The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-05-27
cERvERA BOTTLED UP.
Government officials Have Information
That He is at Santiago Hemmed
In BY Our Vessels.


to be no longer any doubt that the
Spanish fleet, now in Santiago harbor,
is hemmed in by Commodore Schley.s
squadron. and that their escape is al
most, if not quite, impossible. Mem
bers of the cabinet are eXultant over
Wednesdays news, and although they
are not willing to make public the
source of their information, they re-
gard it as perfectly trustworthy. They
are not willing to state the exact posi-
ton of Simpsons fleet, but do say
that it is acting in concert
with Schley and can come to his
relief at any time should the situation
require it. The published report that
another and more formidable fleet is
en- route from Cadiz TO the relief OF the
imprisoned squadron is not credited
by members of the administration,
but should this prove to be the fact
the move would be welcomed by
our naval authorities, as it would
certainly result, it is said. In
the destruction of the two fleets
instead of one. 1t is authOritatively
stated that the situation of the Santl-
ago harbOr is such that our gun boats,
which are available for the purpose.
could successfully prevent the escape
of the Spaniards, thus relieving a con-
siderable part of both SIMPSONS and
Schley's fleets for operations elsewhere.
Members of the administration regard
the present situation as most
favorable for our cause and do
not doubt that in a very short
space of time the Spanish feet
will be utterly destroyed. and active
operations begun against Havana and
Cuba by both our military and naval
forces The safe arrival of the Ore
gon at Jupiter inlet, Fla, is spoken
of with great satisfaction by members
of the cabinet. Capt. Clark, in
his message to the secretary of
the navy. reports his safe arrival there
and says that he is in condition for
immediate active operations at the
front.
The harbor of Santiago is probably
one of the best protected in the world.
The entrance is between two high
bluffs little more than a stones throw
apart, with the eastern hill crowned
with an Anticipated stone structure
known as Moro castle. For nearly
mile the channel is very narrow and
from Moro castle to Fort Catalina. a
distance of One-quarter of a mile,
it is hardly more than 800 feet
wide. At one point the incoming
and outgoing steamers are com
PEELED to hug a buoy very closely so
that only one ship can pass at time.
1t is in fact water pass of ThermOpy
lac and a few Spanish Spartans on the
inside could protect it against a large
and formidable force endeavoring to
gain entrance. The channel then
swings for a mile to the north
west around GOrda point and aft.
er turning at a sharp angle vessels
are compelled to travel through anOth-
er long and narrow channel before
reaching the large basin of water
which forms the harbor proper, and at
the end of which the city of Santiago
is situated. 1t is nearly five miles from
the ocean through these tortuous and
narrow channels to the city. This is
very different condition of affairs from
that which existed at Manila, where
| Adm. Dewey sailed into bay that is
practically apart of the ocean. Manila
| bay at some points is % miles wide,
affording ample room for the maneu
vers which Adm. Dewey executed with
such su ccess while pounding the Cavite
arsenal into ruins, The basin of San
| tiagO harbOr is about two miles long
and the distance from shore to shore is
| less than mile at its widest point.
MADRID, May 26.-Official kilograms
from Cuba confirm the report that RI.
Adm. Sampson and Commodore Schley,
with their combined squadrons are
now in front of Santiago De Cuba
blOckading Adm. Cervera. Ministers
consider that Santiago possesses suf-
| ficient defenses to render null and
void any aggressive action the enemy
may take.
The position of the American squad
ron will cause the government to take
immediate action. though it is I'M
known as yet what form this action
Will assume.