Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-21
NEWS FROM HABANA.
FOOD sUPPLY Low AND ARMY ON
HALF RATIONs.
WORK ON DEPENCES PROCEEDS.
Two Lines OF Torpedoes Across the
Month of the UarbOr-A Strong
Almost Starving.
Almost Starving.

KEY WEST. June 20.--A vessel arrived
here from the blockade this morning.
and reported all quiet along the line.
She brought an officer Of the Cuban army
and a pilot. who are carrying important
dispatches to Senior Estrada Palma, Of
the Cuban Junta, from General Alexan-
drO Rodriguez, the insurgent commander
OF Habsna province. The Cubans were
taken on board on Saturday last from
an auxiliary gunboat which had picked
them up. The messengers Of General
Rodriguez give very interesting account
OF their experiences. After leaving the
insussent camp they made their way
into the city Of Habana spent several
days there, proceeded 70 one Of the small
inlets In the neIghborhood, stole a small
boat, and Towed out 20 sea in the hope
of coming across an American vessel.
They were three days in the boat before
they were picked up.
The Cgbans report that there are no
supplies Of rico, maize, potatoes, or eggs
In Habana. Flour, they say, costs 30
cents per pound. and the army has been
>
class as false the report that vessels
have succeeded in entering Habana with
supplies. They assert that since the
blockade began only three small fishing
vessels have entered the harbor, and
that no food whatever is received from
Cienfuegos.
HARBOR TORPBDOED.
The Cubans confirm the reports that
work on the dtfenoes of Habana is pro-
cesdlng steadily. Two lines Of torpedoes
extend across the mouth OF the harbOr.
which is said to be further protected by
two automobile tOrpedoes. one at each
side, dischargable by pressing a button
The SIonish vessels In Habana harbOr
are the Conde de Venadito, Nueva
Espana, Vincente Yanez Pinzon. and AL
fOnso XII, the last-named being used as
a hospital ship. No other gunboats or
converted tugs are in the port.
An auxiliary gunbOat of Cardsnas has
been visited by a Cuban officer from the
shore, who reported the place to be ef-
fectively besieged by the insurgents from
the land, and by the warships in front.
He made the statement that in two
weeks time the whole pOpulace Of Car
deuas would be starving. He described
the people as living on palm-buds and
dog meat, which latter, he claimed, is
considered a delicacy. The Cubans also
report that lard is selling at 80 cents.
rice at 20. beans at p. and meat at 70
cents per pound. and all are scarce, and
THEY say that al the horses OF private
families, stores, and livery stables have
been confscated by order OF General
Arolas the Military Governor Of Habana,
for the use of the troops.
There is hardly any traffic In the streets
of Habana, and groups of more than
two persons are not allowed to loiter on
street corners The street railway com
pany, whose cars are drawn by horses
are Obliged to run car every hour in
steaG Of every five minutes, as hereto
Iore' as the horses Of the company have
been taken by the government.
HABANA DEFENCES.
The trocha from Guanabacoa. VIvora
and Managua TO Puerto de la Cherra.
thickly studded with forts and round
houses, protects the approaches 10 Ha-
bana The new batteries which have
been built just east of Moro Castle are
known as No. l and No. 4. the latter
being closest 10 MORO. No. has
three OrdOnez 1l-inch guns mounted and
No. has one gun mounted and two guns
ready 10 be placed i'm position. of the
same calibre. Two other new batteries
nave Deeu constructed on either side of
the mouth Of the river Almendarez. west
IF Santa Clara, and the Reina batteries
are also provided with heavy ordnance
1t is also reported that there are $500 |
armed Cubans i'm Habana province. pitted |
against $1,000 well-equpped Spaniards.
The health of the Cubans i'm Habana |
province is excellent Their camp is sit |
lated al Zenea.
POLICE-LIKH PATROL.
The vessel. which arrived here to-day. \
las been patrolling a regular beat OF /
he Cuban coast, 'juSt like a policeman" |
.oing back and forth during the day and |
light. Sometimes she saw Spanish troops |
moving about but on the whole the block
de was uneventful.
The tug NJ. Moran arrived this morning
rom ProgressO. She belongs 20 the Ward |
ine and reports that the rumor TO the /
fleet that cargoes are leaving Progresso
or the Isle Of Pines is untrue. But she
dmits that schooners arrive there with |
'ubans aboard.
The coal in Isla de Mujeres, the cap
ain Of the Moran says, belongs TO a
leXican company, and he adds that there
$ only 400 tons of il. He discredits the
eport Of the places being a Spanish coal
tation.