Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28
WITH THE BLOCKADE
Explanation Of Successful Passage Of
SpaniardS.
HABANh FEELING THE PINCH.
1t Is Expected Soon to Be Begging
for Food.
MOVEMENTS OF THE INSURGENTS
They Are Expected TO Continue of
the Guerilla Order-Captured Spa
nish Lieutenant Released and Put
Ashore, on Parole.


Copyrighted, 1SgS, by the Associated
Press)
on BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEW
YORK, OFF HABANA, April q. \. NJ.
via KEY WEST, $50 2. M.-The blockade
continues without incident. No casual
ties have been reported to the flagship.
Last night was uneventful. This morn
ing the torpedo-boat Dupont arrived from
Matanzas, reporting that there had been
no more firing there. and that the block
ade was effectively established. 40
prizes have been secured by the Matanzas
| squadron.
News has been received that La Lucia
! last night asserted that two coasting
steamers had sneaked into Habana har-
! Dor on Saturday, but it must be remem-
| bered that at that time the blockade
was only I'm its initial stages. To-day
the fighting squadron is equipped with a
force Of small boats, which, under cover
Of darkness. can get close in shore. where
they arc likely 70 prevent blockade-run-
| ming by little craft huggipg the coast
| The amount Of provisions carried by the
! two cOastng steamers into Habana last
! Saturday must have been so small as TO
| be practically of no effect. The incident
| cannot be taken as i'm any way criterion
! Of the effectiveness Of the blockade, or
| as effecting I'm the slightest degree the
! chances Of our success.
! Ilabana even now feels the pinch OF the
! blockade. When the Spanish need Of food
! becomes imperative. then, If there is
| money enough in the city to make Il
] while. there are likely 10 be made
/ many attempts at hlockade-running. but
! Rear-Admiral Sampson says they will be
| unsuccessful Then will come the inevi-
| table. ana Ilabana will be forced TO sur
| render and beg for food.
The appearance Of the Spanish fleet and
! an attempt TO raise the blockade are con-
| tngencies that must be considered.
MOVEMENTS OF THE INSURGENTS
Information regarding the movements
Of the insurgents IS meagre, but il IS
| known that as many as can are leaving
| Habana. The nsurgcnt army is believed
TO be active, and is trusted to shut off
all communication between North and
South Cuba. though communication be-
tween Habana and BatabsnO still APP
pears 10 be- open.
There is talk regarding a concerted
movement upon Habana and its defences.
Of food is bound TO affect insurgents and
Spaniards alike. As soon as the former
carry the campaign into the FAR north
Of the island they are confronted with
starvation.
Il is believed the insurgents viii adj
here to their guerilla tactics and not
transfer their forces in any large num-
bers to a territory where starvation will
soon hold sway.
The problem Of provisioning and coaling
the blockading fleet has so far proved
an easy one 20 solve. The flagship
New York spent last night patrolling the
coast from "A point west Of Habana 10
within ten miles Of MatanZas on the
east The general belief is that the
cream of the prizes has been taken. and
that not many more Spanish merchant
vessels will venture into these waters.
The Associated Press dspatch-boat
Dluntless LEFT the fleet 20 return TO Key
West. on her third rOund-trip since last
Friday at 1870 this morning. in the teeth
OF "A 2j-knot gale, from west 10 north.
The Associated Press spondent had
an interview with Rear-Admiral Samp-
son. i'm the Admirals cabin, on the flag
ship. yesterday morning. The Rear
Admiral expressed satisfaction with tho
conduct Of the blockade.
WHEN DO WE TAKE HAEANA?
OF course. the absorbing topic. from
admiral 10 Coal-passers. g., When do We
take Habana? one could not help think
ing yesterday. when near shore, how easy
10 would be TO land troops az q particu-
iar point or at hundreds OF others on
.hc coast. Tho toy forts on the hills
would not frighten battalion of schoo.
cadets. and the water IS deep enough %
allow the warshlps TO cover landing
from close in. on the highlands OF Cuba,
health is the rule az all seasons Of the
year. as is shown by the reports. not only
of the Spanish. but OF the health authori-
ties.
on her present trip to Key West the
Dauntless, at the request Of Captain
Chadwick. Of the New York, brought H.
Young Aransuren. brother Of the
insurgent brigadier-general, Nestor
Aranguren. who was killed by the
Spanish colonel, Benedict. In re-
venge for his having shot Lieutenant
Colonel Ruiz. Of the Spanish army. Young
Aranguren had been on the flagship
where it was thought at first he might
be of some special use. owing to his
knowledge OF certain parts OF the coast.
but the lad had not been well, and fl
was thought better to send him home.
II Is ludicrous 20 see the transition IN |
the case OF Spaniards taken prisoners on
the captured merchantmen. from a state |
OF yociferous grief and fear to one Of
the most complete politencss when they |
ind that there is no intention 10 NAL !
treat them Tears change TO smiles !
petitions for mercy TO protestatons OF |
rsgard-and both in the twinkling OF an |
eye.
CAPTURED SPANlARD PAROLED. |
Lieutenant del Pine OF the Spanish in |
fantry. and his orderly. who were cap |
tured By the gunboat Wilmington, on |
board "A small Schooner bound for Matan-
zas. were ptN on shore yesterday, at |
santa Cruz, twenty-four miles from |
Habana. by the United States scOut-boat |
Algonquin. formerly the steamer FL TOro.
The lieutenant was on a furlough, and |
was going 10 see his wife and infant
child The latter was born last Friday. |
and the father had not seen his child.
Under the circumstances. Rear-Admiral |
Sampson decided 10 let the Spanish Off
Ger and his orderly go under parole). |
The Algonquin. commanded by Ensign |
Crosley. and flying nag OF truce.
steamed into the Santa CRUZ inlet. The
small craft was closely watched through |
many glasses on board the flagship New
York which was lying only few miles
on \ few persons were seen TO gather
near the small Notifications Of Santa
Cruz as the Algonquin approached The
latter performed her mission safely, and
apparently without incident. she then |
returned 10 Key West
-D--
THE FEDERAL LEGISIAyIn ne.