The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-11
Preparing at Santiago for a
Desperate Defence.
GOMEZ is ON THE WAY
OUR NAVAL OFFICERS DARING
SPLENDID WORK.
INSURGENTS HARD UP FOR SUPPLIES
The Vixen and Suwanee, Landing Munitions
of War Ensign Gilpn in the Insur-
gent Camp. Daily Skrmishes
with Spanish Cavalry.
Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.)


Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.)
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Wanda, off Santiago de Cuba,
Thursday afternoon. June 8, via King
Ston, jamaica, June 10.-12:30 p. M
In Santiago de Cuba there are now about
10000 Spanish soldiers, chiefly infantry.
but with Il fair contingent Of cavalry
and field artillery drawn from the sHrs
rounding country. During the day the
cavalry skirmiSh in the vicinity Of the
city, returning at night to barracks. Dur
ing the last few days the activity of the
Spaniards has been particularly notice
able. Oxen trains have been making
their way to the batteries, detachments
have been working on cmplacements, aud
there have been other signs showing
that the Spaniards are preparing for Il
desperate resistance. Some guns from
Admiral Cervera's ships may be removed
to the forts. The insurgents, about $500
strong, have taken Il position ON noun
tain TO the westward, Two thousand
insurgents of this gathering are UNI
armed. General Maxine Gomez, now
about 100 miles inland, is making his
way toward the coast. Admiral Sampson
is actively cooperating with the inSur-
gents. Yesterday General Minjet, Of the
insurgent forces, and his staff went on
hoard the New York for a long consul
tation.
The naval officers have been doing
splendid and daring work in carrying
communications to the insurgents, lana
ing arms and making trips ashore for the
purpose of gaining information. Upon
the gunboats Suwanee and Vixen, this
work has chiefly developed.
The Nixen's work has been chiefly con
fined to carrying messages TO and fro.
but the Suwanee has been occupied in a
more serious task This little gunboat
has landed 100000 rounds of small arms
ammunition 300 Springfield rifles, one
hundred carbines 1000 machetes, with
equipments and provisions. These were
handed over to 800 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 be-
tween their forces and the Spanish cav
airy We're of daily occurrence. The
Cubans We're hard up for supplies and
ammunition and were oyerjoyed at the
sight of the Suwanee's cargo. Some, al
most rayenous. hacked at the slices of
bacon and Mt the raw beef They had
been living on c0coanuts and sweet POI
tatoes. Ensign Gilpin, of the Suwanee.
went ashore and accompanied the#
Cubans to their camp inland, where's
he found ten or a dozen wounded mem
badly in need of surgical attendanceS
Bandages for them were sent from tne
Suwanee. The casualties were the res
suits of a brush on the previous ngh9
with Spanish cavalry.
To the correspondent of the Associated
Press ON the dispatch boat Wanda.
Ensign Gipin, describing his experience
at the camp, which is about ten miles
inland, said:
Il found the insurgents a rough look
ing and mixed lot of boys and old men,
rugged ont any way, carrying arms of all
sorts and all anxious, to borrow anything
had. from my blouse to my revolver
-Four Spanish soldiers in uniform, early
ing rifles. marched into the camp whilh
was there and said they wanted to ioiE
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
lllItAiutnt. 4 ne Foltu1idIbS Idu NIu{lStE
rifles. which were in fairly good condi-
ton"
Conservative authorities believe the
United States troops will have to carry
out their plan Of campaign without piac
ing much reliance upon the insurgents
Several Dlucky young officers like Ensign
Gilpin, have made trips ashore and taken
observations of the interior harbor and
thp fOptificotiouc loca tiuo tho ayucE noGi-
toins Of Admiral Cervera's four ships. 1t
is hardly likely however, that the Span
ish 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.