Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-29
THE WAR.
NEWS AND RUMORS OF ARMY
AND NAVY.
THE AMERICAN ARMY NOW BEFORE
SANTIAGO-A BIG RATTLE NEAR
THE SITUATION ELSEWHERE.

hO past WtSk Ha5 Deen D1R WITH GVeHtS.
1t has marked the successful landing of
the army OF invasion in Cuba, and the
first serious land engagement in the war.
The advance Of the army in Cuba has
been rapid. The army of 5000 has been
reinforced by 5000 Cubans, under Gen.
Garcia, and achievements are being
hurried forward from the United States.
The army is now within three miles of
Santiago, and on the eve of decisive
battle. The battle will be a desperate
one, and Americans at home must be pre-
pared to hear Of heavy losses.
The Spaniards are on the defensive,
and have fortified themselves within the
city. About the city are stretched nine
lines OF barbed-wire fence, fifty yards
apart, and just inside these fences are
lines Of rifle pits.
This is the first time in civilized warfare
that barbed- wire has been used as
means OF defence. The war board has
prepared for these tactics, and a certain
number of men in each regiment are pro-
desperate charge to take those rifle pits
and the work before them is not under
estimated by the men at the front.
The exact strength of the Spanish force
in Santiago is not known, but it Is be-
lieved not to exceed $4,000 men, under
NsOhCiol oChs duuOy WIFI
men at Holguin, about 100 miles from
Santiago, is said to be hurrying forward
achievements to Gen. Linares, but the
country between Holguin and Santiago
is difficult for passage, and the Spaniards
will be harassed by Cubans.
The Americans are awaiting the coming
up from the rear OF the heavy artillery to
begin the attack on Santiago. The artil
lery WAS already arriving at the front
Tuesday, and the beginning of the attack
is only a matter of hours.
CLOSE CABLE COMMUNICATION.
By the repair Of the cable at Guam
tanamo, Admiral Sampson is now in
close connection with Washington. An
office has been established at Playa del
Este, several miles west of Guantanamo,
and rs the American forces gain furt her
control it will probably be moved nearer
and nearer to the seat of operations,
until finally Admiral SIMPSONS official
dispatches will bear the date-Iine SAN
tiago de Cuba".
The advantage of this close commune
cation between SIMPSONS fleet and the
government cannot be everest mated
The communication is complete, and al
most perfect. Dispatches billed at Playa
del Este are read in Washington half an
hour later.
PORTO RICO EXPEDITION.
Immediately after the fall of Santiago
the main body of the army there, strong
ly reinforced, will be moved on Porto
Rico. Preparations for this expedition
are still making.
The EN- barrassment occasioned by lack
OF transports has been greatly relieved by
the purchase this week of eight large
transport steamers-seven in the Atlantic
and one in the Pacific.
THE CADIZ FLEET.
The Cadiz fleet has passed through the
Mediterranean, and arrived Sunday at
Port Said, Egypt, at the mouth of the
Suez canal where it now is.
The fleet consists OF two armored ves-
sells, three destroyers, and five transports
with 900 troops.
When Camara's fleet has passed through
the canal, it will have about the same dis
lance to travel to reach Manila, as lies
between San Francisco and Manila -
300 miles.
the part OF Camara's fleet, it causes no
alarm in America. II Camara goes to
Manila, he will find there fleet stronger
than his own, for by the time he can
reach there Dewey will be reinforced by
the cruiser "Charlestown" and the mont
tors "Monterey" and "Monadnock".
The real explanation OF the move may
be that it is but another attempt to fool,
not the Americans, but Spaniards at
home, and to appease the growing indig-
nation at Spanish inaction by an appear
ance, at least, Of action.
TO ATTACK SPANISH COAST.
The apparent intention OF the Cadiz
feet to 60 to the Philippines, leaving the
coast OF Spain with inadequate naval
protection, has melted an attack on the
Spanish coast.
That the war board will not be slow to
take advantage Of this opening is evident
from the rapid preparation being made
for descent on the Spanish coast. De-
tails of the expedition have already been
formulated, and the preliminary orders
for putting the plan in operation have
been given.
The plan contemplates q blow at the
Canaries and the Spanish coast by fleet
under Commodore Watson, now in COM
mand OF the blockading feet before Ha-
vana. The blockade of Havana will not
be weakened, as the coast patrol will be
drawn upon to reinforce it. Commodore
Howell, OF the coast squadron, has al
ready been ordered to relieve Watson at
Havana.
Watson may be ready to sail for the
Spanish coast next week.
1t is no. denied that the object Of this
move, and the reason for the publicity
given it, is for the purpose Of checking
the progress OF the Cadiz fleet eastward.
Ii it does not have this effect, the Span
iards at home will have an opportunity to
look at some of our warships at close
range.
AT THE PHILIPPINES.
The Spanish general at Manila con-
tinues to send reports to his home gov
eminent OF the critical condition there.
He still holds the city, and when he
surrenders it will be to Dewey, not to the
insurgents.
Reason for the delay in arrival of the
first Philippine expedition at Manila
is found in the practical admission from
the navy department that the "Chares-
town., which accompanies the expedition,
had orders to stop at the island of
Guahan, one of the Ladrones, and lis
mantle the Spanish Notifications at San
Juan, the principal town on the island.
The object OF this is that the monitors
which follow will be able to coal in the
harbor without fear of molestation from
the enemy's guns.
IN SPAIN.
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