New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
EXPEDITIONS INTO CUBA.
HOW ADMIRAL SAMPSON IS GAINING IN
FORMATION AND PLACING A NET
WORK ABOUT SANTIAGO.

OF Santiago de CuUa. June IL, 4 T.. m. VIA
Kingston Jamaica. June IL, p. m-Since the
establishment OF the blockade several interest
ing and daring expeditions have been made into
the enemys country % discover the actual con-
dition Of affairs in Santiago de Cuba. 1t IS no
easy matter TO Get near the city these days
About eight thousand Spanish soldiers and two
thousand home-guard troops cover every road
way about the place
The Spanish military commander Is very &C
tive. although his operations are limited by the
mountains surrounding the place. which are ful.
OF insurgents.
On Saturday a week ago. June T. the con-
yerted lighthouse service boat Suwanee, com
manded by Lieutenant Commander Daniel Dele
hanty arrived off Santiago de Cuba. She had
on board about 10000 rounds Of ammunition,
1900 rifles 1000 carbines. 1000 machetes and
hundreds Of pounds ot bread. bacon and other
provisions With the aid Of a Cuban pilot.
picked up by Commodore Schley. she landed this
stuff in two days besides taking an active part
in the Commandment II the forts OF Santiago de
Cuba The landing was effected about twelve
miles to the westward Of Santiago de Cuba, and
IN the presence II Ave hundred insurgents About
one thousand more insurgents on guard in
the mountains and In the passes. The ammuni-
ton and food with the arms have therefore
put the insurgents into excellent shape TO pre-
vent the Spanaris from getting provisions from
the outside II Is also believed that this armn;,
of a force Of insurgents has assisted in cutting
off one part OF the Spanish Army from another
on Tuesday. June I, while working near Cesse-
raxero twelve miles from Santiago de Cuha,
Lieutenant Commander Delehanty cav two
sloops trying to run away up the River Asse-
razero He fired at them and they were run
ashore and deserted. Later. boats crew from
the Suwanee captured them. Each OF the sioops
was provided with n Spanish flag, and one o:
then, had on board a heliograph for signalling
purposes One Of the sloops was presented 10
the Cubans and ;he other, which already had
n few holes in IT, was sunk by shots from the
Suwanee.
Admiral Sampson and Commodore
Schley. with their combined forces, are slowly
but surely placing such network about sar-
tiago de Cuba. and are cutting off so clearlJ
every source OF outside aid. that within short
time Starvation's tapping viii give way L"
Deaths solid knock for admttance al The doors
Of the Inflated place.
Within three days three separate sources Ok
supply and reinforcement have been cut OF. and
Santiago de Cuba Is now isolated from the "oru
and is down to famine rations.
When Admiral Cervera arrived at Santiago Il"
Cuba with his feet the people there welcomed
him for the relief they thought he would bring;
but Instead Of food he brought them seven num-
bred more men 10 feed and tons OF ammunition.
map Of the harbor furnished to-day by In
surgent spies shows that after the lombard
ment OF the harbor forts by Commodore Schley
on Tuesday, May 81. the Spanish cruiser Reina
Mercedes which disabled. was lowed into
the bay behind the sccape Battery. where she
lies with two torpedo boats. Half nile further
up. under the lee OF Cay Smith and the mortar
batteries. is the Vizcaya. commanding with her
brcadsde the two narrow entrances TO the east
and west Of Cay Smith.
Half q mile north and at the gate or the
third narrow entrance LES tho Almirante Oquen-
de- ard half n mile 20 the northeast are the
C,istobal Colon and the Maria Teresa.
The ships are about a mile and hali from the
city proper. shallow water forbidding .kem to 60
much closer. .
The sunken collier Merrimac is directly In the
narrow part OF the channel.