The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-19
They're N SAD STRAITS
9pantsrds in Eastern Cuba Vory
Short Of Rations.
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
An Important Letter Found on the Body
ofs Spanish Messenger Killed While
Trying to Gross Cuban
Lines to Santiago.


Copyright 1873 by Associated Press.
Guantanamo. outer harbor, per asso-
ciated boat Wanda. June II, noon. via
Kingston. Saturday. June IS, S:45 p.
m.-The following intercepted report
from the Spanish military COM
mander at Guantanamo was taken
from the body OF an unfortunate mes
senger who attempted to pass the Gu
ban lines. 1t gives the official Spanish
version Of the attack of the American
Meet In the capture Of the outer har-
Dor OF Guantanamo a week ago, and
disclosed the fact hat starvation is
facing the Spanish troops in Eastern
Cuba. This is verified by extracts, al
ready telegraphed, taken from a recent
issue of a newspaper of Santiago de
Cuba, and from the fact that a number
OF Spanish regular soldiers have sur
rendered to Captain McCalla, offering
az q reason for SO doing the necessity
OF obtaining food. The letter reads:
"Caimanera, June Ito the COM
manding general Of the military divis-
ion of Santiago de Cuba: At dawn on
saturday, June IL. ships appeared be-
fore the port of Caimanera and fired
grape shot and all kinds of projectiles
Ou tic IIdZd Oel Este until tNey SET nTe
TO the forts on the Plaza del Este, burn
ing the houses which were occupied by
a detachment of American marines.
The cannOnading continued with more
or less Intensity until 5 o'clock in the
afternoon. As the Plaza del Este had
two muzzie-load guns and some en-
trenchments, the detachment could do
nothing before six ships firing on them
from all sides, n they retired to
Managua and to Cuzxo hill, where they
remain to-day, making sallies on the
beach. From that day the ships &C.
cupied Punta Caracoles, observing the
movements Of the ships which occupy
all the outer port with war transports,
a variable number Of armed ships,
other vessels of war and armed mer-
chant ships. The total is never less
than four. I have also taken the
Enanto passes and the vigilant gun
boat Magnet is ready to fall on them
where damage can be done.
u remain in Caimanera and will only
leave when I think ii necessary. 1
have not been able to ~antagonize the
IAmerican ships with rifle fire. For this
|Sandoval and Cayo Toro fired their
pieces of artillery. but their effective
ness was interfered with by the short
mess OF their range, or when the ships
Retired to the center of the channel and
took up a position in the middle of the
bay. Sandoval has not over seven
rounds Of armor-piercing projectiles,
and IN Caimanera battery did not fire,
reserving its fire until the ships entered
the channel. which is where it's guns
are
Il am told that the insurgent forces
at Baracoa have come down to sigma
hos, being apparently pleased at noting
that the American squadron has taken
possession of the outer bay for a base
of operations, the American ships hav-
ing anchored as IL at one of their own
ports. Since Saturday the Americans
have cut the cables which are at the
entrance and the center of the harbor,
and / have not been able to repair
them, but they have not again mo-
Tested me. except with two cannon
shots on Monday. 1t appears from the
work which Is being done hat the
Americans are preparing to plant the
harbor with mines, or to place their
ships SO as to disembark troops at
Plaza del Este. their ~favorite place. II
this turns out to be the case, and that
i nave been the first to call your atten-
ton to 1t, I would suggest that some
of our vessels should come here. The
members of the fire brigade are in good
spirits.
Il am continuing to serve out half ra-
lions OF everything. and in that way L
shall be able to reach to the end of the
month only, especially in bread. 1 have
no -four of any kind, and 1 have no
Of getting any, Is there has been
grain here for some time past. We
are equally short of quinine in the hos
pitfalls. However. I have taken posses
sion of the private drug stores and will
enough until the end of the month.
The town is suffering from ~privation.
On Saturday we a only 20 wounded.
At Craigo MORO the cabl house was
with shell, but 1t still stands,