Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-10
SCHLEY's TACTICS.
His Plans for Starving Out Santiago
and Ceryera.

i
| Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press }
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Saturday.
June 4, via KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Mon
day, June 6.-9 a. M.-Every effort is be-
ing made to cut off Santiago de Cuba's
| connection with the outside world. and If
is believed that within forty-eight hours
| there will be a practical accomplishment
| Of this object. Since Sunday last, when
| Commodore Schley found Admiral Ger
vera's fleet trying to quietly leave the
harbor, and headed off the attempt, thus
probably solving the war problem, It has
been his purpose to so surround the city
and harbor that no assistance in the SUD-
ply OF arms or ammunition could reach
there. After driving the Spanish fleet
into more protected position in the har-
Dor by the bombardment Of Tuesday.
commodore Schley opened communion
tlon with the insurgents, eighteen miles
nom Santiago 10 the east They were
urged to obtain, If possible the names
and number Of vessels of the feet inside
the harbor, as the contour of the land
at the entrance made it impossible to ac-
curately determine by a view from the
American fleet just how many vessels of
WHOLE FLEET THERE.
On Friday afternoon. Lieutenant Sbarn
OF the Vixen, went To the place OF rem
devious and received from the insur
gents map of the harbor showing the
entire Cape Verde fleet, with the excep
ton of the destroyer Terror. inside. and
close up TO the city, under the protection
OF the guns mounted on Blanco battery.
at the northern extremity OF the harbor
"a Obi Inc fls.aNs.
are the Cristobal Colon, the Vizcaya. the
Almirante Oquendo, the Maria Teresa
and the Reina Mercedes DESTROYED bv
the American warships since this dis
patch was written, all cruisers of the
nrst class and heavily armed, together
with three torpedo-boats.
The definiteness of this Information |
naturally gave Commodore Schey great |
satisfaction. Although he had known |
that several ships of the enemy were /
there, he was not certain that Soma |
others had not succeeded in getting away, |
or mad not been sent in another direction. |
STARVING OUT SANTIAGO.
with Admiral SIMPSONS arrival on
wednesday, the blockade was much
strengthened, and the plans to starve
out the city, its troops. and the enemv's
fleet were pushed vigorously. A cable
boat was sent 10 find and cut the ca
bles connecting Santiago with Jamaica
and Haiti, cables, which. it had been |
alleged, had been cut by the auxiliary
cruiser st. Louis. The boat was put 10 |
work, but up to to-day had not found
the cable for which she was searching
Guarded by the battleships Massachu-
sets and Texas, she worked on Friday
morning within two miles of formidable
ordinations on shore. and, strange TO
say without any attempt Of the Span
Ism gunners TO hit them, although in the
early morning the big guns were fred
at Commodore Schey's flag
ship.
Just how long Santiago can stand be-
5ieging is matter OF conjecture. Three
weeks ago 1t was claimed at Jamaica |
mat rood In Santiago was very poor, and
mat 1t was also very scant. The coun-
ny about the city is unproductiye and
mountainous, and the insurgent camps
are so close that there is little or no
between the city and its
'nyirons.
The railway service Is not carried to a
distance much beyond ten miles from ,
he town. Since Sunday last, when Ger :
.era's squadron was bottled up by the !
Tying Squadron under Commodore !
chloy. nothing has gone in. and the
4
600 tons OF coal consigned to the port. II
1t is thoroughly believed that only n g
hort time will be needed to bring San 5
iago 10 a starvation basis. Naturally. b
he heet has a supply, perhaps for two 4
nonths, but the Spanish soldiery cannot 4
e sustained on this n
SPANISH FORCE oYERRATgD. $
One important fact was learned to-day u
rom the insurgents on shore. with whom q
has been opened ut This .
that there are not 5000 soldiers. as II
as been stated. in this part OF The pro- .
ince OF Santiago de Cuba, but only about y
oOo Even these are badly fed and much =,
IL had been the intention to send the y
ruiser Marblehead and the cablt steamer -.
ist TO Guantanamo TO cut thu cable at =,
lat point, word Fbaving beey brought a,
lat the Spanish feet evidently was I'm ~
with Madrid. The ships W
ere to leave at midnight, but a subse- ar
lent order delayed the matte In the Ii