The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-14
Is ON THE WAY
OUR NAVAL OFFICERS DARING
SPLENDID WORK.
INSURGENTS HARD UP FOR SUPPLIES
The Vixen and Suw> nee--Landing Munitions
of War Ensign GiIpin in the lnsur-
gent Camp. Daily Skirmishes
with Spanish Cavalry.
with Spanish Cavalry.

Copyright 1898 by Associated lrcssD
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Wanda, off Santiago de Cuba,
Thursday afternoon, June ., via King
ston. Jamaica, June 1O.-12:3O p. m
IL Santiago de Cuba there are now about
10000 Spanish soldiers, chiefly infantry,
but with Il fair contingent Of cavalry
and field artillery drawn from the sur
rounding country. During the day the
cavalry SkirmiSh III the vicinity Of the
city. returning ut night to barracks. Dur
ing the last few days the activity of the
Spaniards has been particularly notice
able. Oxen trains hay been making
their way to the batteries, ~detachmentS
have been working on cm~placcments, ana
there have been other signs showing
that the Spaniards are preparing for Il
desperate resistance. Some guns from
Admiral Cervera's ships may be removed
to the forts. The insurgents, about 5000
strong. have taken Il position on 4 noun
tain to the westward. Two thousand
Insurgents Of this gathering are I'M
armed. General Maxine Gomez. now
about 100 miles inland, is making his
way toward the coast. Admiral Sampson
is actively cooperating with the lnsur-
gents. Yesterday General Miniet. Of the
insurgent forces, and his staff went on
board the New York for a long consul
tation.
The naval officers have been doing
splendid and daring work in carrying
communications to the insurgents, land
ing arms and making trips ashore for the
purpose of gaining information. Upon
the gunboats Suwanee and Vixen, this
work has chiefly developed.
IN, \ixo,'. word has I.an rhioHy can
fined to carrying messages to and fro,
but the Suwanee has been occupied III Il
more serious task. This little gunboat
has landed 100000 rounds of small arms
ammunition, 800 Springfield rifles, one
hundred carbincS 1000 macheteS, with
equipments and provisions. These were
handed over to 500 insurgents yesterday
tWcdnesday} about fifteen miles west of
Santiago. the main body remaining in
the mountains.
The d~ebarkation of supplies was
tedious but uninterrupted. The insurgents
reported hat irregular engagements be
tween their forces and the Spanish cay
airy were of daily occurrence. The
Cubans were hard up for supplies and
ammunition and were overjoyed at the
sight of the Suwance'S cargo. Some, al
most hacked at the slices of
bacon and at the raw beef. They had
been living on cocoanuts and sweet Pc
tatoes. Ensign Gilpin, of the Suwance.
went ashore and accompanied the
CullanS to their camp inland. where
he found ten or 4 dozen wounded men
badly in need of surgical attendance.
RandageS for them were sent from the
Suwanee. The casualties were the re
suits Of Il brush on the previous night
| with Spanish cavalry.
To the correspondent of the Associated
Press on the dispatch boat Wanda.
Ensign Gilpin. describing his experience
1T the camp, which is about ten miles
inland, said:
i found the insurgents Il rough look
ing and mixed lot Of boys and old men,
rugged ont any way. carrying arms of al
sorts ard all anxious to borrow anything
! had. from my blouse to my revolver.
-Four Spanish soldiers in uniform, carry
ing rifles. marched into the camp while I
was there and said they wanted to joiE
the insurgents. They were enrolled, but
Il close watch WAS kept on them. as they
belonged to the Civil Guard. \ Cuban
officer told me such additions were not
i%nfrcqucnt. The Spaniards had Mauscl
rifles. which were in fairly good condi
ton
Conservative authorities believe tho
[ nitcd States troops will have to carry
out their plan Of campaign without plac
inc much reliance upon the insurgents
Several plucky young officers like EnSigI
Gilpin. have made trips ashore and takcI
| observations Of the interior harbor anG
the fortiications. locating the eXart posi-
TOMS of Admiral Ccrvcra,S four ships. |
is hardly likely however. that the Span
ISL Admira keeps them moored 1T the
| same place both daV and night. More
than once the officers engaged III this
shore duty have had narrow escape
from falling III with the cnemys cavalry