The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19
STARVATION FACING
 THE SPANISH SOLDIERS
Fearful Conditions at Santiago Re vealed in a Communication
 Taken From a Messenger.

CAMP McCALLA, Outer Harbor of Guantanamo, June IT (pe- the Associ- ated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, via Kingston, Jamaica, June 1S).-The fol- lowing intercepted report from the Spanish military commander at Guam tanamo was taken from the body of an unfortunate messenger who attempted to pass the Cuban lines. It gives the official Spanish version of the attack of the American fleet in the capture of the outer harbor of Guantanamo a week ago, and discloses the fact that starvation is facing the Spanish troops in Eastern Cuba. This is verified by extracts already telegraphed taken from a recent issue of a newspaper of Santiago de Cuba and from the fact that number of Spanish regular sol diers have surrendered to Captain Me- Calla, offering as a reason for doing so the necessity of obtaining food The letter reads:
 CAIMANERA, June 13-To the com manding general of the military division of Santiago de Cuba: At dawn on Sunday seven ships appeared before the port of Caimanera and fired grape shot and all kinds of projectiles on the Playa d ,i Este and the Cayo Toro, until they set fire to | the houses of the pilots, which were occu- pied by a detachment of American marines. The cannonading continued with more or less intensity until o'clock in the afternoon. As the Playa del Este had only two muzZle-loading guns and sand intrenchments, the detachment could do nothing before six ships firing on them from all sides, and they retired into Managua and to Cuzzo Hill, where they remain to-day, making sallies on the beach. From that day the ships occupied PIlnfa GQraN0lpC nhGarIrinO ments of ships, which occupy all the outer port with war transports, a variable number of armed ships, other vessels of is never less than four.
 l have also taken the Enanto passes and the vigilant gunboat Magnet is ready to fall on them where damage can be done 1 remain in Caimanera and will only leave when I think it necessary I have not been able to antagonize the American ships with rifle fire. Forts Sandoyal and Cayo Toro fired their pieces of artillery but their effectiveness was interfered with by the ShortneSs of their range, or when channel and took up a position in the middle of the bay. Sandoval has not over seven rounds of armor-piercing proiectiles and Caimanera battery did not fire, re- serving its fire until the ships entered the channel, which Is where it's guns reach am told that the insurgent forces at Baracoa have, come down to Sgnabos being apparently greatly pleased at noting the American squadron has taken poses sion of the outer bay as if for a base of operations, the American ships having anchored as if in one of their own ports
 l am continuing to serve out half ra- tions of everything and in that way I shall be able to reach to the end of the month only, especially in bread. I have no four of any kind, as I have previous ly said, and have no way of getting any, as there has been no grain here for some time past. We are equally short of qui- nine in the hospitals. However, I have taken possession of the private drug stores and will have enough until the end of the month. The town is suffering form privation.
 On Saturday we had only twenty wounded. At Craigo Morro the cable house was riddled with shell, but it still stands, and if the Americans abandon the port, which l doubt, everything possible will be done to re-establish communica- tion, to which end l have everything ready.
 To-day there Is in the harpor a large armored vessel. the Oregon, and seven more vessels, with a large transport. the St Paul, which appears to be store ship. They patrol the Playa with armed launches I returned to Caimanera after seeing the bearer of this dispatcN start ed He is worthy of my confidence As a messenger of brigade he has rendered me great service. By sea I have ready youth, who has served in the navy and who volunteered to go I earnestly rec ommend him to your Excellency, should he arrive. FELIX PAREJA, Commanding Section Brigade. Eastern
 Military Division of Cuba.