The herald., 1898-06-10
ALL CUBAN CABLES CUT
BY THE FLEET OPERATING OFF
SANTIAGO
DESPITE OFFICIAL RETICENCE
It Is Known That Troops From Key
West Have Arrived to Begin
Invasion
ssocIated Press Special Wire


ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT DAUNTLESS OFF
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Wednesday
night, June s, via Kingston, Jamaica,
Thursday, June 9, 1880 a. m.-Communlca-
ton between the Island of Cuba and the
outer world was severed yesterday. The
k,ngston-Santiago cable was cut on Mon-
day, and the Marblehead, Yankee and st.
Louis cut the Haytien cable running into
Guantanamo Bay yesterday The ends
were buoyed and Rear-Admiral Sampson
can re-establish communication with
Washington direct. The Marblehead also
engaged and drove Spanish gunboat into
Guantanamo harbor and shelled and re-
duced the Anticipated Notifications. The
insurgents co-operated on the land side.
The place is being held until troops ar
rive. 1t is contemplated to establish a
general base here.
Communication between the insurgents
and the fleet is constant. The Cubans ara
active, and arms, ammunition and supplies
for them were landed by the Suwanee yes
terday in great quantities The insurgents
and Spaniards fight daily.
The Marblehead, on Monday, when the
insurgents had pressed forward west OF
Santiago, shelled the Spaniards, who fed
to the mountains, checking the path ror-
ward in their retreat with dead and wound
ed.
Santiago is now on the verge of starva-
ton All the food has been seized for the
army and navy and the troops and sailors
are on half rations.
Rear-Admiral Sampson has officially de-
clared that the purpose of the lombard
ment of Santiago was to clear the way for
the troops. The object has been attained.
He personally commended Ensign Palm
err for approaching within $50 yards of the
Spanish batteries at night and learning
that the Spaniards were remounting guns.
The American naval commander is anX-
ious to bring about the exchange of Lieut..
Hobson and his gallant companions from
the Merrimac.
The Admiral sent the Vixen with a flag
CT truce to the entrance of the harbor yes
terday, offering to exchange for the Lieu
tenant and his party some prisoners taken
from a prize of the Marblehead off Glen
feugns. Admiral Cervera considered the
matter all night and sent word today that
he is powerless to act He referred the
matter to the Military Governor. and the
latter in turn referred it to Captain Gen
eral Blanco. A long delay is probable.
Arrival of Troops
WASHINGTON, June Sit is believed
here that the first reinforcement for Samp-
sons fleet has arrived today off Santiago.
These are the 500 marines under the com
mand of Lieut.-Col. Huntington, who sailed
three days ago from Key West on the
steamer Panther. These marines had been
encamped on the beach at Key West for
several weeks, undergoing the most severe
drill and military training. They are in
tended not for distribution among the
fleet but as a landing force pure and SIM
pie.
Naval officers are confident that with
this small but well disciplined landing
force, Admiral Sampson will be able i'm
mediately to take possession of such points
on the coast in the neighborhood of San
tiago as he may deem necessary to serve
as base for the occupation of the reg
ular United States troops With the marines
in possession of the beach and the American
warships shells clearing the country behind
the Spaniards, there will be little trouble in
effecting landing of the troops. Though
no official confirmation has yet reached the
that came from SIMPSONS fleet, to the eff
feet that he landed marines at Canamara
and that they are still in possession of a
strategic stronghold on the hills near by,
the naval officers here are inclined to ac-
cept as accurate the reports. They feel a
pride in the fact that the navy through its
marine adjunct has earned the distinction
of having been the first to occupy territory
in Cuba.
The marines who effected this notabl
feat were drawn, il is believed, from the
whole fleet and were PERFECTLY capable and
disciplined troops. Officials here express
the belief that troops have already sailed
from Tampa, but no one in authority and
advised of the facts, will make the state
ment publicly. The destination of the
troops can be only surmised but it is felt
that there still remains a necessity for
concealing the exact time of the departure
Of the troops and it is noticeable that, in
spite of the understanding that obtained
to the effect that the censor at Tampa was
to relax his rules as soon as the troops had
actually departed, there is no authentic
news direct from Key West or Tampa to-
day. 1t does not follow If the troops left
Tampa yesterday that they are on their
way, although such is generally believed
to be the case. for the original orders to the
military commanders contemplated a start
in fnality from Key West. At that point
the transports were to be rounded up and
taken under convoy of some of the more
formidable naval vessels. Assuming that
the transports left Tampa yesterday morn
ing, moving at squadron speed, they could
scarcely do more than reach Key West to-
day. Some time must be consumed in or
G anizing the twenty-nine transports into
the squadron and placing them under con-
voy so that there is probability that if
Tampa was left yesterday, the final start
from Key West would not be before to-
night.
Unmistakable signs of nervousness were