The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-10
current to that effect.
EVERY SHIP SEEN.
belated But Interesting News From
Santiago.

copyright. 1898, the Associated Press.
vi Santiago. de Cuba, June 4, via
Aihgston, ,EJam., Monday, June 6, 9 a. m.
-nsery effort is being made to cut off
santiago de Cuba's connection with the
OUTSIDE world and it is believed that
"iohin 4S hours there will be practical
accomplishment of the design.
since Sunday last when Commo dore
ochiey caught Admiral Cerveras fleet
urylng to quietly leave the harbor and
headed off the attempt, thus probably
serving the war problem, it has been the
ponoy to SO surround the city and ..harbor
that no assistance, either in supplying
arms or ammunition could reach there
After driving the Spanish fleet into a
more protected position, in the harbor,
py the bombardment of Tuesday, Com
nodore Sohley opened communication
with the insurgents 1S miles from Santi-
ago to the east. They were urged to OBJ.
TAIN, If possible. the names and numbers
OIL the vessels of the fleet inside the har-
Dor, as the contour of the land at the en-
trance made it impossible to accurately
aaeSermlne a by view from the American
neeo just how many vessels Of the Span
isn squadron were there. On Friday af-
Sefnoon, Lieut.. Sharp Of the Vixen went
" une place of rendezvous and received
rom uhe insurgenta map Of the harbor
showing the entire Cape Verde feet, with
ens exception of the destroyer Terror in
slde and close up to the city, under the
protectlon OF the guns mounted on Blan-
70 pattery ct the northern extremity of
9ne har6or. The ships there, according
60 tnelrschart, are the Cristoba1 Colon,
Ine Vlzoaya, the Almirante Oquendo,
Ene Maria Teresa and the Reina Mercedes,
(destroyed by the American warships
since this despatch was written, all the
cruisers OF the first class and heavily
armed, together with three torpedo
boats. The definiteness of this inforIna-
slon gave Commodore Schley greet salts.
faction. Wieh Admiral Sampson's arri-
val Wednesday the blockade was much
strengthened and although the plans to
starve out the city, its troops and the
enemy's Heet were pushed vigorously,
cable boat was sent to find and cut the
maioa and Hayti. cables which it had
been alleged had been cut by the auxili-
ary cruiser ST. Louis.
Ihe boat was put to work, but up to
today had not found the cable for which
she is searching. Guarded by the battle
ships Massachusetts, and Texas, she
worked on Friday morning within two
miles OF formidable Notifications on
shore; and strange to say, without an at
tempt of the Spanish gunners to hit them,
although in the early morning the big
guns were fired viciously at Commodore
Schley's flagship.
just how long Santiago can stand be-
sleging is matter of conjecture. Three
weeks ago it was claimed at Santiago
that the food there was very poor and
that it was already very scant. The
country about the city is unproductive
and mountainous, and the insurgent
camps are so close that there is little or
no communication between the city and
Its enyirons. The railway service Is not
carried to distance much beyond ten
miles from the town.
Since Sunday last when Cervera' s
squadron was bottled up by the flying
squadron, nothing has gone in and the
auxiliary cruiser St Paul captured about
1000 tons of coal consigned to the port.
1t is thoroughly believed that only a
short time will be needed to bring San
tiago to starvation basis.