The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-05
AT HOME AT GUANTANAMO.
TIE BIY LOOKS LIKE Il SUMMER RE
SORT IN THE DAYTIME

American Graft Busy Themselves in the
Hnrbor M Though There Were No Span
iards in tho NeiEhborhood-WRr Paint
Bleaching Out-MnrbIehead's Activity.
GUANTANAMO BAY. June 1S.-In an intercept
ed letter from the Spanish commander at Cal
manera to his brother in difficulties, the com
mander at Santiago. which was brought TO tho
Americans by the watchful Cubans. the CAT
maneran said that tho Americans had taken
Guantanamo Bay and occupied 1t as II It were
their own as n harbor OF rest" There was q
tone OF pathetic resentment in the sentence
conveying this Intelligence; no C~astilian fire.
eating or rowling oft Yankees. but the heart
moving expression OF q dignity offended too
deeply for many words. In other parts OF the
letter there was the customary Spanish ampli-
1cation. Thust the Texas Smelling the fort became
In the commanders letter seven battleships
bombarding the small city of Calmanern, and
the modest gunboats protecting the GOLFERS in
the lower harbor and the marines camp agreat
fleet. The letter showed how effectually Cal
manera and Guantanamo are cut of from San
tiago and the outside world, and probably from
all intercourse with other Spanish centres on
the island. 1t Is said that every effort was be-
ing made to restore communication and that
the efforts gave promise OF soon being sue
cesstul. TIL cable Office was still standing, the
ItltSl Eulb, uliu Nllo OIVAulOlo MOlO w Niu
the authorities in re-establlshing communica-
ton. Needless to say, all efforts 10 that end will
be useless. "a the Americans will control the
cable to Hayti. il 1t is put in working order.
from Fisherman's Point and will cut out Cal
manera.
The Caimanera commander chose a fclicitous
expression when he described the attitude OF
the Americans here as that. Of people who had
turned in for a siesta In q "harbor Of rest" 1t
may be doubted whether any Spaniard can APP
~preciate It rs fully as can the Americans who
overlook the scene. Except when there Is fight
ing going on or Smelling. the placid bay. we'll
sheltered from the strong southeast trade winds
by the mountain ridge along the coast, extend
Ing to the eastward. looks Ike a summer rem
devious for O squadron of the American Ma w,
where on the of watches the jaokies need con-
Germ themselves only with the finding Of q
shaded place on the deck or go over In an occa-
sional boat to visit the cam on the point. The
white uniforms of officers and men as they
blaze in the tropical sun help to carry out the
summer day effect, in spite Of the dull. ominous
war paint of the ships. 1t is only when dusk
comes and the white uniforms give place to
dark blue ones and the men cease to be visible
about the decks and tops. or when. the sky is
overloaded an. the vessels take its color,
which the water, at other times very blue, also
reflects, or when. Mt the order to clear for
action. everybody disappears as II the ships had
swallowed them. that the forbidding color Of
the warships really makes itself felt. The fierce
sun. too. has blcached out some Of tho ships
and warped the gray paint in spots from others.
exposing bits OF our once handsome white
squadron.
The Brooklyn Is now OF n very much lighter
shade than the Dolphin. for instance. On the
other hand the Texas looks gloomy and more
fnronious than Soma ~ thn hpnvInr shiDS eha
has retained the forbidding color so well. But
In the bright daylight, even her advent In the
bay. with all her men In whito hanging over the
sides. does not detract from the general at
homo" effect that the bay takes on with Amer
lean flags dottinG its waters and waving over
its shores. The appearance Of abSoluto security
and Indifference with which the Americans go
about strikes even an American onlookcr. and
must be CALLING to the proud SpaniardS direct
ing their glasses toward the scene from the
fort and roofs and hills Of Caimanera. the moro
so since the raking Of tho intervening woods
with shells and shrapnel has made them a
haunt OF the buZZards.
From the day Of the marines landing this ap-
p%earance Of being at home has characterized
the American occupicrs Of Guantanamo Bay.
when they were driven TO the shore limo and
held on the hill only tho blockhouse site where
they had raised the Stars and Stripes. Three
colliors lie ut anchor within Fishcrman's Point.
The Panther. which brought the marines. is
close inshore near their camp. The solace rides
peacefully half way to the opposite shore of the
harbor. TIL Marblchcad. flagship Of the sta
ton. moves about as e~xigency or convenience
demands. Vessels from the Santiago blockad-
ing feet come and go for coal or with messages
Newspaper despatch boats ply from ship to
ship. and ship to shore. much Ike harbor craft
in a home port. Rowboats and launches are
everywhere. There is not n Spaniard to fire on
anybody lin the day time). and everybody goes
about his business much as he would at home.
1t has come to be q maxim that where tho
Marblehead is there something is going on.
Her activity in the Cuban operations has Sc
cured for her the nickname Of THE McCalla."
and there Is a disposition now to dub this har.
Dor McCalla Bay. Col. Huntington. not having
been with the feet. could not be supposed ia
know Of the familiar name for the cruiser or Of
the general disposition 10 identify her exploits
with the name Of her commander. but he was
directly in line with the general tendency when
he named the marines camp In honor Of the
Marblehead's commander.
Back at CienfueRos the squadron was In doubt
as to whether Cervera was in the harbor unit
the Marblohead came along. poked her nose in.
shore. got into communication with the insur
gents. and learned that the feet was not there
She lost two men at Cienfuegos. At Santiago
she went as far to the front in the second bonn
bardment as though she had protection. anC
when no other work was at hand she noseC
along the coast making explorations. finding
out the conditions along shore. locating block
houses, and getting into communication with
the Cubans. She had on board the Cuban
Colonel. Laborde. and a Cuban pilot who has
been with her since she left Havana. Sow
eral days before the preliminary expedition
to Guantanamo. and before the st. Louis
went there to cut the cable. 1t was made know
through the fleet that the Marblehead was t.
be sent there on an exploring expedition. anC
when. with the Yankee. she followed the st
Louis there. the two cruisers. as is alread.