Evening star., 1898-06-13

day following. for, without doubt, Admiral
Sampson is extremely anxious to reinforce
the small body Of marines now ashore at
Guantanamo bay. The position of these
men is not entirely satisfactory to the Off
cials here.
While no advices have yet reached the
Navy Department of the attack made on
the marine force by Spanish guerrillas Sat-
urday night there is disposition to ques
ton the accuracy of the press reports. 1t
cannot be said that the attack caused sur
prise here, but 1t was plain to be seen that
it indicated to the officials some ugly possi-
bilities for the future. 1t is apparent for
one thing that regular organizat atoms of
troops fighting according to established
methods are destined to meet with severe
loss at the hands of irregular bodies, such
as the Spanish guerrillas, who have evil
IDENTIFY taken leaf from the Cubans' prac
tice and are conducting something like In
dian warfare In the jungles One of the
most annoying features attending this style
of warfare is the worry imposed upon the
soldiers. for few score of irregulars
manage to keep in state of unrest and
excitement large body of regular troops,
preventing them from sleeping and general
ly disturbing them. Behind earth works
there will be little reason for complaint on
this score, and it is probable that our troops
in operating in Cuba will be obliged fire.
quently to have recourse to this means of
defense
The Missing Officers.
The two young marine officers who We're
reported to be missing after the engage
nsent at Crest Hill. Cuba, between the
United States marines and Spanish guerril-
las were among the most popular of the
officers of the corps. Lieutenant Wendell
c. Neville is native of Kentucky and
about thirty years of age. He entered the
corps in July, 1892, and after making
cruises on the Cincinnati and the Texas he
was assigned in March, 1897, to duty at the
New York navy yard. In October of the
same year he married a daughter of Com
modore Howell, who at present commands
the northern patrol fleet
Lieut.. Melville J.Shaw is a native of Mime
sofa, and was appointed second lieuten-
ant in the marine corps July 1. 1896. He
came directly to the headquarters here in
Washington and spent year in the school
of application, following that up by
course at the war college. He then went
into active service at the marine barracks
at Boston. and lived at Portsmouth, n. H
While on duty at the last named place he
was detailed for service in Cuba.
The SOIace on Santiago.
By fortunate coincidence the naval am
bulance ship Solace arrived off Santiago
yesterday, and was at once available to
take two wounded marines who partici-
pated in the fight at Crest Hill The dead
will be buried on Cuban soil. There is
nothing unusual about this, although it
should now be fully realized that with ac-
tual warfare going on, the usual modes of
war must be followed, and it is said by
those in authority that they will not permit
the removal of the dead from the point of
action. The presence of the Solace is
fortunate circumstance for such of the
marines who were wounded during the
initial land fight OF the war, as her splendid
equipment gives them the benefit of the
most perfectly appointed hospital. To pro-
vide for every contingency the surgeon gen
eral Of the navy placed ON board the Solace
twenty-five folding collins. They are away
from observation, and are so unlike collins
until put together that they are free from
all gruesome appearGI ce. They are to be
used only for such wounded as die on
board ships. A practical embalmer, with
all embalming supplies, also Is on board.
Relatives of some Of the sailors who have
died in the naval hospital at Key West and
appeals that the bodies be sent north. The
Navy Department has been most anxious
to consider these appeals favorably, but
has found it to be absolutely impossible un-
der the state laws of Florida, which do not
the first interIlent.
Capt. Taylor Commands the Wnrships
Capt Taylor of the battle ship Indiana is
which accompanies the transport slips. 1t
has been presumed that this capable off,
Ger would be charged with this duty, but
the fact of his command can now be stated
positively. The makeup Of the convoy
feet is still withheld. and, in fact, the Navy
Department knows only as to the general
character of its strength. Besides the In
diana one other battle ship and first
class cruiser accompany the feet. The
other ships are lesser cruisers, gunboats
and auxiliary craft Five of tho naval
ships of the feet first went to Port Tampa,
while eleven remained off Key West. When
the five warships and the thirty-two trans
ports reached Key West junction was
made with the eleven warships at that
point, and the combined fleets started to-
gether. Naval officials speak Of it as a
magnificent marine procession. The war
transports stretched out for several miles,
according to a nigh naval official. The
warships proper, headed by the majestic
Indiana, stretched at least three-quarters
Of a mile.
Sergt. Smith Served Here.
The three marines reported as among
those who fell in the first battle on Cuban
soil. at Caimanera, belonged to the same
company. They were comrades in Com
pany D of the 1st Battalion of Marines,
and had Joined the battalion together when
it was organized on quick orders early In
the war to proceed south and Join the naval
expedition.
OF the men found victims Of Spanish bull
lets on the battlefield just beyond the camp
of the marine detachment, near the old
cable station. one had served in the ma
rine barracks in this city. Two others were
New England men, who were scarcely be-
yond their majority in age.
Sergeant Charles Hampton Smith, one of
the victims, is native of Maryland, born
at Westminster thirty-one years ago, and
has relatives in that section of the state
His next of kin. who will IA promptly off