The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-11
Preparing for a Desperate
Resistance at Santiago.
THIRTY THOUSAND SPAH|ARDS
p Are Preparing to Meet the Ez-
'. peoted American Army,
INSURGENTS ARE POOR ALLIES.

AttiC NViAahSS van 1S taSSN 49, AASAs
Proffered Aid-Plucky Officers of Our
Navy in Frequent Communication With
Spain's Cuban Enemies-The Suwanes
Lands a Large Quantity Of Arms and
Ammunition For the Insurgents, To.
gether With Equipments and Provisions.
Our Naval Officers Visit The Insur.
gent Camps.
Kingston, jamaica, June lin San
tiago de Cuba there are now about
10000 Spanish soldiers, chiefly infantry,
but with a fair contingent of cavalry
and field artillery drawn from the
surrounding country. During the day.
time the cavalry skirmish in the ticin-
ity of the city, returning at night to
barracks. During the last few days
the activity of the Spaniards has been
particularly noticeable. Oxen trains
have been making their way to the
batteries, detachments have been
working on emplacements, and there
have been other signs showing that
the Spaniards are preparing desper-
ate resistance.
Some guns from Admiral Cervera's
ships may be removed to the forts.
The insurgents, about 5000 strong, have
taken a position on mountain to the
westward. Two thousand insurgents o:
this gathering are unarmed. General
Maxine Gomez now about 150 miles
Inland, is making his way toward the
coast. Admiral Sampson is actively
cooperating with the insurgents On
Wednesday General Miniet. of the in
surgent forces and his staff went on
board the New York for long con-
sultation. The naval officers have been
doing splendid and daring work in
carrying communications to the insur-
gents, landing arms and making trips
ashore for the purpose of gaining in
formation. Upon the gunboats Suwanee
and Vixen this work has chiefly de-
volved.
Lieutenant Sharp, of the Vixen. and
Lieutenant Commander Delehanty, of
the Suwanee. have been daily en-
trusted with important missions. and
have carried them out successfully.
The ViXen's work has been chiefly con-
fined to carrying messages to and fro,
but the Suwanee has been occupied in
a more serious task This little gum
boat has landed 100000 rounds of small
arms and ammunition, 300 Springfield
rifles, 100 carbines and 1000 machetes,
with equipments and ptuers rUTS. ffhese
were handed over to the insurgents on
Wednesday, about Is miles west of
Santiago, to some 800 insurgents who
came down to the beach, the main
body remaining in the mountains.
The debarkation Of supplies was
tedious but uninterrupted. The in
surgents reported that irregular en-
gHgements between their forces and
the Spanish cavalry were of daily oc-
Currence. The Cubans were hard up
for supplies and ammunition, and were
fairly overjOyed at the sight Of the
Suwanee's cargo. Some. almost raven
Gus, hacked at the slices of bacon and
ate raw beef They had been living on
lines, cocoanutS and sweet potatoes.
Ensign Gilpin, of the Suwanee, went
ashore and accompanied the Cubans to
their temporary camp inland, where he
found ten or dozen wounded men
badly in need of surgical attendance.
Bandages for them We're sent from the
Suwanee. The casualties were the re-
suit of brush on the previous night
with Spanish cavalry.
To the correspondent on the dispatch
boat Wanda Ensign Gilpin. describing
his experience at the camp, which is
about ten miles inland. said:
II found the insurgents rough look
ing and mixed lot of boys and old men,
rigeed out any way. carrying arms Of
all sorts and all anxious to borrow
everything l had, from my blouse to
my revolver. Four Spanish soldiers in
uniform, carrying rifles. marched into
the camp while I was there and said
they wanted ITO join the insurgents.
They We're enrolled, but a close watch
was kept on them, as they belonged to
the civil guard. A Cuban officer told
me such additions were not infrequent.
The Spaniards had Mauser rifles, which
were in fairly good condition.
Conservative authorities believe the
United States troops will have to carry
out their plan of campaign without
placing much reliance upon the insur-
gents. Several plucky young officers.
like Ensign Gilrin, have made trips
ashore and taken observations of the
interior harbor and the Notifications.
locating the exact positions of Admiral
Cervera's four ships. 1t Is hardly likely,
however, that the Spanish admiral
keeps them moored at the same place
both day and night. More than once
the officers engaged in this shore duty
have had narrow escapes from falling
In with the enemy's cavalry.
1t Is believed the navy will follow
the landing of troops by forcing the
passage of the narrow channel leading
to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba,
fishing up the sunlten mines and COM
pelllng Admiral Cervera to make a
stand. If the destruction of the Span
fish fleet is successfully carried out it
will end the last vestige of Spanish
domt in eastern Cuba. The harbor
Of Qua. anamo Is completely under the
control o. he American fleet, and the
landing of marines at that point Is ex-
pected to occur simultaneously with the
landing Of troops at Santiago de Cuba.