The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-11
FORTlFYING CUBA'S COAST
Copyright blythe Associated Pr

(Copyrlgnt Dytne ASSOCIATED FIeSS.j
On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Kate Spencer, off Cardenas, May
9, via Key West. May 1O.-The Spanish
soldiers are displaying much activity
along the coast from Bahia Honda, forty
five miles west Of Havana, to Cardenas,
sixty-flve miles 70 eastward. AS the ships
fthe blockading fleet have instructions
TO prevent the erection of new fortifica-
tons and have at various points shelled
working parties, the task Of strengthening
existing defences and throwing up earth
works is carried on principally at night,
save in the immediate vicinity Of Havana.
The narrow escape Of the Vicksburg and
Morrill,, on Saturday. when they were
decoyed within easy range Of the Santa
Clara batteries, just west Of MORO Castle,
has taught some of the unarmored ships
a lesson, and 1t IS not likely that that
class of boats will venture within close
range of the modern high-power guns
again. Along the coast fresh sand batter
les are being thrown up almost every
night, but these works are of a fimsy
character and would be reduced by the
fire Of the big guns in a few minutes. The
officers Of the blockading fleet believe Cap
tain General Blanco is wasting a good
deal of energy in the erection of insignif-
cant shore batteries. The Strengthening
OF the more formidable works about Ha-
vana, is a very different thing. 1t may be.
however, by the erection Of these light bat
teries. which must be abandoned as soon
as the serious work of the feet begins.
Blanco puts heart in his starving soldiers
and incidentally imbues them with the
idea that a Yankee invasion can be re-
PEELED at any point.
The Hornet and the Winslow now
blockading Havana, have had lively
time for several days Smelling Spanish
details at work on batteries and telegraph
lines outside at the entrance Of the har-
Dor. There. as well as at the other ports
most OF the work is done at night and
each morning sees fresh earthworks
thrown up, like fresh hills against the
rusty green of thecoast3ne.
On Sunday morning the Hornet found
a party putting telegraph line from the
lighthouse and signal station a mile east
of Matanzas harbor to the battery west of
Point Sabinalla on the other side of the |
bay. The batteries here are said to be Of |
some magnitude, mounting a few high |
power guns. To stop this Geographic &C |
tivity. the Hornet steamed quietly in and |
dropped a shell in the midst of the work |
men. They scattered like rabbits, and the |
line grounded then and there. Several |
other telegraph parties have been discov- |
cred in the same way at other points. It |
IS evidently the intention OF the Spanish |
to establish communication by wire with |
all their coast block-houses and batteries. |
with a view. possibly. of massing troops |
and guns TO oppose a landing wherever
threatened. However. they will probably |
carry their wires behind tho first range
If hills. where they will be less subject
to sudden interruption.
Il is not possible that there are enough |
guns at the command of the Spanish to
mount them in all the sand batteries
springing upu. but as there is a railway
from Havana TO Matanzas. quite close to
he coast, they may be deluding them
selves with the idea that they can trans
port heay guns to the batteries nearest
he threatened landing point whenever
heir watches telegraph the appearance
II the American troops of the coast.