Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-04
shey get out of their Spanish prisons they

Will profit by their experience by an al
vance in numbers and in rating, which
means money. How soon that will be can
rot be told at present. The department, sc
far as known. now holds no Spanish prison
ers Of war Of rank Col. Cortejao and the
Spanish surgeon who was captured with
flm having been surrendered in exchange
for a couple Of newspaper men last month
there remain now of prisoners CT war only
two or three private soldiers at Fort Nc
Pherson. and it cannot be expected that
these can be exchanged for the American
officers who were on the Merrimac- SO the
captives are likely to remain prisoners in
Santiago until the place surTenders CT
Schley manages to capture some panish
officers of equal rank. and enlisted men to
the sama number as the NeNimac's little
crew.
As to the change wrought in the situation
by this boil exploit it was claimed this
morning that il would be possible to draw
off the larger part of the American feet for
service Elsewhere than at Santiago, perhaps
at San Juan de Porto Rico or Havana, for
instance
A small force would suffice to keep guard
at Santiago-say two monitors and cruis-
er-for all that would be necessary would
be to bring enough guns to bear upon the
channel 70 prevent thu Spaniards from at
tempting to clear away the wreck by the
nse of torpedoes, and to prevent the escape
Of the small torpedo boats, that might be
abb to pass over the Merrimac's hull.
Efforts to Clear the Channel.
One of the best posted naval officers at
the Navy Department said today that it
would be impossible for the Spaniards to
carry on the work of dynamiting the wreck.
The American ships. he said. would be
dropping a she'll every now and then into
he wreck which from this time forward
would be a target for the American gun
ners. 1t would be simply out of the ques-
ton, he declared, for the Spaniards to carry
on dynamiting operations under such cir
cumstances.
As to the prospects of her being removed
by the Spaniards as is reported to be under
way at Santiago the officials at the Navy
Department declare that this is likely to be
a difficult dangerous and time-consumlng
operation OF course the hulk could DE-
blown I'D by the use of dynamite charges,
which would not be difficult to place in the
shallow water where the Merrimac lies, for
the reports say the top of the funnel Is
above water, indicating depth OF about
forty or fifty feet. But it is believed that
the wreck lies in sight from the sea, and II
was not doubted that Schley would post
some of the heavy ironclads in such posi-
ton as to be able to command the site with
their heavy guns and prevent the Spanish
Treckers from working. At night some
thing might be accomplished by the wreck
ers. but even then the work would be fuil
of danger
Can't Sigsbee's Opinion.
Captatn Sigstee was at the Navy De-
1.artment during the morning comforting
with the officials. AS his ship, the St Paul,
has Just come from Santiago, ne was in
position to discuss the sinking of the Mer-
rimac with a full knowledge of all the de-
tails of the outer harbor, where she went
down. Captain Sigsbee said he had no
doubt whatever that the big collier was
sent into the channel and sunk at IA
vorable point by design, and that this de-
sign was magnifcenty executed by the
heroism of the little band who volunteer
ed at the risk of their lives to take the
craft into the harbor entrance.
In the absence of official advices at the
Navy Department, Captain Sigsbee could
speak only from the press reports of the
occur ence, but these were generally ac-
cepted among naval officials as correct.
The captains personal observation had
shown him that the harbor entrance at
Santiago is very narrow and the channel
is even narrower being barely wide enough
for one large ship to pass through. 1t was
clear from this that any big hulk placed in
the channel would effectually prevent the
egress of the Spanish fleet and woul keep
them effectually bottled up. Whether this
plan had been discussed by the American
did not know; yet the reports about the
Merimac satisfied him that this plan had
been deliberately put into execution.
The personal hazard TO those executing
the move was very great. Captain Sigsbee
said. as they took their lives in their hands
rot knowing what chance there was for
escape by boat or to the shore, and, in any
event. knowing that the chances were ten
TO one against escaping alive
Reports About Dynamiting.
The morning dispatches that the Span
iards were dynamiting the wreck of the
Merriinac in order TO clear the channel
again were regarded by Capt. Sigsbee as
quite likely, as he felt that they were now
in such 2 dangerous position that they
would put forw ard every effort TO clear the
channel and thus restore the freedom Of
The Merrimac Is one Of several Golfers
with the American fleets. 1t is under
stood that Commodore Schley had one col
Her ard Admiral Sampson two, so that
with the loss of the Merrimac two golfers
with ample supplies of coal remain. 1t is
hardly supposed that any coal was left on
board the Merrinac before she was sent
into the channel as her hull and super
structure would be sufficient for an efrec-
tive blockade without the addition of any
coal
Navy Department Plan.
1t Is known that the Navy Department
about ten days ago was considering a plan
for closing the harbOr 1T Santiago very
Similar ~ general scope to that apparently
put into execution yesterday. 1t was pro-
posed 90 get two large hunks or scows and
Ill them with big DoUlders. such as could
b. easily obtained in the neighborhood of
New York. These Were to be dashed or
each side Of tug and run into The harbor
and at tie proper point were TO be scuttied
Provision was 10 be made for the safety of
the crew by attaching 10 the tug a torpedo
boat stern foremost. AT the proper mo-
nenj the crew was to 20 aboard the tor
Iedo boat, scuttle the hulks by an ele..-