The record-union., 1898-05-11
-orks is carried on principally at night,
ave in the immediate vicinity of Ha-

and MOrr1l on saturday Wnen they
were decoyed within close range of the
Santa Clara batteries, just west of
Moro Castle, has taught some of the
unarmored ships a lesson, and it is not
likely that that class of boats will ven
ture within close range Of the modern
high-poWer guns again. Along the coast
fresh sand batteries are being thrown
up almost every night, but these works
are of fiimsy character, and would be
reduced by the fire of the big guns in
few minutes. The officers of the
blockading fleet believe Captain-Gen-
eral Blanco is wasting a good deal Of
energy in the erection of insignificant
shore batteries. The strengthening of
the more formidable works about Ha-
vana is a very different thing. 1t may
be. however. by the erection of these
light batteries, which must be aban-
doned as soon as the serious work of the
fleet begins. Blanco puts heart in his
starving soldiers and imbues them with
the idea that a Yankee invasion can be
repealed ct any point.
The Hornet and the Winslow, now
blockading MatanZas, have had a lively
time for several days, Smelling Spanish
details at work on the Government
lines outside the entrance of the har-
Dor. There. as at other points. most of
the work is done at night, and each
morning sees fresh earthworks thrown
up like fresh ant hills against the rusty
green of the coast line.
On Sunday morning the Hornet found
party putting a telegraph line from
the lighthouse and signal station a mile
Of Not har In 70
terry west of Point Sabantilla on the
other side of the bay The batteries
here are said to be of some magnitude,
mounting few high power guns To
stop this telegraph activity the Hornet
steamed quietly in and dropped a shell
in the midst of the workmen They
scattered like rabbits, and the line
grounded then and there. Several other
telegraph parties have been discovered
in the same way at other points.
1t is evidently the intention of the
Spanish to establish communication by
wire with all the coast block houses :tnd
batteries, with a view, possibly, of
massing troops and guns to ooDose q
landing whenever necessary. However
they will probably carry their wires
within the first range of hills where
they will be less subject to sudden in
terruption. 1t is not possible to mount
them in all the sand batteries springing
up, but as there is a railway from Ha-
vana to Matanzas quite close to the
shore, the authorities may be deluding
themselves with the idea that they can
transport heavy guns to the batteries
nearest the threatened landing point
whenever the watchers telegraph the
appearance Of the American troops off
coast.
A FRENCH SLOOP OF WAR.
The French sloop of war Fulton, a
school ship, passed out of Havana har-
Dor at about o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon unmolesteu by the blockading
Meet. The American warShipS lying
outside closed in on her when she was
Spled in the offing, and the Mayflower
temporarily flying the Admiral's pen
nant, passed close enough to her to ex-
anime her with a marine glass The
MayfioWer dipped her flag, and the Full
ton returned the salute. The Mayf1ower
signaled to the other ships and they all
held Off, and gave the Frenchman a
wide berth
The Associated Press dispatch boat
ran alongside the Fulton within easy
hailing distance. Aboard the French
boat We're quite number of French
refugees, who crowded up to the rails.
Some of them were women, evidently
of the wealthy class, judging from their
apparel There were doubtless some
French citizens among the refugees.
but the majority were unquestionably
Spanish.
The Kate Spencer saluted the tri-
color as she passed under the Fulton's
stern, and the salute was acknowl-
edged. Some of the sailors swung their
caps above their heads, but the refu-
gees at the rails looked sullen and made
no sign. The Fulton headed west
southwest, probably bound for Vera
Cruz, Mexico.
The officers of the blockading fleet
are very much chagrinned because the
French line steamer Lafayette was al
lowed to enter Havana harbor last Fri
day, as they are convinced that she
carried arms and munitions of war. but
as one of them remarked, Uncle Sam
can afford to be generous, as no amount
of contraband of war can help Spain
now"
The courtesy asked by the French
allowed to land $50 passengers. A vigil
liant watch is being kept, and when she
leaves Havana she will be required to
show affirmatively that her cargo is
unbroken. Failing, she may yet be-
come subject for the prize court.
A BLOCKADE RUNNER TURNED
BACK
The British tramp steamer Strathdee.
Captain Currie, attempted to run the
blockade yesterday, but was overhauled
by the gunboat Machias. The Captain
of the Strathdee claimed that the YES
sci was loaded with sugar, and that he
had on board a number of Spanish ref
ugees from Sagua La Grande He also
said that the steamer was bound for
Matanzas, where it was desired to dis
embark some of the refugees. The
commander of the Machias was skepti-
cal of this story, however, and warned
the Captain of the Strathdee that if he
attempted to take the vessel into Ma
tanzas she would be fired on, where
upon the Strathdee put about and
steamed away in the direction of New
York
OFF FOR CUBA.