The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-21
HE NOW HAS EXPERT GUNNERS
AND KEEPS FIRING HEAVY SHELLS
AT THE BLOCKADING FLEET.
Defenses of Havana Strengthened
-ProyisiOns Landed Mt BatabanO.

KEY WEST, fla, June N--lt Is learned
from naval officers here that Captain Cen
eral Blanco has notified the American
blockading feet that he will hereafter rec
ognize no flag of truce, adding that every
vessel within six miles range will be fired
on, whether flying the American stars and
stripes or white flag.
1t seems that events which led up to Gen.
Blancos letter began with the sending of
the Maple, under charge of Captain Ludlow,
of the monitor Terror, to open negotiations
for the exchange of Lieutenant Hobson and
other Merrimac prisoners. General Bancos
letter was addressed to the monitors cap
tain. After refusing to negotiate for the
exchange of the prisoners, he delivered the
ultmatum as to boats with flags of truce.
government vessel which arrived here
this morning. reports that MORO Castle
keeps firing heavy shells at the blockading
squadron. and it is rot believed such ac-
curate shots can be fired by Spanish gun
ners On Friday twelve-inch shell ex-
ploded dangerously close to one of the
American war ships, raising a column of
high otherwise all is quiet along the block
ade line
An officer of the Cuban army and pilot,
who are carrying important messages to
Senior Estrada Palma of the Cuban Junto
from General Alexandra Rodriguez, the in
surgent commander of Havana province.
arrived here on the government vessel this
morning. The Cubans were taken on board
10
which had picked them up. The messengers
of General Rodriguez give very interest
ing account of their experiences. After
leaving the insurgent camp they made their
way into the city of Havana, spent several
days there, proceeded to one of the small
inlets in the neighborhood, stole a small
boat and rowed out to sea in the hope of
coming across an American vessel. They
were three days in the boat before they
were picked up. The Cubans report that
there are supplies of rice maize, potatoes
and eggs in Havana. Flour, they say, is
so cents per pound, and the army has been
placed on half rations. The CubanS also
report that lard is selling at so cents, rice
at 90 beans at Is and meat at IS cents per
pound. All are scarce, and they say that
all horses of private families, stores and
livery stables have been confscated by or
der of General Arolas. the military COVER
nor of Havana, for the use of the troops
There is hardly any traffic in the streets
of Havana and groups of more than two
persons are not allowed to loiter on street
corners. The street-railway company, whose
cars are drawn by horses, is obliged to run
a car every hour instead of every flve min
utes, as heretofore, as the horses of the
company have been taken by the govern
ment.
The messengers class as false the state
ment that vessels have succeeded in en-
tering Havana with supplies. They assert
that since the blockade began only three
small fishing vessels have entered the har-
Dor. and that no food whatever is received
from Cienfuegos.
The Cubans confirm the reports that work
on the .defenses of Havana is proceeding
steadily. Two lines of torpedoes extend
across the mouth of the harbor, which is
said to be further protected by two auto
mobile torpedoes, one at side discharge
able by pressing button. The trocha from
Guanabacoa, Paula Vivora and Managua to
Puente de la Cherrera, thickly studded with
forts and roundhouses. protects the APP
proaches to Havana. Two new batteries
which have been built just east of MORO
Castle are knOWH dS mo. L dHu 40. I, liiS
latter being closest to MORO. No. has
three Ordonez eleven-inch guns mounted
and No. has one gun mounted and two
guns ready to be placed in position. Of the
same caliber Two other new batteries have
been constructed on either side of the
mouth of the River Almendarez, west of
Santa Clara. and the Reina batteries are
also provided with heavy ordnance.
The Spanish vessels in Havana harbdr are
the Condo de Venadito Nueva Espana, Vim
cente Yanez Pinzon and Alfonso XII, the
last-named being used as a hospital ship
No other gunboats or converted tugs are in
port.
1t is reported that there are $500 armed
Cubans in Havana province. pitted against
$1,000 well-equipped Spaniards. The health
of the Cubans in Havana province is eX-
cellent Their camp is situated at Zenea.
An auxiliary gunboat off Cardenas has
been visited by a Cuban officer from the
shore, who reported that place to be eff
fectively besieged by the insurgents on land
and by the war ships in front. He made
the statement that in two weeks time the
whole population of Cardenas will be starry
ing. The Cuban officer has his father and
wife in Cardenas, and he was concerned for
them. He described the people as living on
palm buds and dog meat. which, he claimed,
is considered delicacy.
The government vessel which arrived here
to-day has been patrolling a regular beat
off the Cuban coast, Just like policeman
going back and forth during the day and
night Sometimes she saw Spanish troops
moving about, but, on the whole, the block
ade was uneventful.
The tug NJ. Moran arrived this morning
from Progreso. She belongs to the Ward
line, and reports that the rumor to the eff
feet that cargoes are leaving Progreso for
the Isle of Pines is untrue But she admits
that schooners arrive there with Cubans
aboard. The coal in Isla de Mujeros, the
captain of the Moran says belongs to the
Mexican Colonization Company. and he adds