The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-18
SAMPSON RESTS.
Will Not Do Nothing More Until Ar
rival of Troops.

Copyright. 1885, by Associated Press.)
Off Santiago de Cuba, Friday, June
II, per the Associated Press dispatch
boat Wanda, via Kingston, Jamaica,
Saturday, June s1S.-The weeks cam
paign in eastern. Cuba has resulted in
the practical demolition of the outer
fortifications of Santiago de Cuba, in
,, anticipation of the arrival of troops
and the occupation of the fine harbor
of Guantanamo in which today are
anchored such magnificent ships as
the Oregon and the st. Paul together
with the eMarbIehead, Dolphin, Suwanee,
and eleven other auxiliary gunboats,
colliers and press dispatch boats in an
average depth of seventeen fathoms of
water.
The military assistance to the definite
occupation practically ceased since the
bombardment on Wednesday. An in
tercepted official report of the Spanish
military commandant indicates that
his military resources are exhaust
ed. His soldiers are now on half ra-
tions. There are supplies only for the
remainder of June. The commandant
has already seized all the private drug
supplies in order that they might be
bestowed to the use of the soldiers.
The close Gordon maintained by the
Cubans about Guantanamo is nlustra-
ted by the fact that official Spanish
communications sent in duplicate by
land and water, have been intercepted
and the Spanish messengers, in both
cases have been shot by the CubanS
while attempting to pass the lines.
For the past three nights there has
been comparative quiet in the camp
which the marines hold on the crest of
the hill near Guantanamo bay and over
which the American flag floats. At
dusk volunteers from the warships go
ashore and camp near the hill, to be at
hand in case of an emergency, and the
CubanS go far out in the chaparral in
order to prevent the Spaniards from
stealing a march on the camp.
Gen. Perez commanding the eastern
division of the insurgent. army called on
Capt. McCaIla, of the MarbIehead yes
terday and reported that he had 5000
men, of whom 1900 would reinforce
the marines ina few days.
Many bands of insurgents are now gath
cred along the coast westward to Santi-
The warships have done no firing. since
Wednesdays bombardment of the fortif-
cations of the inner harbOr and the town
of Caimanera.
Since the narrow escape of the Marble
head and Texas from destruction by tor
pedoes in the channel, greater precautions
Contact mines without exploding them.
Each mine contained 40 pounds of gun
The bombardment of Guantanamo was
not SO heavy as at santiago, I put Ii It vas vas
shots and then fed. Three shots struck
near the Marblehead, but none hit her
the fort before opening fire and then fired
with deadly accuracy.
The Texas stopped in the narrow chan
mel in order to avoid grounding, but the
Marblehead steamed ahead and swung
around the southside of the harbor. Her
first shots went wild: but the little
Suwanee, which was following her, found
the range and sent shot straight into the
foundation of the fort, hurting into the
air bricks and dust.
The Texas finished the business, two of
her 12-inch shells reducing the fort to a
picturesque and useless ruin.
The Marblehead then turned her at
tentiOn to the barracks and breastworkS
southwest of the harbor and speedily de-
molished them, sending the Spanish garri-
son flying for their lives.
AS the Spaniards ran down the main
land the St; Paurs 5-inch guns were
trained on them. Several of the soldiers
We're seen to fall. The number of killed
and wounded is not known.
The bombardment lasted an hour and a
quarter and was for the purpose of pre-
venting a movement of Spanish troops
from the town to the fortificatio tions. The
insurgent forces, which have been armed
and equipped by Captain McCalla, not only
prove to be daring scouts, but turn out to
be brave fighters and good shots with the
Lee-Metford rifles.