The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
THE DEFENCES OF HAVANA.
THERE ARE FIFTEEN F0RTIFIcATIoNs
IN N ABOUT THE CITY

AhhoTuuhtioh AnuJ was IluCeu IN tho hhnuA
of Gen. Miles When IL Was Proposed to
Invest the City-Descriptions of MORO,
Cnbanns Fortress and Santa Clara Battery
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-Ofncials OF the Mill
tary Information Division OF the War Depart
ment are revising the advanced sheets OF
n publication setting forth in minute de-
tail the defences OF the city OF Havana. The
has been accommodating for q long
period. and was at FIRST gathered by our regu-
larry recognized Consular agents. After the
outbreak OF war the work OF completing theWar
Departments records, and especially ofkeeping
careful watch over the measures taken by Cap
tain-General Blanco TO strengthen and make
still more formidable Indebtedness under his
charge had to be intrusted TO spies. who did
their work faithfully. and when early In the
war the plan Of campaign, subse quently abau-
dnned. which had for its object an early in
vestment OF Havana, was completed, Capt.
Scherer, In charge OF the Military Information
Division. was able to place In the hands OF
Gen. Niles this complete record OF Havana's
defences. which Is now about to be published
This information is Of the most complete
character. It describes infinitely every fort,
redoubt. bastion and gun that could possibly
be brought Into service In r~epellinG q besieg-
ing force. 1t also shows the exact numerical
strength OF the forces at Blanco's command,
pOIh IOkuihIb ulu NOluuIeeTb, COReJneT Win
the number OF arms and the amount OF ammu-
milton available. The information is preceded
by an interesting historical sketch OF the city.
in which is traced its growth from an insig-
nificant post into q large and strongly fortified
city.
There are now fifteen Notifications in and
about the city OF Havana. more or less armed
and garrisoned. besides q work partly con-
structed and not armed. called Las Animas.
and the old bastions along the sea wall OF the
harbor. or these Notifications the most i'm
portant are 81 Moro. the stone bastion work
OF La Punta, the stone casemated work La
Reina, the formidable stone and earth battery
OF Santa Clara. the stone bastion redoubt OF Ell
Principe. the old fertilization OF Cabaha, and
most formidable Of all. the sunken masked
batteries.
The Moro. or Castillo del MORO. Is the most
frequently mentioned and best known:of Ha-
vana's Notifications. 1t is situated on a project
ing point OF the eastern side OF the harbor en-
trance. 1t is the first part Of Havana seen on
approaching from the sea. The old castle Is q
stone bastion work. placed on a steep cliff Of
considerable height. 1t Is useless as a de-
fensive work against sea attack. In its pres
ent condition the parapets and basrions are
exposed and without earth covers OF impor-
tance. By common report, Ell Moro Is now said
~ 10 oihpiS u pIiSOn. ACCUTuluR 10 u
rumor' the weakest spot in its walls is directly
under where the searchliRht is. 1t is said
that during recent years the officials have been
afraid to fire the larger guns to any great ex-
tent. on account OF the possible effects on some
OF the walls.
Morro's guns. which rise s~ixty-six feet above
sea level. consists Of four KruDp 8-inch guns
twelve old lO-inch guns; eight old S-inch guns.
garrison consists of 1.2O0 men. but IL can con-
tain TWICE or thrice that number. The rank
infantry.
Forming part of Ell MORO. though separated
from the old work by a wide ditch cut through
rock almost to the oceans level, is the earth
work is open to the rear. and has its right flank
as 1t lies along the ridge OF the cliff. perhaps
no9 fe be- b siEh fsf and b nearly sIa 81 pes s ? ains nnd lit 1t
fantry from the hill Of Santiago. or other hills
southeast and south Of Havana. or by infantry
attack from the rear It's armament con-
The fortress OF Cabana, though now worth
nifcentexamp Of the permanent fortincations
constructed century, age; Probably 10000
age msn is SOUL fully " s a1errelfH En- ffe feet it ab nSTD9 the tFo sea
level GROWING an exceedingly abrupt bluff of
rock rising almost from II; the waters edge. The
feet. but there are said to be several points
exposed to fire that are exceedingly weak. It
within parapet. galleries.. classmates and terre-
pleins almost innumerahle, all OF stone and
ern artillery, and it could be quickly silenced
or DESTROYED by small guns on hills near Guam
1863 Cabana was finished in IVA. il is now
used chiefly. as a place Of retention for State
prisoners Of Importance. Its armament is
The stone bastiSn work Of La Punte was
redan in front. surrounded by water. La
Punta lies hardly above the level Of the sea and
neS co ths hss5t Of It the has ei LITTLE B 9th by BY Location ! Sattn,
sive work; but I is small and would be difficult
TO reach from the sea, Its armament consists
guns. one 9.5-inch old c~ast-iron Armstrong
gun and two mortars. Of no use. dismantled.
1897. It is the most westerly Of the fortiacal
tions OF Havana proper. and, placed on the
north coast, about one and a half miles from
%portant works OF Havana. The battery lies
about 100 yards from the shore of the Gulf.
ward rurs back. either naturally or artifcially.
into quarries. thus occupying a low salient.
the sea Of about forty.four feet. The work is
built partially IN the natural rock. a soft lime
stone. with walls, partly Of this, rock. partly OF
loose stones and cement called ''mampos-
The rear face of Santa Clara Il. e.. toward
some eight feet high. No guns can be mounted
here; The wall runs along the hill, approach
quarry wall. The quarries on either side are
absolute dead spaces. so far as this work is
form excellent places for troops to await an
attack from the sea or from the direction OF
either Chorrera or Havana. Toward Choir
vera, and facing the road. railroad and 'sea-
coast; extends one face OF the work. com
ten feet thick and faced with stone. In front
OF this is a little unimportant ditch. This
face Is also in part protected by the hill in front
below. Connected with this face is that facing
seaward and commanding the approach west
ward along the shore. The parapet OF the sea
front OF Santa Clara is abouu ten feet thick.
" has been recently built; and is constructed
OF loose stones and mortar. The magazines
are In the light earthen traverse OF the work.
The, trace OF Santa Clara ia very irregular: the
work is small and can only shelter a small
force: One heavy shell reaching it from the