New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-28
HAVANA WILL SOON BE HuN"hf'
BLOCKADE ALREADY HAVING IT'S EFF
PLANS OF INSURGENTS
(copyrleht 1898 ty the Associated fress)

Copyright 1898. ty the Associated fres''
On Board the Flagship New-York. off Havana
April 81 a. M via Key West.-The blockade
continues without incident No casualties nave
been reported 70 the flagship. Last night was
uneventful This morning the torpedo-poa'
Dupont arrived from Matanzas, reporting 'ha'
there had been no more firing there and tha'
the blockade was effectively established. NO
prizes have been secured by the MatahZas
squadron.
News has been received that La Lucha last
night asserted that two coasting steamers hau
sneaked into Havana IIarbor on Saturday. out II
should be remembered that at that time 'he
blockade was hardly established.
The fighting squadron Is now equipped Win
force OF small boats, which under cover or DARK
ness can get close inshore where they are HKeiy
to prevent blockade running by little craft mug
ging the coast The amount Of provisions car
ried by the two coasting steamers into Havana
last Saturday must have been so small as TO be
practically OF no effect. The incident cannot he
taken as In any way a criterion OF the blockades
effectiveness or ms affecting In the slightest the
chance OF our success.
Havana even now feels the pinch OF the block
ade. When Spanish need OF food becomes I'M
perative. n there is then money enough in the
III
be many attempts at blockade runnins; but
Rear-Admlra Sampson says they VIII be I'M
successful Then will come the inevitable. and
Havana will be forced to surrender and beg for
food.
The appearance Of the Spanish feet and an at
tempt 10 raise the blockade are contingencies
that must be considered. This phase OF the
question. however. is one OF conjecture. No one
knows whether the Spanish fleet is In condition
FOR a fight or whether Il would be willing 10
take such a rIr for the sake OF relieving ia-
Even should engagement between the
two fleets occur there is no reason TO believe
that II would ameliorate the plight OF the city.
Information regarding the movements Of the
insurgents is meagre but II Is known that as
many as can are leaving Havana The insur-
gent army is believed to be active. and is trust
ed 10 shut Of all communication between North
and South Cuba though communication be-
tween Havana and Batabano still appears TO
exist
Much has been written regarding a concerted
movement by the Insurgents upon Havana and
It's offences This seems hardly feasible. The
scarcity Of iQod IA bound 10 affect insurgents
and Spaniards alike. As the former
carry their canpaish into the far north OF the
island they are confronted with starvation. A
large army. compact. cannot live without regu-
lar supplies. while guerilla warfare can he car
ried on In n country that Is almost barren
Therefore. IT is believed the insurgents will ad-
here 10 their guerilla tactics and not transfer
their forces in any large number to a territory
where starvation will soon hold sway
The problem Of provisioning and coailng the
blockading fleet has so far proved an easy one 10
solve Speculation IA TO TIE movements OF the
Army and the length OF time It will take 10
mobilize II Is rife. The time. also when the two
arms Of the service Will be able to cooperate
is eagerly awaited. all the more so as a pacific
blockade Is tedious at the best.