The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-28
NOT AN EASY TASK.
Invasion of Cuba Will Meet With De-
termined Resistance.

Key West, May 2S.-The feeling here
in well informed naval circles is rapidly
changing regarding the resistance to be
expected from the Spaniards in the I'M
pending occupation OF Cuba and upon
other matters of vital import. Every
expedition which returns from Cuba to
this base helps to dispel the belief that
the Spaniards are by any means neg
lecting to take every precautiOn for a
long and determined resistance.
1t has been circulated that the Span
iards are short of ammunition, especial
ly powder, when as a matter of fact 1t
is known here that there is a large pow
der factory running night and day and
turning out both smokeless and black
powder The use of the SmokelesS
powder is proving of great advantage
to the Spaniards.
The land patrol of the Cuban coast is
excellent while the fleet of torpedo
boats stationed at different points along
the coast is both larger in number
and in size than at first calculated. The
army of occupation will have to en-
counter, it is claimed by a foreign resi-
dent of Havana now in Key west, ana
who, although being Spanish partisan,
appears to possess reliable information
on the subject, force of acchmated,
welI-drilled Spaniards of not less than
12O 900 men. This man is in constant
cable communication with Cuba. Re
Gently he was asked whether the re-
ports that Havana was becoming so
short of provisions were believed. He
replied:
mo; but can easily find out and let
you know"
He wrote a dispatch to one of the sec
retaries of Gen. Blanco, addressing him.
not in his official capacity, but in that
of a practicing physician of Havana. 1t
was to this effect:
"How are Mary and children doing;
have they all they want?"
The reply he showed read: Doing
we'll; enough for months yet"
The same authority claims that the
guns of Havana Notifications are in
charge of German, French and English
officers, whose services had been Sc
cured before he left the island. The
same information is obtained from the
correspondent of the London Times
here, who only left Cuba a few days
previous to the declaration of war. This
man accompanied the Gussie expedition
and pointed out to the commander the
exact position of the powder factory,
which he himself had inspected during
his stay on the island. He also corrob-
crates the figures regarding the
strength of the Spanish forces, the ex-
cellence of the Spanish coast patrol, and
he expresses the belief that Havana can
hold out for months yet, in so far as the
question of provisions is concerned.
One hears considerable criticism re-
garding the doingS of the executive Of
f1cers of the navy yard here, the fall
ure of the government to supply col
liers to accompany the fleet of the
blockading squadron, and so forth, but
all this is entirely uncalled for. The
work being done here by the navy yard
is excellent; the men are working night
and day; every requisition is filled
promptly and satisfactorily. The Of
ficerS of the fleet are high in their praiS-
es regarding the work of the shore
men. The coaling is done most rapidly,
the New York recently having filled her
bunkers up at the rate of seventy-five
even possibility of coaling the large
feet at sea is questioned.