The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-15
SAMPSON WILL
FORCE THE HARB0R
Only Waiting for the Landing of
Troops.
SITUATION GROWING ACUTE
CsaSeleSS Watching and EXaSperatinS
Activity Telling on the Men.
dALLANl SAkdEANl dUUUE Al hEol
-
He Mas Buried in Twenty Spaces of
the Death Spot
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF FIGHTING
Have Had Its Effect on Marines, Who We're
So Long Cooped Up on the Panther
Men Criticize the Waiting
Policy.
He Mas Buried in Twenty Spaces Of
the Death Spot
FoRTY-EIGHT HOURS OF FIGHTING

On Board the Associated Press Beat
Dandy, Guantanamo Bay, June 10, p. M,
Via Kingston, Jamaica, June H.-l1:40 a.
m.-The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, which
joined Admiral SIMPSONS fleet off Santiago
this morning is to be followed by the
Ericsson, the Foote and other Torpedo
boats and arrival of the torpedo fleet will
confirm the opinion that Admiral Sampson
intends to force the harbor on the coming
of the troops. Every man In the fleet is
anxiously awaiting the soldiers for it is
recognized that no decisive movement is
possible until the troops effect a landing
Everybody is desperately tired of the
present disheartenng conditions The
tedious manoeuvers the ceaseless watching
and the exasperating inactivity are telling
on officers and men. At no place are the
troop ships more anxiously watched for
than at the sur blistered hill top where
Lieutenant Huntingtons marines lie in rifle
pits under an almost continuous hail of
Spanish bullets Forty-eight hours of
practically ceaseles fighting has well nigh
wrecked the men who arrived here inca
pacitated for heavy field duty by the long
wait cn the Panther
They Show Great Spirit
With few exceptions, however, the ma
rines showed great spirit under. the per-
sistent fire of the Spanish bushwhickers,
the officers particularly exhibiting the cool
ness and nerve of seasoned campaigners.
A grim touch of realism was added to the
war-like scenes when the flags on land
and on the warships were placed at half
mast at noon today and gallant Sergeant
Major Goode was buried on the hillside,
scarcely twenty PAGES from the spot Wnere
he fellsla night. The burial service was
impressive as the men felt that their sit
uation was desperate and openly said they
cd n 70 VraduallV Slaughtered until
the arrival of the troops.
The men freely criticise the policy which
compels them to hold a position that could
be retaken they say by half an hours she'll
ing but not the faintest disposition is man.
ifested to do otherwise but stick it out.
The Marblehead and Porter have been
close to the marines and fortifications all
day, taking advantage of the opportunity
to coal. The Dolphin arrived last night
and spent the greater part of the forenoon
in pitching shells into Spanish blockhouses,
believed to be rendezvoues of the Spanish,
a mile and a half east.
Last night Lieutenant Anderson of the
Marblehead, with a steam launch, drag
ged the harbor channel for mines and
went within forty yards of the fort and
city limits. Although he did the work
with the greatest care, he found no indi-
cation of explosives. He is highly COM
mended for the clever expedition of peril
Gus duty. His report shows that 1t is pos
sible to take any light draft ships right
up to the port as the soundings give IL
feet In the shallow places.
On board the ships in the harbor the
weather is delightfully."- cool and the sail
ors here, like those off Santiago, are In
generally good health. There is good
deal of complaint as to the insufficient
supply of food the ships. The ward
room mess on one ship here sat down to-
day to corned beef and hard tack. The
officers of many vessels complain of the
shortage of necessaries like flour, pota-
toes aszd ice.