Evening star., 1898-06-04
Cuban Revolution Likely to Close
Where It Began.
STRONG FORCES ARE OPPOSED THERE
Defenses Are Considered to Be
Almost ImpregnabIe.
MAY STARVE THEM OUT

via Kingston, Jamaica, June 4.-Rear Ad-
miral Sampson, with the United States
cruiser New York, his flagship, accom-
panied by the battle ship Oregon, the cruis-
er Mayfower and the torpedo boat Porter,
Joined Commodore Scheys squadron off
Santiago Wednesday morning and their
combined commands have the Spanish fleet
securely locked in the harbor.
Admiral Sampson left the heavy monitors
and light gunboats off Cardenas Monday
morning. all danger of the appearance Of
the Spaniards from the eastward having
been removed with the definite Information
that Commodore Schley had hunted them
to their hole, and, under command of Com
modore Watson, the monitors and gunboats
returned to reinforce the blockade on the
north coast of Cuba.
Schley Keeps His Command.
Admiral Sampson did not assume COM
mand and amalgamate the squadrons
upon his arrival. Each squadron retains
it's separate entity and Commodore Schley
his single-starred pennant on the Brook
lyn. The American fleet off Santiago now
numbers twelve fighting ships, two colliers
and a cable-cutting ship. Neither the
Solace, the hospital ship, nor the Red Cross
ship State of Texas, which the Associated
Press dispatch boat Dauntless passed on
her way here, has yet put in an appear
ance
The fighting ships include the New York,
Brooklyn, Iowa, Oregon, Massachusetts,
Texas, New Orleans, Marblehead. Dolphin,
Mayffower and Vixen and the torpedo boat
Porter. There is every indication that ac-
tive operations will begin at once. The
last cable which binds Cuba to Madrid
and the outside world was cut today.
Pending the execution of Admiral Samp-
sons plan of campaign. our ships form
Gordon about the entrance of Santiago
harbor to prevent the possible egress of
the Spaniards, should Admiral Cervera be
foolhardy enough to attempt to cut his way
out.
Communication has also been had with
the shore. The mountains and hills which
surround Santiago are in full possession
of the Cuban insurgents. and in certain
contingencies the latter might be enabled
to render effective aid
Prepared for Stout Resistance.
The reconnaissance n ade by ships,
principally the smaller auxiliary yachts
and torpedo boats, which are able to creep
close III shore at night, have pretty def
nitely determined the location and char
acter of the defenses of the harbor Sew
on the high ground on each side of the en-
trance, and it is evident the Spaniards are
prepared to make a stout resistance.
The lines of batteries which crown the
hills and the grim gray walls and castel-
lated turrets of Moro Castle. with the yell
low and red flag of Spain flying from the
keep on the central tower, make a brave
picture from the line of the blockading
squadron lying five miles off the shore.
Across the narrow neck of the channel
which at the entrance is scarcely more
than hundred yards wide, have been
placed three rows of mines, marked by
wooden buoys. So far as has been ascer-
tanned, there are three rev batteries OH
the west side of the entrance. These ap-
pear to be formed entirely of earthworks
The embrasures for the guns can easily be
discerned with the glasses.
Cayo Smith, a small island which lies di-
rectly beyond the throat Of the entrance,
is fortified; and back of MORO, which sits
cn the rocky eminence at the right of the
entrance, are Estella battery and Saint
Carolina fort. Further up the bay, guard
ing the last approach to the city of Santi-
ago, is Blanco battery.
Forts Built Some Time Ago.
The forts are of stone and were con-
structed in the early COS. Saint Carolina
fort is partly in ruins. The guns in both
Morro Castle and Estella battery are of old
Pattern--1S and "a pounders-and would not
even be considered were 1t not for the
great height of the Notifications, which
would enable these weapons to deliver
plunging fire. Modern guns are mounted
On the batteries to the left Of the entrance
on Cayo Smith, and at Blanco battery
there are also four modern guns. The
mines in the narrow, tortuous channel and
the elevation of the forts and batteries
which must increase the effectiveness Of
the enemy's fire and at the same time de-
crease that of our own reinforced by the
guns Of the Spanish fleet inside, makes the
harbor as it now appears almost impreg-
nable
Unless the entrance is countermined it
would be folly to attempt to force its pass
age with our ships. But the Spanish fleet
is bottled up and plan is being considered
to drive In the cork. If that is done the
next news may be thrilling story of clos
ing the Nharbor. 1t would release a part of
our fleet, and leave the Spaniards to starve
and rot until they We're ready to hoist the
white flag.
Not a gun has been fired from shore or
ship since the bombardment on Tuesday
ie oDdHiSH Heet, WHICH lay near the
mouth of the harbor on that occasion, has
withdrawn to a safer anchorage farther
in, probably behind Cayo Smith, and not
a glimpse of it has been had SINCE
1t may be that the final act in the Span
ish-American war drama, of which the Gu
ban revolution was but the prologue may
De enacted here, where the insurrection
originated three years ago.
Ordered to the Rear.
An hour before sunset tonight as dark
rain clouds, lying low over the coast line,
foreboded the usual tropical storm, and
the united fleets under Sampson and
schley lay off the mouth Of the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba, fianked by a little fotilla
of dispatch boats, Rear Admiral Sampson
signaled the torpedo boat Porter to run
alongside the flagship. The nature of the
admirals orders was soon known, for the
Porter rushed alongside each newspaper
dispatch boat in turn and megaphoned:
'lne admiral directs you to move ten
miles south and to take station for the
night"
This meant business of serious import for
| the fleet before morning, whether a dash