Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-15
SAMPSON TO FORCE THE HARBoR

Every Man in the Fleet Anxiously
Awaiting the Soldiers.
Copyright 1888, by Associated ;1'ress.)
PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DANDY.
GUANTANAMO BAY. June 13, P: M,
via Kingston. Jamaica, June 14.-ll:40
A. M.-The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius.
which joined Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
this morning, is to be followed by the
Ericsson. the Foote and other torpedo
boats. The arrival of the torpedo fleet
Will confirm the opinion that Admiral
sampson intends to force the harbor on
the coming of the troops. Every man
IN the fleet is anxiously awaiting the
soldiers, for it is recognized that no de-
cisive movement is possible until the
troops effect landing.
Everybody is desperately tired Of the
present disheartening condition. The
| tedious manoeuvres. the ceaseless
watching, and the exaspeerat-
| ing inactivity are telling on officers and
| men alike. AT no place are the troop
ships more anxiously watched for than
| on the sun blistered hill-top. where
Lieutenant Colonel Huntington. with
six hundred marines, lie In rife pits
| under an almost continuous hail Of
| Spanish bullets. Forty-eight hours OF
| practically ceaseless fighting has we'll
| nigh wrecked the men. who arrived
here incapacitated for active field duty
by the long wait on the Panther -
| " llu lie" eXCepllOnS, however, lnc
| marines showed spirit under the per-
sistent fire of the Spanish bushwhack-
ers. the officers particularly exhibiting
| the GOODNESS and nerve OF seasoned
campaigners. Today the work has been
the lightest since the landing on FRI
day. the Spaniards having fired but a
few shots since dayhreak. Whether the
| enemy has been driven back to the city
| Qualifications. or have merely retired
for the day cannot be told until dark
ness has arrived. The Kuerillas show
little liking for the sunlight. A grim
touch of realism was added to the war
like scenes when the flags on land and
: on the warships were placed at half
mast at noon today and the gallant
Sergeant Major Goode was buried on
the stony hillside. scarcely twenty
PAGES from the spot where he fell last
night. The burial service was impress
sive. as the men felt that their situa-
r | zion was desperate and openly said that
| they expected to be gradually slaugh-
tered until the arrival Of the troops.
@..S ..,>lA A,>SlJ &li..SiAC d pOiiCy WHICH
!, | compelS them to hole position that
. could be retaken. they say. b,- half an
hours Smelling. but not the faintest
disposition is manifested to do other
wise than to fight it out.
The Texas. Marblehead and Porter
have been lying close to the marine
fortlfications all day. taking advantage
OF the opportunity to coal.
ne bOipHlN arrived late ldSC nl&aI
land spent the greater part of the fore
e noon in pitching shells into the Spanish
t blockhouse. believed to be the rendez-
!. vous of the Spaniards, on hill e
7 mile and a half east of the American
q position. What damage was done II
Z is impossible to learn. but IL any. OF the
II enemy We're there in the vicinity
# his position must have been decidedly
: OlSagreeable.
) Last night Lieutenant Anderson Of
J. the Marblehead. with a steam launch
S dragged the harbor channel for mines
:. and went within forty yards OF the
! fort and the city limits. Although hs
, did the work with the greatest care
!, he found not the slightest indication
Is of explosives, He is highly commended
- for the clever execution Of a perilou:
;. duty.
His report shows 1t possible to take
any light draught ship right up to thu
s port, as the sounding gives eighteen
20 feet in the most shallow spot in thu
l. channel.
Despite the heat. the health OF thu
: marines ashore is excellent, aside from
l. exhaustion. On board the shipa ii
q the harbor the weather is delightful.
If cool. and the sailors here. like ,thos,
& off Santiago, are in generally gQot
health. There is a good deal Of corn
plant as to the insufficient snpply-o
food on the ships. The wardroom mes
on one ship here sat down today Il
s corned beef and hard tack. The Off
GERS OF many vessels complain Of thu
= shortage of necessities, like flour. pota
ar toes and ice. S !