The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-03
WAR NOTES



service. except to the Spanish islands.
There are no Spanish ships at sea TO prey
upon American commerce. When Gen.
Shafters army sailed from Tampa, along
the Eorth coast Of Cuba and to Santiago
de Cuba, it was conveyed by twelve war
ships, including the great battneship In
diana, and the fleet moved in compact or
der and at snail's pace, In order that the
ships might not become separated, but
naval officers say that no convoy was
needed, and that the troops for the Porto
Rico expedition can sail with perfect safe
ty unconvoyed. There are formidable
Spanish warships in Santiago, but they
are not likely to get out; there is a torpedo
boat at San Juan, Porto Rico, but it dares
not come out, either. When a party of
newspaper men were seeking to charter Il
sailing vessel to carry them to jamaica
from Key West the other day, they paid
no attention to the vessels flag, except
that they preferred going in an American
ship, on principle. They knew perfectly
we'll that they would not meet any Span
ish vessel. The newspaper dispatch boats
sail about the island with the utmost free
dom. The Spanish flag has been swept
from the Spanish main and from the West
Indian seas. The steamship line that re-
Allies this first and resumes Its customary
service will soon be doing good business.
Things Seen at Night
Newspaper boats and little auxiliary
gunboats used to come into Key West with
stories of having been chased or having
chased Spanish steamers. The stories
varied good deal, but the strangers were
always seen at night, and generally car
raed bright light, by which their move
me'ntls were easily made out. One boat
thought she saw three Spanish cruisers
and torpedo boat. A torpedo boat sighted
a torpedo-boat destroyer and chased her.
Although the American made % knots an
hour. the stranger did better and got
away. Other boats saw all sorts of black
steamers that became invisible with the
dawn. The boat that brought In the story
about sighting four Spanish vessels
caused great sensation and cost the gov
eminent lot of money, besides delaying
the departure of Skaters army for near
ly a week. Scouts sent out to locate the
spaniards failed to find any trace of them.
The captain of the boat was the only man
aboard who saw the Spaniards plainly,
and he told a story that was full of "details
yet there was no doubt that he was mis-
taken. No one now believes the story; no
one now believes that any of the vessels
seen at right were Spaniards Those who
thought they saw them were excited and
their ina ginations conjured up boats out of
nothing in the tropical nights.
Key West as Naval Base
One day recently the newspapers pub
lshed a circumstantial account of the ar
rival of Gen. Skaters troopships at Key
West; of how the general had complained
CT the accommodations on board the ships
and had even threatened to dlsembark the
men at Key West. The troopships did not
come to Key West nor in sight of Key
West. and there was no reason why they
should have come here. Some Of Admiral
SIMPSONS vessels, notably the Yankee,
have never called here Most of the YES
sells with Sampson have not been here for
several weeks and probably will not be
here again until an attack is made on the
northern coast of the island. Probably
there is an exaggerated idea in the public
mind as to the naval facilities here. The
situation Of Key West out in the Gulf of
Mexico and only ninety miles from Havana
Is admirable. but man has not done much
to improve on what the coral insects have
done for the harbor. The engines and ma
chinery of sidewheel steamer sunk in the
harbor during the war lie at the foot of
the principal street. testifying to the slow
ness of change in Key West. A naval offic-
err who was here In 1866 just after the close
of the war. says that at that time there was
much talk of making this an important
naval station. Some earth batteries were
thrown up, and these batteries look about
the same today. There are more people
here, but the town and harbor look about
the same as in 1866 An officer on the Ter
ror, who was here in 1874 says the facilities
then for the old navy were as good as the
facilities now for the new navy. There
are large coal sheds here, q naval store
house and distilling plant whose water is
still brackish; but there are no adequate
dock facilities, the harbor is so uncertain
that every vessel that comes in heaves the
lead, and the steamer Mascotte stuck fast
in the mud few hundred yards from her
wharf the other day; while largo vessels
like the first class cruisers and the battle
ships are unable to enter the inner harbor
at all and anchor six miles out. The water
Is often rough in the outer harbor and coal
ing is difficult
The people here are somewhat concerned
over Admiral SIMPSONS letter In the Cadet
Jones case, in which he suggested the adj
visibility of sending prizes to Charleston
or Port Royal, on account of the anti
Spanish feeling, and imagine that he will
not do anything to further the interests of
Key West; but the government will I'M
doubtedly establish great naval station
here. The geographical positions of the
key makes this certain. Modern fortifica-
lions are being constructed and the con-
tract for new wharves has been let.
The Hospital Ships
The United States hospital ship Solace is
expected to remain at Guantanamo until
the number of wounded is larger than she
can accommodate, when she will bring
them here. Sick men are very much better
of on the Solace, lying in smooth water,
than they would be in the hospitals in Key
West, where the heat Is intense and mos
quitos abound. The temperature at Key
West sometimes reaches IS degrees in the
shade at o'clock in the morning. The heat
increases as the day grows older. The
nights are hot and sometimes the night
breeze Is very faint On the Solace, lying
in smooth water, wounded men have every
comfort they could get on shore, are cool
and are not troubled with mosquitoes. The
Spanish hospital ship Alicante is not likely
to have many patients. If she should ven
ture out Of San Juan harbor 1t is thought
here she would probably be seized by the
Gv,on fc1, Chi