The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-19
Military Resources of the Enemy Al
most Exhausted and BlancO's Sol
diers ON Half Rations.
CUBHNS ARE GOOD FIGHTERS
DARING, BRAVE SCOUTS AND EXPERT
WITH THEIR NEW RIFLES.
Narrow Escape from TOrpedOes-TwO
Launches Full of arines Attacked
"A Spanish Commanders Letter.

Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June II, 2
p. M. per the Associated Press dispatch
boat Wanda, via Kingston, Jamaica. June
1S, $50 a. n.--The weeks campaign in east
ern Cuba has resulted in the practical de-
moltion of the outer Notifications of San
tiago de Cuba in anticipation of the ar
rival of the troops, and the occupation OF
the fine harbor of Guantanamo, in which
to-day are anchored such magnificent ships
as the oregon and St. Paul, together with
the Marblehead, Dolphin, Suwanee and
eleven other auxiliary gunboats, collers and
press dispatch boats in an average depth
of eighteen fathoms of water. The mill
tary resistance to the definite occupation
practically ceased since the bombardment
of Wednesday. An intercepted official re-
port of the Spanish military commandant
indicates that his military resources are
exhausted. His soldiers are now on half
rations. There are supplies only for the re-
mainder of June. The commandant has al
ready seized all the private drug supplies
in order that they may be devoted to the
use of the soldiers.
The close Gordon maintained by the Gu
bans about Guantanamo is illustrated by
the fact that official Spanish communica-
tions sent in duplicate by land and
water, have been intercepted and the Span
ish messengers in both cases have been
shot by Cubans while attempting to pass
the lines.
For the past three nights there has been
comparative. quiet in the camp which the
marines hold on the crest of the hill near
Guantanamo bay and over which the Amer
lean nag floats. AT dusk volunteers from
the war ship go ashore and camp near the
hills to be at hand in case of an emergency
and the Cubans go out in the chapparal in
order to prevent the Spanish from stealing
march on the camp.
General Perez, commanding the eastern
division Of the insurgent army, called on
Captain McCalla, of the Marblehead, yes
terday and reported that he had three thou
sand men, of whom 1890 would reinforce
the marines in few days. Many bands
or insurgents are now gathered along the
coast westward to Santiago de Cuba
Inc war ships have done no firing since
Wednesdays bombardrnent Of the forts of
the inner harbor and the town of Calm
anera. Since the narrow escape of the Mar
blehead and Texas from destruction by tor
pedoes in the channel, greater precautions
have been observed. Both ships struck
contact mines without exploding them
Each mine contained forty pounds of gun
cotton, sufficient to destroy the vessel.
The bombardment in Guantanamo bay
was not SO heavy as at Santiago, but it was
very heavy. The Spaniards fired only five
shots and then fled. Three shots struck
near the Marblehead, but none hit her. The
ships steamed within 5000 yards of the fort
before opening fire and they fired with dead
ly accuracy.
The Texas stopped in the narrow channel
in order to avoid grounding, but the Mar
blehead steamed ahead and swung around
the south side of the harbor. Her first shots
went wild, but the little Suwanee, which
was following her, found the range and
sent shots straight into the foundation of
the fort, hurting into the air brick and dust
The Texas finished the business, two of her
twelve-ineh shells reducing the fort to a
picturesque and useless ruin. The Marble
head then turned her attention to the bar
racks and breastworks southwest of the
harbor and speedily demolished them, send
ing the Spanish garrison flying for their
lives. AS the Spaniards ran down the main
land, the st. Paul's fve-inch guns were
trained on them and several of the soldiers
were seen to fall. The number killed and
wounded is not known. The bombardment
lasted an hour and quarter and was for
the purpose of preventing a movement of
Spanish troops from the town to the forti-
fications.
The insurgent forces, which have been
armed and equipped by Captain McCalla,
not only prove to be daring scouts, but turn
out to be brave fighters and good shots with
the Lee-Metford rifles. Our own men are
warm in their praise. and look for unex-
pectedly strong cooperation upon the part
of the Cuban army.