The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-20
SMELLING. THE
GUER|LLAS
Small Bodies s hem Harrass-
ing Gunb( 8 nd Launches.
MARBLEHIg s AND SUWANEE
Dispatched : airal Sampson to Dis.
lodge the Onall DetaChmentS.
MARINES PREPARING FOR ATTACK
BY Spanish Infantry, Which is Believed
to Be Imminent.
CUBAN FLAG sALUTED BY FLEET
BY Spanish Infantry, Which is Believed
to Be Imminent.
CUBAN FLAG sALurED BY FLEET

Copyright by the Associated Press, Camp
McCalla, near Guantanamo, Cuba, June
19.-Noon-Ffled Kings ton June 10, p. m.-
For several days past small bodies of Spain
iards had been hanging around the north
ern entrance of the harbor of Guantanamo,
ard annoying the gunboats and launches
by occasional firing. They had been COM
ing from a small blockhouse five miles
back of the part of the harbor in which
the American warships have been lying.
This morning the Suwanee led the way up
the channel, followed by the Marbehead
and launches and opened fire on the bod
les of guerillas seen at a short distance
from the shore line.
The shots were not effective at first, but
the Spanish made a frantic rush for cover
while the Shells followed them, striking
all around. The Dolphin Joined in the fir
ing and for twenty minutes a heavy fro
was kept up, when the signal to cease fir
ing was hoisted. The Suwanee steamed
close In shore for long distance, but was
not able to see any sign of Spanfards
The Spanish loss could not have been
heavy, as the enemy ran too fast for cover
at the first shots Later in the day the
Oregon sent several shots at the block
house, damaging 1T badly, and causing 1t
TO burn for a short time.
Lieutenant Colonel Huntington, COM
mander of the marines in Camp McCalla
has been making every preparation during
the last few days for an assault by the
Spanish infantry which is considered near
at hand.
sPANIARDs MASS1NG TROOPS.
The quiet which has prevailed since Cap
tain Elliott and Captain Spicer defeated the
Spaniards early in the week is considered
ominous as tending to indicate that the
Spaniards are massing their forces to at
tack the American position. The entrench-
ments have therefore been greatly
strengthened.
The Cubans are generally of the opinion
that the Spaniards have had enough for
the time being and no further attack will
be made for the present.
Yesterday General Perez, of the Cuban
army, paid formal visit to Captain Nc
Gala, and for the first time Cuban flag
was seen at the masthead of an American
man of war and saluted.
The marines who are few in number and
desperately overworked, are looking anx-
iously for the approach of the army trans
ports which have been expected every day
for week. The men are in good spirits
and are determined to do their duty, but
they feel they are too small a force to
withstand an attack from the entire Spans
ish forces
The following is the abstract of I.ieuten-
ant Harlow's report TO the commander Of
the Vixen, dated June IS:
.The expedition consisted Of a steam
launch from the Massachusetts in charge
of Cadet Hart, and a launch from the New
York, in charge of Cadet Powell. 1 took
passage on the Massa chusetts launch, lead
ing the way. Soundings were taken OIL
entering the bay close under the old fort.
and we were preparing to circumnavigate
the bay at full speed. when fire was opened
from the fort and rocks on shore The
Massachusetts, launch was some distance
ahead and about forty yards off the fort
There was no room 70 turn and our one
FOUNDER could not be brought to bear. We
backed and turned under heavy fire.
HART OPERATED THE GUN.
Cadet Hart operated the gun as soon
as 1t could be brought to bear, sitting upon
the bow and working the gun as coolly and
carefully as at target prdctice Sauei To"-
ell had been firing since the Spaniards
opened. He also was perfectly cool. Both
launches ran out under n heavy fire Of
from six to eight minutes. estimate that
there were twenty-five Spaniards on the
parapet of the old fort. The number along
shore was large but indefinite. Tho
launches as soon as was practicable, sheer
ed to give the Vixen the range. The Vixen
and Texas silenced he shore fire prompt
ly.
II strongly commend Cadets Hart and
Powell for their cool management OF the
launches. One launch was struck seven
times Nobody In either was hurt. A bulls
let struck shell at Cadet Harts fee. bs.
tween the projectile and the powder. but
failed to explode the latter.
'coxswain O'Donnell and Seaman
Bloomer are commended as is also th(
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