Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-06-02
NOTES OF THE WAR.

There has been little news OF I'M
portance during the past week con-
corning the war. Rumors have been
plentiful and many conflicting reports
have been sent out. Commodore Schley
ascertained for certain that the Spanish
feet under Admiral Cervera was in the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba, and has
them tightly corked in. The harbor
is bay that can only be reached by a
long, narrow and winding channel.
The Spanish have it full Of mines, and
it will be extremely dangerous for our
ships to 90 in after the enemy. They
would have to enter one at time, and
would be subjected to the fire Of the
Spanish ships and the notifications
that line the entrance, to say nothing
Of the peril from the submarine mines,
OF course the Spanish dare not come
out and offer battle with our powerful
fleet. Commodore Schley has had his
SQUADRON at the channel S entrance for
the past week trying to get at the
Spanish. Tuesday he bombarded the
forts, but it is not known how great
damage was done. SPANS reports
say that the firing did them no harm.
News from other sources, however, say
that great injury was inflicted. The
firing lasted about two hours. None
of our ships was damaged. Late Mon
day night two Spanish torpedo boats
sneaked out of the harbor and made
desperate effort to get close enough to
our fleet to do some harm. They were
discovered and storm Of shot and
shell was hurled at them. One Of the
boats got within 500yards Of the bat
tleship Texas, when things got too hot
for it and it turned back. Both the
little vessels managed TO escape with
out serious damage, it is believed, as
it was hard to get their range in the
uncertain moonlight.
The latest dispatch says that Adj
miral Sampson has just arrived off
Santiago, and has now fifteen men-ot-
war with which to capture or crush
the six Spanish vessels lying in the
harbor. 1t is believed that some way
will be found by which entrance can
be effected, and a battle may be re-
ported at any time. 1t is said that
there are nearly 5000 insurgents in
the neighborhood Of Santiago, ready
to offer battle with the Spanish forces.
The government will not permit any
knowledge Of its operations to be sent
from Florida, but it is believed that a
large body of United States troops
have recently left Tampa for Cuba.
They will be landed at a point near
Santiago, and when they are in posi-
ton a combined attack Will be made
from the land and sea. Within the
next week important events should
transpire. Several thousand troops
are on their way to Manila, and 9th
ers will be sent on as fast as ships can
be furnished to transport them. They
will be used to occupy the city, which
Admiral Dewey will compel to sur
render when they arrive in sufficient
number to hold it.
The Spanish forces in Cuba will
not offer much resistance to The land
ing of our soldiers. 1t is said that
their plan is to permit our troops to
get into the interior of the island and
then crush them. 1t is a sanguiue ez-
pectation, for the Spanish could not
whip a few insurgents, poorly armed
and equipped. They will doubtless
receive a surprise when they attempt
to annihiIate our army.