The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-03

| But the commodore decided not 70
waste ammunition on the batteries and
the men were disappointed. For the time
being, however there was much quiet
! jubilation among the men over the pros
pect OF a fight.
| Commodore Schley showed his evenness
of temperament by ordering the Massa-
chusetts TO take coal from the collier in
view Of the forts and warships of Spain.
On the Texas Captain Philip went
| through with the days routine, including
! church services at which the men with
refreshing directness of suggestion sang
| Pull for the Shore"
| 1t was perfectly evident from the posi-
| ton Of the Spanish warships on Sunday
morning that they had either just enter
ed the harbor, having learned of the sup
posed final departure OF the American
| squadron, or had been in hiding up the
bay, which is about Eine mile long and
had run down TO get out erly Sunday
morning. In any case it was excellent
proof Of the perfection of Commodore
Schley's tactics and showed that after
weeks Of weary following of clues fur
nished by etrategis boards, in seven days
he had succeeded in boiling up the Span
ish feet in one of it's own harbors
Less than two days before two supposed
, ly Cuban pilots sent from Jamaica by the
/ government had informed the commodore
/ on the deck Of the Brooklyn that no YES
sells Of the size of the Spanish warships
could go up the harbor, and after this in
formation had been politely received the
pilots were sent back to kingston. al
| thought they desired to be landed In
/ Cuba
! The latest maps of the harbor show a
narrow but deep channel, fairly well pro
tected and supposed to be mined. The
narrow neck is not wide enough to allow
more than one ship at time to pass up
endthe batteries. unless reduced, would
be very destructive.
There are three lotteries outside and
three small ones inside and between the
entrance place and the city proper the
distance is very nearly three miles up the
bay, measuring from MORO Castle
The latest information in the possession
of the government showed that at the
narrowest point in the entrance, near Nor
70, there are three lines of electrically
worked mines, thirty in all. Besides this
there are two sets of new batteries just
opposite the MORO, forming with the lat
ter dangerous cross fire.
Just inside this are two batteries on the
east side, Estrella and Catalina.
Cayo Smith, about half mile UP the bay
and about in the center where the narrow
entrance widens out, has batteries of mod
ern guns, as has also Blanco battery. lust
near the city of Santiago.
About two miles west of MORO, in shore
IS the case battery ana there are also
supposed TO be some mines near Cayo
Smith
The armament Of the various batteries
is supposed to be as follows. not includ-
ing the new earthworks behind which
there are modern guns:
Morro-Four modern guns and ten
eighteen and twenty-four FOUNDERS
Blanco battery-Nine smooth bore IA and
A-pounders OF little account, and two
small mortars
The Estrella batteryLTen smooth bore
guns.
Cayo Smith-Several modern guns.
The forts are mainly of brick and stone
constructed a century ago. although Their.
are evidences of new earthworks being
thrown UP.
The only view into the harbor for anv
distance is from the southwest, and as the
flagship passed along Lieutenant Sears
noted that the Spanish cruiser Reina Mer-
cedes. which has been partly aismantled
lay in the harbor, perhaps 1900 yards in
side of MORO Castle
To the westward and further inside wps
the Spanish frst-class armored cruiser
Almirante Oquendo. lying under the guns
of Cayo Smith and to the east OF me
starboard battery. looking down upon the
narrow channel. was the CristobaI Colon.
with room only for one ship al a time TO
pass.
Il viii thus be seen that It would be sui
cidal to attempt to force an entrance into
the place, at least until the batteries are
reduced. and that will consume a lot of
ammunition.
At the same time taking II for granted
that the remainder of the Spanish fleet
with four cruisers and two torpedo boats
IS still further p the harbor. Il means
that ;he warships of Spain are efrectually
bottled up so that they can do no harm.
Sunday at sunset found the squadron in
battle line outside Santiago. the Brooklyn
on the east of the line, the Massachusetts
next 70 her. the Iowa west Of the Massa-
chusetts and next the Texas. which was
on the extreme east, while the Marble
head and the Vixen secuted inshore.
- To leave Santiago the Spanish shps
would have IA pass this seemingly i'm /
pre- enable barrier.
Monday. May So.-The American feet
this morning retained its position OF San (
tiaso and no attempt was made during /
the night or morning on the part 81 the |
Spanish fleet 10 get out ot the haroor.
The United States cruiser New Orleans /
arrived during the afternoon and Joined /
the squadron. and the collier Sterling also 4
came along.
The Iowa and Brooklyn both coaled. The I
British second-class cruiser Indetatigible .
came alonside the flagship ard asked per f
mission 70 20 into the harhor. Her com /
mander said there had been no commuai- /
cation with Santiago BY way OF Jama;ca (
since Thursday last, ard he h5d come 20
look after the safety OF the British con- F.
sui After obtaining permission the com /
mander OF the Indefatigible returned his 4
thanks and went south. 10; entsying the 1
ha-bor. possibly because h hldE3rnei Z
that the Spanish feet was belHS ltled /
up there
WHY SGHLFY SENT NO WORD /
Washington, June s-Tt was stated au-