Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-06-02
MAY send Up A BALLOON
A Practical Suggestion for Finding
Out Something About the
Enemy at Santiago.
SPANISH FLEET is PROBABLY BOTTLED.
An Almost Certainty That Commodore
Schley Has Cervera's Squadron Where
1t Is Incapable OF Doing sIuch Harm
Arms and Stores Landed at CienfueEos
Prisoners Exchanged-A Falsehood.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-The posi-
bility that the balloon can be made a
useful adjunct of the war is suggested
by the problem that confronts Com
modore Schley if Admiral Cervera is
really bottled up" in Santiago har-
Dor. A practical way of ascertaining
that fact beyond all doubt, it was sug-
gested to-day, would be to send up a
balloon, from one of the warships,
which are supposed to be at the mouth
of the harbor, on a tour of observa-
ton. This. it is believed, could readily
be done without any great risk or dan
ger to the persons in the airship. The
signal Office has a balloon equipment.
but it could not be ascertained that
any of the vessels of the fleet are fur
nished with it. From experience of the
past there would be no trouble in in
f1ating a balloon which, soaring at an
elevation of 1000 feet or more, could
have ample opportunity of observing
the entire stretch of country surround
ing Santiago harbor, Or of detecting the
strength of the Spanish squadron and
of noting with considerable detail all
the fortification works on either side
of the harbor leading to the city.
Such information as might be OBJ
inestimable value to the American
fleet and enable it to act intelligently
in determining what future operations
were desirable.
Spanish Fleet Probably Bottled.
KEY WEST, Fla, May cot is now
almost certain that Commodore Schley
has the Spanish fleet bottled up in the
harbor of Santiago. There is so little
doubt about this that the naval cam
paign is proceeding upon the assump-
ton that Admiral Cervera is incapable
of doing any harm. Within a few
days the exact conditions at Santiago
will be known without a shadow OF
doubt. In spite of assertions to the
contrary, Commodore Schley was not
tely sure of his game when
he last communicated with Rear
Admiral Sampson and the COM
modore will not take active
steps to block up the entrance
of santiago harbor until he is perfect
ly certain that Admiral Cervera's ships
are inside. Contrary to the generally
expressed opinion, Santiago harbor is
poorly protected. Like Havana and
San Juan de Porto Rico, it has its Moro
castle which is even a better target
| than those of Havana and San Juan.
The only danger to be feared is from
the mines which have been laid in the
channel of Santiago since war was de-
clared. But coun termining would
probably render these mines harmless.
should it prove desirable for Commo-
dore Schley's ships to enter the harbor.
Arms and stores Landed at CienfueEos.
New YORK, May Ca dispatch from
Key West says: There is a report there
that the cruiser Brooklyn, of Commo-
dore Schley's fleet landed a large
quantity of arms, ammunition and
stores at Cienfuegos recently. This is
said to have been done after fight in
| which the fort on the south side of
Cienfuegos bay was badly damaged.
There is also alleged to have been a
fight between 700 insurgents and n
| force of Spanish cavalry, the latter
being defeated.
Prisoners Exchanged.
KEY WEST. Fla, May %. The United
States gunboat has arrived here, bring
| ing Hayden Jones and Charles Thrall
| the newspaper correspondents cap
tured by the Spaniards in Cuba and
exchanged for Lieut. Col. Cortijo. Sur
geon Major Julian and two Spanish
servants captured by the Uni ted States
| fleet on board the prize steamer Argo-
nauta, at the outbreak OF hostilities,
and since confined at Fort Mcpherson
Atlanta, Ga.
Silly FaIsehood.
| CHICAGO, May 29.-The statement
| that Reuters agency has sent out
rumor that SIMPSONS fleet has been
defeated off Santiago and Sampson
killed is silly falsehood.