distinguished himself at
Cienfuecos. pulled a dingy within fifty
yards of the fort without being discov-
cred. He found the fort to consist of
masonry, with three guns mounted
EeaWard
Judging from the panic in which the
Spaniards fled from the village at Fish
erman's Point, they will scatter at the
first approach. They left at Fisher
mans Point three Hntiquated how1tz-
ers. several cases Of aanmunltlon, shell
and canister. some Ma user rifles and
a regimental flag Of the ln1antorla oel
Principe No. 5.
AGAINST DISEASE.
Every precaution has beer taken TO
guard the men from disease. All the
nuts in the locality have been raZeo'
large casks of Spanish wine have Deen
smashed. two wells have been bOarded
up and all the drinking water used is
supplied from the fleet. The camp VII |
probably be named Camp McCalla, at |
ter the commander of the Marblehead,
who is indefatigable and has not re-
moved his clothing since the lombard.
ment.
This morning the British steamer