The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-10

number or field pieces surrounded by in
trenchments, and guarded by 5000 regu-
lars. This is the nearest point Oh the coast
to the east of the city where a landing
can be effected
My second expedition was to the first
battery lying 10 the west Of Moro castle
mile distance, and the mos, powerful of
the seven modern Notifications erected by
the Spaniarsis for the defense of Havana.
1t Is known as the Sta. Clara battery
The Investigations at this point had TO
be carried out with extreme caution for
the place Is douoly guarded and even az
night there is a good chance OF being
discovered and arrested by one of the
sentinels 1t is from the Sta. Clara bat
terry that the American ships may expect
the most resistance in case they make an
attack upon the Notifications. Situated
upon a natural stone bluff sixty feet above
the level OF the sea- the battery commands
a wide extent of territory. is furnished by
effective modern guns and mortars. well
protected by walls OF earth and stone.
Having gained the rear Of this formid-
able fertilization, l crept to the summit
of one OF the entertainments and looked
down over the whole extent OF the works
Not more than a hundred feet from me
I saw the glistening barrels of two power
full Pinch guns. their muzzles pointing
seward Beyond was mounted rihed 10
inch cannon still further TWO s-inch and,
|
along the summit of the bluff. a secondary
battery consisting Of three 4-inch rifiei
guns. The shells from any. or all, of
these powerful modern cannon can be sent
down upon the decks Of hostile vessels.
Passing westward from the Sta. Clara
batteries. one comes upon what are known
as Nos l. and 3. Vedado batteries. these
are built of sand running from the coast
lire to the top OF the entertainments at The
muzzles OF the guns, and In each are mod
ern cannon of and s-inch caliber twelve
guns in all. / also discovered that besides
their big guns each OF the seven batteries
given above are furnished with one-pound
Maxim rapid-firing guns. mounted at the
TANKS of the entertainments.
The great strength OF these batteries lies
I'm the fact thai the guns are protected by
thick efnbank meIlts OF sand sloping from
the muzzes Of the cannon TO. or toward,
the waters edge. A vast amount OF labor
has been expended i'll the construction OF
these seven Notifications. and Ii il the
opinion of those to whom l submitted the
result OF my investigations. that accord
ing to the latest engineering ideas. their
strength could scarcely be improved upon
Before leaving Havana l also had the
opportunity to examine other harhor de-
fenses erected by the Spaniards Oppo-
site Moro and at the entrance OF the har-
Dor close beside the old La Punta battery.
is a great sand erlbarknent which thor
oUghly protects three 6-irch r,f!ed guns
After the opeaing OF the war there was
also erected strong battery Just beyond
Sta Clara. Up 20 May ; this battery con-
tanned beside eight Old mor,ans only three
s-inch guns. but IL IL probable that others
have been mounted since that date. II was
also the plan Of the Spanish engineers 10
erect yet other batteries cas- Of Moro cas-
tie and To rshGild the ancient san Diego
or No T. witch commands the inner har-
Dor ana approaches from the east. When I
left Havana however. this work had not
commenced
The land side Of the city is also well
fortified for the Spanish propose 10 ne
ready for an attack from that quarter
Stro.lng into the country bsyond the city
limits. / found the Mills ard ridges en-
trenched and fortified by works Of Sand
ard earth. this is especially 50 along the
railroads and principal turn pixies leading
into the interior OF the island on several
different occasions l came upon parks Of
artillery assembled a various points
which can he quickly moved when sich
action - necessary. There IL probably.
al<No a concealed battery between Moro
castle ard the Cabana fortress but was
| unable 10 obtain any Definite attenuation
regarding Il.
No kind II fertilization can sand the
hsmmering 81 y and i3-3nch glns such
as ara carried by cur bagUeships. But
the defenSs~s OF Havana are now very
complete and the sand OF which they are
hUSit n the berS- resisting material 20 -
found. They have modern. hlgh-poRer
guns ard vast stores ~ ammunition acr.l-
nluIate1 taSt before ~ outbreak CT the
war II the men behind the guns were
Americans. or could shoot "a weI, a.
Americans The taking ~ Havana would
| ~ long zr8 hard task As = r. the citv
| car hardly offer any prolonged resistance
tSgneit CHARLES II. THRAIIA
p.npleton--no YOU know. o. nan.