The herald., 1898-06-05

cry and was kept at work only with diff
Guilty. Some of Crank's letters are at once
laughable and pathetic in their recital of
the trials and tribulations the young officer
Che is about 25 years old) suffered in his
efforts to make the machinery work al all.
This is just the kind of craft that would be
selected to block up the channel. She is of
iron and therefore not likely to be easily
removed by the Spanards. Then she was
empty, and so of no immediate value to
the fleet.
| Another reason for believing the Merri-
| mac was purposely sunk is the small num-
ber of crew aboard. according to the re-
ports. There seems to have been just enough
men on her to steer the ship and keep the
engines moving. The normal crew of the
collier was about forty men, so that the
others must have been taken off in ad-
vance. 1t is said at the Navy Department
that there is no possibility that the Amer
lean sailors captured by the Spanards will
suffer. They are not spies in any sense,
but prisoners of war, and so far there has
been no disposition shown by the Span
| iards to pistreat such prisoners.
AS to the change wrought in the situation
now be possible to draw off the larger
part Of the American fleet for service else
where than at Santiago, perhaps at San
Juan de Porto Rico or Havana, for in
stance. A small force, of say two monitors
and a cruiser, would suffice to keep guard
at Santiago, for all that Is necessary now
is to be able to bring enough guns to bear
upon the channel to prevent the Spaniards
| 70 ola ft.1 <,1r
by the use of torpedoes, and to prevent the
escape of the small torpedo boats that
might be able to pass over the Merrimac'
hull.
OF course, 1t must be remembered that
there are drawbacks to the present situa-
ton, for while the Spaniards cannot ge,
out, our ships cannot get in the harbor and
any land attack upon Santiago would be
made at great disadvantage for lack of the
support of the American fleet.
1t is expected that reports will be re-
ceived today from Admiral Sampson which
will give details of the Merrimacs destruc-
tion and the names of the eight men who
have been captured.
Not Easily Removed
WASHINGTON. Junet At is now
known that the Navy Department about
ten days ago, was considering a plan for
closing the harbor at Santiago very sim
| liar in general scope to that apparently
put into execution yesterday. 1t was pro-
posed to get two large huks or scows and
| fill them with big boulders such as could
be easily obtained in the neighborhood of
| New York. These were to be lashed at
either side Of a tug and run into the har-
Dor and at the proper point were to be
scuttled. Provisions were to be made for
the safety of the crew by attaching to the
| tug a torpedo boat stern foremost. A!
the proper moment the crew was to go
aboard the torpedo boat, scuttle the hulks
by an electrical contrivance and cutting
loose from the hulks, make rush for lib
erty and the open sea. There are signs
that yesterdays project was development
| of this idea. Probably the plan of taking
in scows was rejected by Sampson SO as
not to waste time in waiting for such craft.
AS to the prospects of the Merrimac hav-
ing been removed by the Spaniards, the
officials at the Navy Department declare
that this is likely to be a difficult, danger
Gus and me-consuming operation. The
hulk could be blown up by the use of dyna-
mite, charges of which would not be diff
cult to place in the shallow water where
the Merrimac lies, but it is believed that
the wreck lies in sight from the sea and 1t
is not doubted that Sampson will post some
of the heavy ironclads in such position as
to be able to command the site with her
| heavy guns and prevent the Spanish wreck
ers from working. At night something
might be accomplished by the wreckers, but
even that work will be full of danger.
Substantial promotion is in store for the
gallant men who took the Merrimac in
according to the statement of one of the
officials competent to speak on this sub
ject, and to pledge the Navy Department
| When they get out of their Spanish prisons
they will profit by this in the shape of ad.
vance in numbers and in rating, which
means money. How soon that will b.
cannot be told at present. The depart.
ment, so far as is known now, holds no
Spanish prisoners of war or rank. Col
Cortijo and the Spanish Surgeon who was
captured with him, having been surrend.
cred in exchange for a couple of newspa-
per men. there now remain of prisoners OF
war only three private soldiers at Fort
Mcpherson, and 1t cannot be expected
that these can be exchanged for the Ameri-
can officers who were on the Merrimac
The captives, therefore, are likely to re-
main prisoners in Santiago until the place
surrenders or Sampson manages to cap
ture more Spanish officers Of equal rarh
and enlisted men of the crew of the little
Merrimac.