The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-29
The Pert Of Porto Rico viii Also Be
lncommunicado.
NEUTRAL VESSELS NOTIFIED.
They are Given Thirty Days to Leave
the Designated Ports WIN Vhe"
Cargocs--Thc Good Work Donc
by Captain Sigsbee - The
Terror Not Such Ter
ror After All.

NAOIANOl
has issued a proclamation, extending ths
blockade OF Cuba To the southern coast
from Cape Frances TO Cape Cruz. In
elusive, and also blockadins San Juan
Porto Rico.
The proclamation Is as follows
whereas, for tho reasons set forth in
my proclamation OF April y. 1895, olo''k-
AIDE OF ports on the southern coast et
cuba, from Cardenas to Bahia. Honda, IN
elusive and OF tho port of Cienfuesos, on
the south coast OF Cuba, was declared
to have been Instituted, and,
Whereas, Il has become desirable 70
extend the blockade to other southern
ports,
Now. therefore, 1 William Mckinley.
President of the United States, do hereby
declare and proclaim that In adc'uon
TO the blockade of the ports specified Ia
my proclamation OF April y. ls9s. ths
United states OF America has instituted
and will maintain an effective blockade
OF all OF the ports on the SOUTH e'as, OF
cuba. from Cape Frances 10 cape CRUZ.
inclusive, and also OF the port OF san
Juan. I'm the island OF Porto Rico.
Neutral vessels lying In any OF tho
norta IN which the blockade rs by the
nresent proclamation extended. will be
allowed thirty days 10 issue therefrom
with cargo.
In witness whereof, etc.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
President OF tho United States
OF America.
BY the President:
J. H. MOORE,
Acting Secretary OF state.
Tho assumption by the government OF
the formidable task OF blockading ABOUT
avc hundred miles CT Cuban coast i.ne IN
addition n 10 the sections already blockaded
Increases the extent OF the blockade fuiiy
fourfold, M navlng been confined hereto
fore 10 n streach OF little moro than
one hundred miles on the north ana inc
single port of Cienfuegos on the soutn
coast OF the island.
The demands upon the navy IN the way
of ships to patrol the coast, however, VIII
not be nearly so heavy I'm proportion 70
the territory TO be covered as In the case
OF the initial blockade for the reason
that tho new blockaded coast line Hes
entirely within the great blight OF thf
south Cuban coast In which tho wafer IL
generally very shallow and the ports are
few into VIII ch a vessel OF any draft could
enter.
SOME OF THE PORTS.
The most important of these points are
Manzanillo, Trinidad and Tunas. West OF
Trinidad IL Cienfuegos, which Is already
blockadcd effectively. From that point
westward for nearly one hundred and
forty miles there is no point TO be block
AIDED until Bataban is reached. This
port IS distant only about forty miles
from Habana by rail- and is believed TO
bo the principal source Of food supplies
for the Spanish capital. For one hundred
and afty miles west of this, clear over to
Cape Frances, the western edge I the
blockaded territory there are no ports
for deep vessels OF any considerable draft.
and even IL there were the country In the
interior. Pinar del Rio. is In the hands OF
Inc insurgents and supplies could not DO
sent through to Habana.
The purpose Of extending the blockade
westward 10 Cape Frances was 10 com
mand the channel between the ives, side
OF the Isle OF Pines and Cape Frances
| anD thus render much easier the task or
the blockadng vessels.
NO BLOCKADE RUNNING.
There has been no running OF the
| blockade, Notwithstanding the spanish
| stories to the contrary. all Of the ships
| that have entered Cuban ports with sup
plies have done so at places not within
| the blockade, such as Batabano and Man
zanilio.
These vessels for the additional block
| ade service, will be supplied almost en-
| tirely from the patrol fieet which unde.
| Commodore Howell. has been guarding
the North Atlantic coast, from Maine to
South Carolina. This service has been
| abandoned, because the only available
| Spanish warshlps are with Admiral Ca
| mara. thousands OF miles away, from the
nearest point on the Atlantic coast The
| vessels are already on their way south
ward having been reinforced by several
OF the new torpedo boats, which are
particularly adapted. because OF their
| light draft for blockade duty in tho
shallow waters lying behind the lsle OF
Pines and Cuba.
SAN JUAN BLOCKADED.
The blockade OF San Juan. Sroclaimed
to-day. is. In reality. already IN effect.
having been Initiated by Captain slss-
bee last week when he turned back from,
that port a British steamer laden wign
| supplies. The difficulty OF maintaining
the blockade at this port. In the face
OF the Spanish forts and three Spanish
war vessels In the harbor would be con-
siderable. had not Captain Sigsbee. by
disabling the only formidable one OF these
vessels. made the task easier. As II Is
the character OF vessels required 70 main
tain the blockade az San Juan. necessa-
rily must be of type superior to the
ships required for the blockade ~ the
southern coast OF Cuba. Probably some
such vessels as tho Detroit or the Mont
g0mery will be assigned 10 the task
IMPORTANT SERVICE.
In defeating the Terror Captain Siht
bee has rendered "A most important ser
vice To our navy and indeed 90 all navies
lie has not only deprived SIMPSONS Nee
OF apprehension of an attack In the real
some dark nieht by this vicious ilttIs
boat. but he has demonstrated that ~
auxiliary cruiser Is amply able 10 tak'
care OF herself against a torpedo sur
boat. showing that the offensive power
OF this craft has been very much over
| rated.
II Il said al the Navy Department thai
II !s the present intention 70 start Com
mcdore watson's Eastern Sdua4r4G