The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-16

WASHINGTON, June 15.-Like the relief
welcome news to the Navy Department this
afternoon that the little band of American
marines who had planted the flag on Crest
Hill, on the shore of Guantanamo bay, ard
were defending it night and day against
heavy odds, were not only safe, but were
strongly reinforced by 500 Cubans from
the commands of Garcia and Rabbi, and
were now strong enough to more than hold
their own 1t was disclosed in a dispatch
from Admiral Sampson and brought much
relief to naval officials. The early reports
rounded and it was feared they might be
compelled to return to the ships before Gen.
Skaters invading army reached there on
Friday The coming of the Cuban forces
seems to have been in the nick of time and
naval officials give the fullest credit to the
timeliness of this Cuban cooperation. The
admiraPs dispatch stated that the condition
of the marines was entirely satisfactory"
which assurance, although brief, was
enough to relieve officials here of the fears
they had entertained.
But probably the most significant feature
of the admiraPs dispatch was the statement
that the Cuban General Rabbi has occupied
Acerraderos, only eight miles from Santi-
ago, and practically, a suburb of that Span
plan arranged in Washington some weeks
ago, when two of the staff officers of Gen.
Garcia came here to confer with General
Miles At that time Garcia and Rabbi were
at Bayamo, in the western part of Santiago
province and more than one hundred miles
north of Santiago de Cuba. Admiral Samp-
sons dispatch showed that Rabbi and his
force has made a complete circuit of San
tiago de Cuba and coming up to the south
of it has occupied Acerraderos. This is
looked on as fine military stroke, for
Acerraderos is the port where iron wharves
will afford facilities for unloading the heavy
artillery carried by General Skaters in
vading expedition. The news also indicated
to the authorities here that the Spanish
garrison at Santiago has practically re-
treated inside the city proper, giving up the
outlying towns.
A WELCOME ARMY.
Admiral Sampson also states that Gen.
Garcia is cooperating with the American
forces. Whether this means that Garcia
himself has arrived from Bayamo is not
of Garcia and Rabbi will make 5000 to 5000
seasoned Cubans recently armed With
Springtields as a bushwhacking guerrilla
force to aid the American troops. From
sources other than the dispatch of Admiral
Sampson the Navy Department has been
informed that 500 Cubans were rendering
efficient aid to the marines at Crest Hill.
Now that Rabbi and Garcia are on the
scene. this 500 will be swelled to thousands.
The news of the routing with severe losses
Of the Spanish guerrillas and the capture
of their water supply by the marines and
Cubans had not been received up to the
close of the departments, but 1t is felt here
that it will make the Spaniards very eau
tious and enable our forces to get much
needed rest.
In making his march, Rabbi has crossed
the line of communication between the
Spanish commander General Pando at Hol-
guin and the Spanish forces at Santiago
de Cuba This fact makes it clear that
Santiago is not likely to get reinforcements
from General Pando. In circling around
Santiago to reach Acerraderos, Rabbi, it
is believed here. has also established 1t as
a fact that the lines of communication and
rele- to Santiago are interrupted and prac-
tically cut off in all directions.
A disagreeable impression has been ere
ated among officials here by the refusal of
the Spanisheauthorities to carry out their
early offers for the exchange of Hobson
and his associates. The good faith of the
first offers are now being questioned
and the impression is growing that the
Spanish are indirectly endeavoring to hold
Hobson as valuable prisoner.
Secretary Alger this afternoon denied pos
itively that she government was consider
ing the advisability of making another call
for volunteer troops. On the contrary.
the War Department Is now entirely occu-
pied with the task Of completing the equip
ment OF the large number of organizations
still without aceoutrements, and has not
yet even taken up in earnest the procure
ment Of the 1900 men called for in the
second proclamation OF the President. All
that has been done so far under that can
is TO arrange to flli up the regiments Sc