Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-04

miles south ana TO take Il STATION lOf
the night" This meant business of
serious import for the fleet before
morning, whether a dash into the har-
hor or otherwise will probably be
known on the arrival of the second AS
socinted Press dispatch boat at the
nearest cable station tomorrow
All indications show that southeast
ern Cuba will be the scene of active
military and naval operations for some
time.
Here are assembled the squadrons of
great fighting ships and looking down
upon them from the adjacent hills are
the watchful bands of insurgents
forming the outposts OF Gen. Garcia's
army which Is strong enough unalded
to strike the Spanish land forces a
hard blow, and II reinforced by tina
American army of invasion, to sleze
and hold the entire eastern half of the
island. Talk with Garcia's scouts
show that they confidently expect
American troops soon.
CONDITIONS FOR INVASION.
They say this is the best part of the
island for the landing and the acclim-
atl2ation of our troops Well drained
aud healthy camps can be established
ON the high table lands that lie on the
sea front or on slopes Of the mountains
at any desired altitude. Pure water Is
lpuilu III lilt springs ana noun tam
streams while the fertile surrounding
country yields abundant fruits and
vegetables and everything is favorable
to the good sanitary condition of well
disciplined army.
The rainy season the insurgents say
is not serious drawback where camps
can be quickly formed on drained ele-
vations.
The island already shows the effect
of the beginning Of this season
Showers occur daily. and soft, white
rain mists are seen on the slopes every
morning.
The smoke and fires of the burning
plantations are being distinguished and
luxuriant nature Is rapidly healing
many of the ravages OF the war. These
tropical storms at night are wonderful
exhibitions of electrical pyrotechnics.
At times the lightning flashes on the
horizon line look like the regular firing
guns from distant fort. Again the
entire heavens seem afiame in vivid
glare and forked tongues OF fire appear
to run down the mountain slopes. A
drenchlng rain falls for an hour or two
and then the skies clear and all il
calm and serene, full moon and bril-
liant consultations OF the tropics APP
pear In all their glory as the black
clouds roll away on the horizon.
Such storms are confined almost
wholly to the coast. only going out to
sea occasionally off cape or headland
to wake up !. squall Ships sailing
along the coast In calm seas and clear
skies are witnesses to the beauty and
grandeur OF the land storm without
Keeling the slightest effect OF these dis
turbances of nature a few miles dis
tant.
PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS.
on board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Dauntless. off Santiago,
June a. via kingston.-(C copyrighted,
1898 by the Associated Press.)-Rear
Admiral Sampson, during Friday morn
ing decided to close the narrow harbor
entrance to Santiago de Cuba by sink
ing the collier Merrimac. loaded with
coal, in the channel. He called for
volunteers to go to almost certain
death. and 1000 men offered themselves.
Lieut.. Hobson and six men were
chosen, and at am, Friday morning
the Merrimac, under her own steam,
entered the channel under a terrible
Spanish fire. The vessel was riddled
with projeotiles, but she anchored and
swung around. Lieut.. Hobson then set
Off an internal torpedo with an electric
attachment, there was an explosion. the
Merrimac sank, and the channel was
closed and, apparently. Admiral Ger
vera will be unable to escape.
A BOLD ACHIEVEMENT.
MhsnlnElOUs June tine cork Is
driven In the bottle" was the comment
OF the naval officers at the navy de-
partment this morning upon the news
of the sinking Of the collier Merrlmac
in the channel at the entrance of San
tlago harbor.
They are absolutely satisfied that the
ship was sent In by design of Sampson
TO close the channel and prevent the
escape OF the Spanish squadron and
that the undertaking was successful
II so this will rank as one OF the bold
est achievements In naval history. It
will outrank even Cushlng's famous
attack upon the Albemarle with his
little torpedo boat. That is the opia-
ion at the navy department at least.
The officers say that Cushing had a
lighting chance to escape after making
his attack. and he did indeed escape.
There was no such chance for the men
who took the Mcrrimac into Santiago
harbor under the guns which Schley's
report described as OF great power and
over nests of submarine mines. any one
of which was sufficient to crush In the
bottom Of the ship. II is not possible
now to learn who made up this crew
that Is destined to be famous in Amer
lean history, for the opinion at the
navy department IL that Admiral
Sampson directed that no man be or
dered Into such dangerous duty, but
that volunteers be called for There is
no doubt, however that at least two
OF the officers were aboard namely
Commander j. NJ. Miller of Missouri,
aud Assistant Engineer b, X. Crank
of Texas.
The captain could be relied upon, 1t is
said to stick to his ship to the last,
and from what Is known of Cracks
character he would not he likely to
leave the ship. being the only command
engineers officer on board, There Is
only one opinion at the department Of
the courage of the man who coolly stood
at the engine levers down In the hold
and directly above the bottom OF thc
ship that he momentarily expected 10
come flying upward on the blast of @
mine or torpedo, one OF the reasons
that form the basis of the conviction
that the Merrlmac was purposly sunk
In the channel 10 the fact that the ship