Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-06


known for the last ten days that the necl
OK the channel was open, despite IN,
sinking OF the Merrlmac. and that ther,
was clear seaway of seven fathoms
'nrough which any ship In our navy couls
SAT-.
DANGER FROM MINES.
This removes ali difficulty, except from
| submarine mines. or from the shore bat
| teries AS to the mines, little account 1.
taken OF them since the Spanish fee,
passed over them. The spanIards are ir
the habit Of using contact mines, 20 that
there Is little likelihood OF there being
mines operated by electric connection
with the shore. The forts and batteries
nave been badly weakened by the con-
stant fire of the feet for many weeks
past, and while stili factor. they are
greatly disabled
DOUBLE FIRE TERRIFIC.
Once up to the city the feet and army
could combine In a terrific double fire. No
less than 2s2 heavy guns would be trained
frcm the American warships on the city.
and at the same time the big sieye-guns.
which II Is expected have been brought
10 the front OF Skaters line, would rain
down torrent of steel from that quar-
ter. The siege-guns throw shells OF 1856
pounds. Aside from them are four noun
tain howitzers and large number OF
small howitzers. These are In the heavy
artillery, while the light artillery en-
braces a great number OF guns of 80 cali
bre. Combined. this fire from land and
sea would be terrific in effect.
ACTION OF CoNSULs.
The action of the foreign representa-
tives at Santiago has been an additional
reason for deferring the bombardment.
1t was made known late to-day that one
of General Skaters dispatches stated
that these representatives had joined In
request to him to put off the sheling
OF the city for another brief period, until
their respective colonies could be re-
moved. This accounts for the departure
Of the foreign warships from Santiago
harbor. as they are bearing away the
foreign residents before the lombard
ment begins. The activity OF the consuls
at Santiago has led to no diplomatic COM
plications thus far, and the authorities
here feel that nothing of that nature will
develop.
SPANISH ILLUSIONS.
The State Department to-day took oc
casion to dispel some of the Spanish illu-
sions over the escape of Admiral Ger
vera's fleet. 1t seems that Madrid is not
alone in the belief that the feet made a
handsome sortie from Santiago and left
the American ships far in the rear. To-
day cablegram came from United
States Minister Lunis, at Caracas, say
glorlfylng in the alleged Spanish naval
victory. The Minister was Informed briefly
that Cervera's fleet had been destroyed,
and the Admiral made prisoner and that
General Shafter had demanded the sur
render Of the city.
CAMARA AND WATSON.
The definite official report reaching here
to-day that Camara's Spanish fleet had
entered the Suez canal made no change
in the plans of the Navy Department as
to sending Commodore Watson's squadron
to the coast OF Spain. Secretary Long
said ii would start at the earliest possible
moment, but he did not care to give
the day of departure.
PRAISE FOR SCHLEY.
The annihlation of the Spanish feet
continues to be an absorbing topic among
naval officials, and they are giving most
praise to Commodore Schley for
the notable manner in which he directed
the fight vixen the immediate command
fell to his lot. The Commodore's friends
have long predicted that if he secured an
ne would render a good ac-
count of the fighting ability Of the Ameri-
can navy, and they are glad this oppor-
tunity was afforded. 1t is one more, and,
perhaps, the greatest achievement. in
long line with which Commodore Schley's
name has been associated. others in
Guiding the relief of the Greeley Arctic
expedition and the command Of the Bal
timore at Valparaiso when war was immi-
nent as n result of a mob attack on the
American blue jackets.