The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-02

narrow but deep channel, fairly well PFC. E .
tected and supposed to be mined. The
narrow neck is not wide enough 70 al
low more than one ship at time 70 pass pas
would be very destructive
Their are three batteries outside ana
three small ones inside, and between tne
distance is very nearly three miles up the
bay measuring from Morro Castle
The latest Information IN the possession
narrowed point entrance near MORO cas- CAS-
tie there are three lines of electrically
worked mines. thirty in ALL. Besides TINS,
there are two sets OF new batteries Just
ter, dangerous cross fire:
Just inside this are two batteries on the
east shore, Estrella and Catalina.
Cayo Smith, about half mile up the
bay and about in the centre: Where the
narrow entrance widens out has batteries
of modern guns, as has also Blanco bat
terry just near the city OF santiago de
About two miles west Of MORO, inshore,
is the Case % battery, and there are
also supposed 10 be some mines Aea1
The armament of the various batteries
is supposed to be as follows, not inciud-
there are modern guns: Morro modern
'Blanco battery-Nlne smooth bore
sisheen n and apS 9wo % moraTs
The Estrella Battery-Ten smooth bore
Cayo Smith Several modern guns.
The forts are mainly of brick ana stone,
constructed a century ago. although there
are evidences of new earthworks pefng
thrown up.
distance IS from the southwest, and as
the flagship passed along, Lieutenant
Sears noted that the Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes. which has. been partly
\; la Law ;y, fnc IN <f,nT
fifteen hundred yards inside Of Morro
Castle, and he also noted thlrty lines OF
mines. To the westward and further m
side was the Spanish frst class armored
the guns of Cayo Smith, and to the east
of it, her starboard battery looking down
upon the narrow channel was the Crlsto-
bal Colon, with room only for one snip at
a time to pass.
1t will thus be seen that it would be
suicidal to attempt to force an entrance
into the place. at least until the batter
les are reduced, and this would consume
a lot of ammunition.
At the same time, taking it for granted
that the remainder Of the Spanish fleet
with four cruisers and two torredolboaTs s
is still further up the harbor, 1t Will pc
seen that the warships of Spain are ef-
fectually bottled up, SO that they can do
no harm.
Sunday at sunset found the squadron in
battle line outside Santiago de- Cuba, the
Brooklyn on the east of the line. the Mas
the Massachusetts and near the Texas,
which was on the extreme left, while the
Marblehead and the Vixen secuted in
shore.
TO have left Santiago de Cuba the Span
ish ships would have had to have passed
this seemingly impregnable barrier 49,.
Monday, May 30.-The American fleet
this morning still retained its position off
Santiago de Cuba. and no attempts have
been made during the night or morning on
the part of the Spanish fleet to get out OF
the harbor.
The United States cruiser New Orleans
arrived uring the afternoon and Joined the
squadron, and the collier Sterling also
came along.
The Iowa and Brooklyn both coaled.
The British second class cruiser Inde--
fatigable came alongside the flagship and
asked permission to GO into the harbor.
communication with Santiago de Cuba.
by way of Jamaica. since Thursday last,
and he had come to look after the safety
of the British Consul After obtaining
permission the commander Of the Inde-
/ fatigabie returned his thanks and went
south; not entering the harbor, possibly
because he had learned that the Spanish
fleet was being bottled up there.