New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-22
NEWS OF SANTIAGO FLEET
HAPPENINGS OFF THE SOUTH CUBAN
COAST DURING DAYS OF INACTIVITY

u.pprvrNGS OFF THE SOUTH CUBAN
COAST DURING DAYS OF INACTIVITY.
OF Santiago de Cuba June 1l.-Now that the
majority of both Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS a"o
Commodore Schley's sGuadrons are on the sout"
coast Of Cuba. the public IS probably Watching ,''s
section of the map with eager expectancy bu' so
far as ore can Judge after playing piotish to the
squadron's shark for TWO weeks past. the puoiic
may wait some little time longer for starting
news.
There ia small variation from day to day. Tn
limited heat almost unlimited rain, constant
watchfunsss against torpedo attacks at night ana
occasional desutofy firing at the Spanish batteries
during the day-thesc make Up the routine life on
the blockade There are plenty of GOLFERS coming
and going hut supplies OF other sorts appear 70
be short Press boats prohibited 10y interna-
I tional law from carrying official messages pack
and forth on their frequent trips to Hayti and
Jamaica with news. but there is nothing to pre-
vent their buying onions. mineral water and such
neccs sarics for the officers cOopod up on the
battle-ships These small Offices gratefully re-
ceivcd. and go far toward making the press boats
tolerated in the squadron.
But nearly every boat I'm the press feet has been
shot at one times At night. and one OF
, them has been hit Fortunately. there were no
casualties The higher naval officials recognize
the great service performed by these boats in col
Letting and handling the news
When u press beat halls the flagship for the last
news before heading away Tor kingston, fprt An
tonic or Mole St Nicholas there IS considerable
excitement Oh board the warshto This Is a sample
conversation yelled through the megaphone at two
hundred yards:
GIVING COMFORT TO BELLIGERENTs.
Say old man don't forget that loaf sugar for
the Commodore, And the junior mess wants to
know II you can't get whole crate of onions,
And don't don't forget the Polly water And, say.
| forgot. We must have some tobacco. What sort?
fhnf will I'm 1f,1t .yCdi
Goodbyr'
Perhaps this might he termed giving aid and
comfort 10 begcrents." but when the Commodore
Is reduced 10 brown sugar for his coffee. and the
Junior mess who amable young mon express
fear OF scurvy for lack Of onions with their beef
steak and when every Il short Of tobacco,
how can war correspondent refuse these APP
poals even II he does get shot at when he runs
into the feet after shutdown?
1t violates confidence to say that the whole
fleet Is getting heartily sick Of the peaceful war"
now being waged in these latltudes Possibly the
fleet as whole is wrong and the Strategy Board
Is right-hore everything is blamed on the Strategy
Board-but with hot weather and warm. sckly
rains off shore making the boats smell and feel
Ike Chinese laundrics with Spanish batteries In
plain view or" Is inclined here 10 side with the
fighting contingent
However. before this gets into print the wisdom
proven and the conquest OF cuba may be going
forward az irresistihly As a Fourth OF July ora
ton.
Every day or TWO the Army has been reported ~
leaving Tampa. Tn" Jamaica papers have landed
i az half Al dozen points on the south coast. but
on this date the only landing save Lieutenant
has been that u The ~ marines from the Panther
who Yesterday took possession Of Flshcrman's
Point inside the entrance Of Guantanamo Bay.
and burned The hamlo' a. the most prompt and
eficaciors way Of disinfocirs f.
MARINES ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
Santiago &c cuba Is forty miles by water from
Fisherman's Point and further by land Tho
route. according 20 coast pilot reports is across
almost impossible swamps. with two small noun
tain ranges between. There is a railroad. but f.
is largely trcstlework over the swamp land. max
ing IT impossible footpath for troops and
Without rolling stock to transport them by steam
tn understanding now Is that Guantanamo Bay.
being the landing point Ok the Haytan cable. is TO
Dee held for future
In response 10 an inquiry as TO what he thought
Of fever now he was landed marine replied
IL he shifted his qui and his carbnc:
"Oh 70 he'll with fever. 50 they gives us ZONE
hghting."
This enthusiasm voiced the general sentiment
Tn" men had been cOOp"d up six weeks the
Panther. and were delighted 10 stretch their legs
shore They would hnye started on a march
o:rtlnnd 10 Havana WIN cheerful alacgity
Ihey bathed by squads IN, morning day
Hight. ana their camp the blum above the de-
serted cable station MAS model Of ntatnsss and
comfort the more 50 when compared with the
brush novels OF the Spanish coast guard COM
pny that had deserted the point only few hours
How well American stamina good food and
c.yanlincss VIII stand on the Ills OF cuban climate
will be- settled hcyond discussion 10y these same
sanitary precautions are In their favor thcy are
likely 10 have severe trinl The heat Of the sun
shore. and the brown linen campaign suits were
soaked through with Precipitation before the men
The night winds on shore. drawn down cold from
the tops OF the mountain ranges. chill The sweat
feycrs start II viii depend largely upon The OH
GERS anI more mrEely on ne men themselves.