The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-20
SMELLING THE GUERRILLAs.
More Target Practice for the War
Ships in Guantanamo HarbOr.

More Target Practice for the War
Ships in Guantanamo HarbOr.
Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press.)
CAMP MCALLA. near Guantanamo,
Cuba, Friday, June II, noon, by Associated
Press dispatch boat, filed Kingston, Jamaica,
June 10, p. m.-For several days past
small bodies of Spaniards had been hang
ing around the northern end of the harhor
of Guantanamo and annoying the gunboats
and launches by occasional firing. They
had been coming from small blockhouse
about five miles back from that part Of the
harbor in which the American war ships
have been lying. This morning the gunboat
Suwanee led the way up the channel, fol-
lowed by the Marblehead and the launches
of both ships and opened a heavy fire on
bodies of guerillas seen at short distance
from the shore line. The shots were not
effective at first, but the Spanish infantry
made frantic burst for cover while the
shells pursued them, striking all around.
The Dolphin joined in the firing and for
twenty minutes a heavy fire was kept up,
when the signal to cease firing was hoisted.
The Suwanee steamed close in shore for a
long distance, but was not able to see any
signs of the Spaniards, while reply of
any kind was made to the American fire.
The Spanish loss could not have been
heavy as the enemy ran too fast for cover
at the first shots. Later in the day the
Oregon sent several shots at the blockhouse,
damaging it badly and causing it to burn
for a short time.
Lieutenant Colonel r. w. Huntington,
commander of the marines in Camp Mccall
la, has been making every preparation dur
ing the last few days for an assault by the
Spanish infantry, which is considered near
at hand. The quiet which has prevailed
since Captain Elliott and Captain Spicer de-
feated the Spaniards in the early part of the
week is considered ominous. as tending to
indicate that the Spaniards are massing
their forces to attack the American posi-
tion The intrenchments have, therefore,
been greatly strengthened and the sharpest
kind of watch is kept during the night.
The Cubans are generally of the opinion
that the Spaniards have had enough for the
time being and that no further attack will
be made at present.
Yesterday Major General Perez, of the
Cuban army commanding the insurgent
forces in the province of Santiago, paid an
official visit to the fleet and for the first
time during the war a Cuban flag was seen
at the mast head of an American war ship
and saluted. AS General Perez boarded the
MarDl6neaQ a salute Oh nOIOT was Hreu ana
he was received by guard of honor. After
landing from the Marblehead General Perez
made a short address to the troops, ex.oll-
ing the action of the United States in TAX
ing up the Cuban cause. He returned to
his post this morning after passing the
night on the Marbiehead. According to the
report of General Perez the condition of
the Spaniards at Guantanamo and in the
neighborhood is very bad. He says they are
eating horses and mules and that other food
is very scarce He does not believe they
will be able to withstand a vigorous attack
by one-half their number He said there
were $500 Cubans in the province, most of
them holding the roads to prevent the Span
iards getting supplies into Guantanamo. In
his opinion the American forces can easily
take Guantanamo and from that point oper-
ate against Santiago with every prospect
of success.
The marines, who are few in number and
desperately overworked, are looking anxi-
ously for the appearance of the army trans
ports which have been expected every day
for a week. The men are in good spirits
and determined to do their best, but they
feel that they are too small force to with
stand an attack by the entire Spanish force.