Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-11
SPANISH WILL FIGHT.
THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE DEsPE-
RATE RESISTANCE AT SANTIAGO.
COOPERATION WITH INSURGENTS.
Arms, Ammunition, and Provisions
Being Landed for Them from Our
ships-pIucLy Young Omcers Com
stuntIy Making Trips Ashore.

Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS DISPATCH BOAT WANDA.
OFF SANTIAGO, Thursday afternoon,
June 9, via KINGSTON, JAMAICA. June
l0-l2:30 p. MIN Santiago de Cuba there
are now about 10000 Spanish soldiers,
chiefly infantry, but with a fair contin-
gent of cavalry and field artillery, drawn
from the surrounding country. During
the day the cavalry skirmish in the
vicinity Of the city, returning at night
to barracks. During the last few Gays.
the activity of the Spaniards has been
particularly noticeable. Oxen trains have
been making their way to the batteries,
detachments have been working on en-
placements. and there have been other
signs showing that the Spaniards are
preparing a desperate resistance. Some
guns from Admiral Cervera's ships may
be removed to the forts.
The insurgents, about 5000 strong, have
taken a position on a mountain to the
westward. Two thousand insurgents of
this gathering are unarmed. General
Maxine Gomez. now about $50 miles in
land, Is making his way toward the
coast
COOPERATION WITH INSURGENTS.
Admiral Sampson is actively co-ope-
rating with the insurgents Yesterday.
General Miniet, of the insurgent forces.
and his staff, went on board the New
York, for a long consultation. The naval
officers have been doing splendid and
daring work in carrying communications
TO the insurgents landing arms. and
making trips ashore for the purpose of
gaining information. Upon the gunboats
suwanee and Vixen this work has chiefly
devolved
Lieutenant Sharp, Of the Vixen, and
Lieutenant Commander Delehanty, of the
Suwanee, have been daily entrusted with
important missions, and have carried
them out successfully. The Vixen's work
has been chiefly confined TO CARRYING
messages TO and fro, but the Suwanee
has been occupied in more serious task.
This little gunboat has landed 500 900
rounds Of small-arms ammunition. 200
Springfield rifles, 100 carbines, and 20O0
machetes, with equipments and pro-
visions. These were handed over to 500
insurgents yesterday wednesday,. about
fifteen miles west of Santiago, the main
body remaining In the mountains. The
debarkation of supplies was tedious but
uninterrupted. The insurgents reported
that irregular engagements between their
forces and the Spanish cavalry were of
daily occurrence.
CUBANS HARD UP.
The Cubans were hard up for supplies
and ammunition, and were overjoyed at
the sight of the Suwanee's cargo. Some.
almost ravenous, hacked at the slices of
bacon and etc raw beef They had been
living on limbs, cocoan1ts, and sweet-po-
tatoes. Ensign Gilpln. of the suwanee.
went ashore, and accompanied the, Cubans
to their temporary camp inland, where
he found ten or a dozen wounded men.
badly in need of surgical attendance
Bandages for them were sent from the
Suwanee. The casualties were the result
Spanish cavalry.
To the correspondent Of the Associated
Press on the dispatch-boat Wanda, En-
sign Gilpn. describing his experience at
the camp. which is about ten miles in
land, said:
81 found the insurgents a rough-looking |
and mixed lot of boys and old men, rig !
ged out any way, carrying arms Of all |
sorts, and ali anxious to borrow anything |
L had. from my blouse to my revolver |
-Four Spanish soldiers, in uniform, car
rying rifles. marched into the camp while |
1 was there, and said they wanted to |
Join the insurgents. They were enrolled, |
but a close watch was kept on them, as /
they belonged to the civil guard. a
Cuban officer told me such additions were |
not infrequent. The Spaniards had Maui
ser rifles, which were in fairly good con-
dition."
NOT MUCH AID FROM INSURGENTS. |
Conservative authorities believe the |
United States troops will have to carry
out their plan of campaign without
placing much reliance upon the insur-
gents.
Several plucky young officers. like En-
sign Gilpin, have made trips ashore, and
taken observations of the interior harbor
and the fortifications, locating the exact
positions of Admiral Cervera's four ships.
1t Is hardly likely, however. that the
Spanish Admiral keeps them moored at
The same place both day and night. More
than once the officers engaged in this
shore duty have had narrow escapes from
falling in with the enemy's cavalry.