New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-29
BLOCKADE LINES EXTENDED.
SOUTHERN COAST OF CUBA AND SAN
JUAN NOW INCLUDED.

JUAN NOW INCLUDED.
WASHINGTON. June 2S-The President to-day
issued n proclamation extending the blockade Of
Cuba 10 the southern coast from Cape Frances
10 Cape Cruz inclusive and also blockad.ng San
Juan. Porto Rico The text Of the proclamation
is as follows:
Whereas. For the reasons set forth In my proc
lamation Of April 90 1895 n blockade Of ports
on the northern coast Of Cuba from Cardenas 10
Bahia Honda inclusive. and Of the port Of Glen
fuegos. on The south coast Of Cuba was declared
70 have been Instituted; and
Whereas. II has become desirable 70 extend
the blockade to other southern ports
Now therefore. J. William Mckinley. Presi-
dent Of the United States, do hereby declare and
proclaim that. in addition 10 the blockade OF the
ports specified in my proclamation Of April Y.
1905 the United States Of America has insu-
tuted and Will maintain effective blockade Of
all OF the ports the south coast OF Cuba from
Cape Frances 10 Cape Cruz inclusive and also Of
the port OF San Juan. in the island OF Porto
Rico
Neutral vessels lying in any Of the ports 10
which the blockade is by the present proclama-
ton extended will be allowed thirty days 10 Is
eue therofrOm with cargo.
In witness whereof. etc.
WILLIAM MKINLEY
President Of the United States of America.
June 81. 1898.
Rv the President:
J. p MOORE. Acting Secretary OF State
LARGE TASK ASSUMED.
tice OF the intention Of the Government TO as
surne the formidable task Of blockading about
five hundred miles OF Cuban coast line in add
tion 10 the section already blockaded This in
creases the extent OF the blockade fully four
fold Il having been confined heretofore to
stretch Of a little more than a hundred miles
on the north and the single port OF Cienfuegos
on the south coast Of the island. The demands
on the Navy IN the way Of ships 10 patrol the
coast. however Will not be nearly so heavy IN
proportion 10 the territory to be covered as in
the case Of the first blockade. for the reason that
the new blockaded coast line lies entirely within
the great blight on the south Cuban coast in
which the water is generally very shallow and
the ports into which q vessel OF any draught
could enter are few. The most important of
these ports are Manzanillo. Trinidad and Tunas.
West OF Trinidad is Cienfucgos which is al
ready blockaded effectively. From that point
westward for nearly one hundred and forty
miles there is no point 10 be blockaded until
Batabano is reached This port is only about
forty miles from Havana by rail, and Is believed
10 nave been the principal source Of food sup
plies for the Spanish capital. For one hundred
and fifty miles west Of this, clear over to Cape
Frances. the western edge Of the biockaded ter
ritory there are no ports for vessels Of any con-
country in the interior, Pinar Del Rio. is In the
hands OF the insurgents and supplies could not
be sent through to Havana. The purpose Of ex
tending the blockade westward TO Cape Frances
was 10 command the channel between the west
side OF the Isle OF Pines and Cape Frances. and
thus render much easier the task % the block
aiding vessels
THE SITUATION IN HAVANA
he Pros
as TO the state Of affairs IN Havana are conflict
Ing. In some cases the city was declared to be
on the verge OF starvation. and IN others sup
niles were said TO be still abundant Tho truth
probably lies between these extremes. and, while
supplies of q certain character are very scarce
IN Havana there is no lack OF others. 1t Is
known for instance. that while -four may be
scarce large quantities Of beef have reached
Havana Most OF this has come from Mexico,
and 1t has usually been brought over TO the Isle
Of Pines and transshipped in lght-draught boats
10 Batabano. whence # Is carried by rail into
Havana Only a day or two ago word reached
Washington that five hundred head OF cattle
were rounded UP at a point on the Mexican
coast near Yucatan awaiting transportation 10
Ratabano There has been no running OF the
blockade by these cattle-ships. Notwithstanding
the Spanish stories TO the contrary. All the
ships that have entered CUBAN potts Win sup
plies have done so at places not within tho
blockade, such as Batabano and Manzanillo
The vessels for the additional blockade service
will be supplied almost entirely from the patrol
feet which under Commodore Howell. has been
guarding the North Atlantic Coast from Maine
10 South Carolina This service has been aban-
doned because the only available Spanish war
ships are with Admiral Camara. thousands OF
miles from the nearest point on the Atlantic
Coast Commodore Howells vessels are ALREADY
on their way southwark having been reinforced
bv several Of the new torpedo-boats. which. be-
cause OF their light draught. are particularly
adapted for blockade duty IN the shallow waters
between the Isle Of Pines and Cuba
BLOCKADE OF san JUAN.
The blockade Of San Juan is in reality already
IN effect. having been begun by Captain sigsoee
last week when he turned back from that port
q British steamer laden with supplies The d'f-
ecultv Of maintaining the blockade at this port
IN the face Of the spanish forts and three span
ish war vessels IN the harbor. would he consld-
erahle had not Captain Sgsbee. BY disabling the
Terror. made the task easier AS IT is. the YES
sels required TO maintain the blockade at San
Juan must be Of a type superior to those re-
oujred for the blockade on the southern coast OF
Cuba Probably some such vessel as the De-
,ro,. or the Montgomery Will he assigned to the
task.
MEXICO AND CUBAN BLOCKADE
Washington. June 2s (SpeciaD.-A New orK
newspaper published on June a telegram datcd