The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-04
SECURELY LOCKED IN.
SAMPSON HAS CEBVERA's SQUAD
ron IN A TIGHT PLACE.
The American Ships Form n Gordon
No Chance for the spaniards
tn Escape.

copyrighted 1895 by Associated Press)
or Santiago de Cuba. June 3.-(By the
Associated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, via
Kingston. Jamaica, June 3.)-Rear ADJ
miral Sampson with the United States
cruiser New York. his flagship. acconlpan-
led by the battleship Oregon, Mayflower
and the torpedo boat Porter joined Com
modore Schley's squadron off Santiago
Wednesday morning, and their combined
commands have the Spanish fleet securely
located IN the harbor.
Admiral Sampson left the monitors and
the light guns off Cardenas Monday morn
ing, all danger of the appearance Of the
Spaniards from the east having been re-
moved with the definite news that Com
modore Schley had hunted them to their
hoIs, and under command Of Commodore
Watson, the monitors and the gunboats re-
turned to reinforce the blockade on the
north coast of Cuba.
Admiral Sampson did not assume COM
mand and amalgamate the squadron upon
his arrival. Each squadron retains its
separate entity. The American fleet now
Off Santiago numbers twelve fighting ships,
two Golfers, and a cable cutting SID
Neither the Solace, the hospital ship, nor
the State OF Texas, which the Associated
Press boat Dauntless passed on her way
here. have yet put in an appearance. The
fighting ships include the New York
Brooklyn, Iowa, Oregon, Massachusetts,,
Texas, New Orleans Marblehead, Dolphin,
Mayflower and Vixen and the torpedo boat
Porter. There is every indication that ac-
tive operations will begin at once
The last cable which binds Cuba to Ma
drid and the outside world was cut today.
Pending the execution Of Admiral samp-
sons plan of campaign our ships form A
Gordon about the entrance of Santiago har-
her 10 prevent the possible egress of the
! spanards should Admiral Cervera be fool
hardy enough to attempt to cut his way
out. Communication has also been had
with the shore. The mountains and hills
which surround Santiago are in fun pos
session OF the insurgents ana in certain
contingencies the latter might be enabled
to render effective aid
The reconnoissances made by our ships,
principally the smaller auxiliary yachts and
torpedo beats, which are able 10 creep close
IN shore at night, have pretty definitely de-
termined the location and character OF rho
delepses OF the harhor.
several new batteries have been thrown
up on the high ground on each side of the
entrance and it IS evident the Spanards
are prepared TO make stout resistance
The lines OF batteries which crown the
n'lis ana the grim. gray walls and castel.
ldtrd tlrrets or Nero castle. with the veil
low and red flag OF Spain flying from them
make brave picture from tbs line of the
bleeksding squadron lying five miles Off
the shore.
Across the narrow neck OF the channel
which at the entrance is scarcely more
than a hundred yards wide, have bean
placed the rows OF mines marked by wooden
buoys.
There are three new batteries on the
vest side OF the entrance. These appear
TO be formed OF earthworks
The emhrasures for the guns can easily
De discerned with the glasses. Cayo Smith,
4 small island which lis directly beyond
the throat OF the entrance. is fortified and
pack OF MORO, which lies on the roxy
eminence 10 the right OF the entrance, are
Esteila battery and ST. Carolina forts.
Further UP the bay, guarding the last
approach 20 the city OF Santiago is the
Blanco battery. These are OF stone and
ST. Carolina fort Is partly in ruins. The
guns in both Moro Castle and Estella
battery are is and "a Founders and are Of
little value as fighters and not al all for
midable, Moiern guns are mounted on the
batteries to the left OF the entrance on
Cayo Smith and at Blanco battsry there
are also four modern guns. The mines IA
the narrow tortuous channel and the eleven
forts and batteries which must increase
The effectiveness OF the army and at the
same time decrease that of our own. re-
inroreed by the guns of the Spanish feet
inside make the harbor as It now appears
almost impregnahle. Unless the entrance
Is eountermined II would BE- folly 10 at
tempt 10 force passage with our ships
But the Spanish feet is bottled ,,p and
plan is being considered TO drive in the
cork. " that is done the next news NAV
pc thrilling story Of the closing OF the
narbor. II would release a part az our
Meet and leaye tia SuA MA "a. ~ -. -. -