Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-26
ORR NEW CITY. SANTIAGO,
Ciesuing Up After spain VIII DC
No Joke.
New York SUM-

CSew York SUM-
The oId-time fortihcations with Their
modern guns that command the narrow
and tortuous channel leading into the har-
Dor OF Santiago deserve special mention
and can be made into splendid defences
The chief of them is Ell Moro. 1t occu-
pies a commanding site on the right as
the steamer enters the channel While
IL Is very old, IL is very strong. spain
all through the West Indies has selected
the strongest strategic points, and forti-
Ned them. as may be seen at Habana and
Santiago at Fort Augusta and Rock Fort
In jamaica, at Santo Domingo and San
Juan. Porto Rico. Tn the past these forts
were equal TO all emergencies. To-day
modern artillery has the supremacy
FL Moro Is an exception to this general
rule. That old two-terraced fort in part.
has been hewn out Of solid rock. 1t Is
part and parcel OF bold rocky headland.
The ocean washes its base. Eel MORO,
can be modernized and made a small Gil
braItar Its upper sea battery with
some Krupp guns, is nearly 100 feet above
sea-level owing 10 its elevation. IL
has an ali-around fire, commanding the
sea-front for many miles due east and
west, along the coast, as well as all the
land within sight. The lower battery is
specially constructed to command the very
marrow entrance to the harbor. The en-
trance there measures only $50 feet across.
Opposite I'll Moro. there is another bold
headland. surmounted by La Socapa, an
other oid-time fort. The guns OF, the
lower battery OF FL Moro. face the en-
trance. Short OF blowing that headland
OF rock into the sea, I'll MORO may be
deemed almost impregnable.
The guns OF FL MORO for the most
part are ancient. but many rapid-fre
Hontoria and Ordonez rifles have been
added 10 them, as well as the krupp guns
already referred TO.
La Socapa is an admirable vis-a-vis OF
the old fortress type. It's elevation being
less, II has neither the natural strength
nor the range OF FL MORO, but 1t has
usefulness all it's own. 1t and the guns
OF Estrella Point battery can rake any
ship that may pass the entrance. While
Ell MORO and La Socapa are Especially
designed TO keep ships out. the Estrella
Point battery is especially devised TO
deal with such as may have forced an
entrance. 1t is built OF solid masonry.
, the counterpart OF Fort Augusta, built
Z by Spain. in Jamaica over three centuries
ago.
Cayo Smith. or Smiths island. nearly
opposite Estrella Point has been fortified
walton. there is an old-time earthwork.
admirably placed to attend to anything
that might have escaped the forts and
battery. Between the latter and the city,
there are no Notifications.
In times of peace the topmost wall of
FL Moro is used as a semaphore station
II and series OF Hill stations extend TO
the city, the distance between the two.
being Ave miles. Oowing to the narrow
channel one vessel only is allowed to en-
ter or leave at time. Hence the sig
nal stations. point near FL MORO is
the pilot station.
OF late frequent reference has been
made 10 Cayo Smith. Ii is a pretty Is
land practically under the lee OF La Socapa
practically under the lee OF La Socapa |
In times OF peace a piGtureque spot dotted |:
with tropical villas. There the upper !
classes OF Santiago have their banor del |
mar or sea bathing. 1t is the local coney |
Island
II the old-time city had been as well |
'5oruhed against disease as the channel /
Is against enemies-what follows would \
be superhous-where nature has been so |
Doubtful only man seems vile. The |
healthfulness Of any tropical city squares |
WITH It's cleanliness and a due observation I
OF its sanitary laws. the purity of its (,
drinking water. end other well-known
essentials.
Santiago and Hsbana are hotbeds Of |
d'sease.sand this Is due almost entirely
10 negligence that should be deemed
criminal. The city OF Santiago. the old
EST ~ the Wesi--dating back over three
ccnturies--b built on q hillside. inclining to-
ward TIE harbor. with all the recognized
e'emenfs IN favor OF perfect drainage--has
none During ? the rains nature does
what she can TO flush the surface bur
that Is not enough where the subsoll "a