The herald., 1898-06-05
larry cruiser attempted to force am ,n-

| larry cruiser attempted to force am ttQ-
| trance into the harbor Of Santiago de
Cuba. They surprised the scouts guard
ing the entrance, but not the artillery of
Fort Moro. The guns of the cruiser
Reina Mercedes, battery from the Reina
Mercedes which had been placed in the
Zocopsca fort. torpedo boat destroyer
and a torpedo boat opened fire on the
enemy.
The American cruiser, the Merrimac,
was sunk by cur vessels and torpedoes,
and the large American cruiser was re-
pulsed at the entrance to the channel.
The Reina Mercedes captured one lieu
tenant and seven sailors Of the Merri-
mac. The fate of the rest Of the crew Is
not known.
The official dispatch adds that twenty
American ships are before Santiago de
Cuba.
The queen regent, 1t Is announced here,
has ordered thar q message of congratu-
laton be telegraphed to the defenders Of
Santiago de Cuba.
At 4 p. m.-The minister Of marne later
in the day said the wreck of the. Merri-
mac would not interfere with navigation
at the entrance of the harbor, and;he
added that the coal on boardhhe Merri-
mac could be recovered and used by the
Spaniards
In the chamber Of deputies today Senor
Silvela, the Conservative leader congrat-
ulated the government on the good news
from Santiago de- Cuba,"' and Senor Sal
meron, the Republican leader, proposed
that the congratulations of the house be
sent to the Spanish naval and military
leaders in Cuba. The motion was car
ried.
The Drifting Policy
NEW YORK, June A dispatch to the
World from Madrid says:
Great pressure is being put upon the gov
ernment by the press to send to Manila
either Admiral Cervera's squadron or the
reserve fleet at Cadiz.
Eight thousand men and six batteries
could be embarked within twenty-four
hours at ports in the south of Spain. But
the government hesitates to send an ex-
petition SO late when American reinforce
ments from California are likely to fore
stall any Spanish relief.
The government expects events in and
about Cuba will soon give decisive turn
to the course of the war; 1t looks for
either a landing and defeat of the Amer
cans--this is confidently counted upon-or
signal reverse to the Spanish forces or
Admiral Cervera's squadron. which will
make 1t easier for America to adopt the
tactics most disastrous for Spain--a block
ade Of Cuba and Porto Rico-while waiting
for the end Of the rainy season. BY that
time both islands would be short of pro-
visions. The only drawback to this plan of
campaign for the Americans would be the
fact that this waiting would increase the
great sufferings of the reconcentrados and
insurgents. Spain hopes that knowledge
of this distress will drive the United States
to premature action with insufficiently or
ganized forces.
Spanish Finances
NEW YORK, June 4.-The Commercial
Advertisers London correspondent today
cables:
In European eyes, the economic condi-
ton of Spain is becoming the most in
portant aspect of the war. and the anx-
iety Of the haute finance over 1t has
prompted some recent dispatches about the
Spanish desire for peace. Trustworthy
letters from Madrid say the Spanish ab-
surdly underestimate the terms Of peace
which the United States would likely ell
tertain, and the talk about them Is only
vague speculation. chiefly among the un-
easy commercial ciasseA