Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-20
THE TORCH READY.
Caimenera Citizens Will De-
stroy City Before Surrender.
Untold Suffering Among the Beseiged
spanish Soldiers Ready to Desert.
A General Attack on Camp McCaIIa Expected
at Any Hour.

Copyright, 1895 by The Associated Pross.)
ON Board The Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dandy, off Guantanamo.
Saturday, June IS. > 2. NJ. via Kings
ton, ia, Sunday. June 1870 A NJ
The Cuban scouts report, today. that
the inhabitants of Caimanera have
stIcWn the streets with straw and oil
with the intention Of destroying the
city and fleeing TO the hills. Caimanera
lies four miles up the hay from Camp
McCalla under he guns of the Ancri-
can ships and the situation is dcsuer-
ate. Starving and famine stricken.
convinced Of tile ultimate triumph Of
the American armies, and without faith
ii the protection Of the Spanish sol
eliury, the people arc believed to have
determined to leave their homes in
ashes behind thcn and seek safety in
the mountains to the north. The scouts
declare that the story is accurate and
say that every building Of the town is
being rapidly prepared for the torch
The situation of the bcs;esed Is 4
fearful one The people are eating
horses and mules and securing The
hills for fruits and herbs. Occasionally
brief bomhaIdments by the American
feet leave the helpless citizens terror
stricken. no preparations for defence
having been made
1t is also stated that the Spanish
gunboat at Caimancra has been load
d with inflammabcs and will be burn
ed with the city. her commander de
cIaring that sbe will never become an
American prize.
The scouts also say that the Spanish
soldiers are in almost q complete Stale
Of panic as the civilians and that they
could easily be induced to surrender.
Some of the prisoners taken by the
marines also say they believe the Span
ISL troops are on the Verge Of Surfon-
der owing to the awful lack of food
Capt tcCalla of the Marblehead, and
Lieut.. Gel. Huntington, in command Of
The marines. are not 50 sure. however
of the reported Spanish route. They
received information yesterday. that
a general attack by force of 1900
Spanish soldiers and guerilas on Camp
HicCalla is contemplated within a
night or two.
Every preparation was made, last
night, fer an expected assault. When
The Associated Press boat Dandy ar
rived in Guantanamo halhor at $
o'clock. the hills about the marine
camp were brilliant under the shifting
rays of the search lights of the Marble
head Dolphin and Scorpion and the
marines were lying in the rifle pits at
the gums, ready and anxious for battle.
but the night passed without the firing
Of a shot. The same Watchful care was
exercised. today, as Capt. McCalla is
convinced that an attack is likely to
occur at any moment.
The Iowa joined the feet hero. this
morning. and later the admiral came
over on the flagship to inspect the for
tifications and confer with Capt. Nc
Gala and Lieut.. Col. Huntington.
The coast in the vicinity Of Guantanamo
is dotted with the BRENT Cuban flags.
Numerous insurgent camps which have
been established along the beach between
Santiago and this place are used by the
as means of communication with
the Cubans in the interior. The aid which
these men have given has proved highly
valuable to the Americans. Their stories
Of the restitution AMI revolt among the
Spanish soldiers in this vicinity have been
by interviews with prisoners
captured around the camp.
Gen. Perrejo. who is in command of the
Spanish forces here. is undoubtedly in a
bad way in regard to obtaining food for
his men The prisoners who have been
captured appear 10 have been lily fed and
are apparently Indifferent to their fate.
Another body of five Spaniards was cap
tured. yesterday. by Ensign \. \. Pratt
of the Marblehead. While cruising in a
steam launch outside the bay he picked
up A 5e-foot sloop containing Il Spanish
captain named Lores and four sailors
Continued on page 2.)