New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
SPANISH GUNNERS IMPROVE
COLOR GIVEN TO THE STORY OF M
PORTED ARTILLERISTS.
BLANco BENDING HIS ENERGIES TO THE PROB
LEM OF DEFENDING HAvANA-THE

blockadlng fleet shows that the Spanish author-
ties defending Cuban ports both defiant and
desperate. From the best accounts they have
food supplies enough at most of the blockaded
ports to enable the troops to hold out for sixty
days. The situation OF the remainder Of the
population which Ia Cuban is not Of conse-
quence to them.
They seem. however to think that something
may be done by splitting fire at vessels Nearly
every boat Lrings news Of batteries firing yes
terday afternoon It was the revenue cutter Man
ming which was fired on TO the west Of Havana
few mornings earlier the Tecumseh was
nearly hit The forces at these searorts are un-
questonably large. for the whole O: the interior
has been abandoned
BETTER MARKsMANSHIP.
1t is noted everywhere now that the Spanish
are proving good gunners. This lends color to
the story that Banco has secured trained
French and German artillery officers. One story
was that the steamer Lafayette. which was al
lowed to enter Havana, carried passengers
some expert French gunners. The truth or
falsity Of this statement Will have to be settled
In the future. That Spanish gunnery has i'm
proved is the testimony OF all the officers OF the
bockadinE feet whose vessels have been under
Are
The report has been current that the steamer
Montserrat which succeeded in reaching Glen
fuegos before that port blockaded. carried
some new Pinch guns. which have since been
taken to Havana by railroad and added to It's
defcnces There IS no railroad in Cuba which
could transport these heavy guns. Moreover.
the insurgents captured the official report OF the
Montserrat. which intended for Blanco
This showed 100000 IN silver money. 1900
cartridges. rifles and 'arge quantity OF other
munitions. but big guns.
HAVANA's DEFENCEs.
Tho defences OF Havana formidable with
out additions Santa Clara Battery on the west
and Cojlmar Battery on the east must be ST.
fenced before the city can be commanded from
the sea Various plans have been suggested for
blowing up MORO Castle and Cabanas fortress.
The objection to all such plans IS that blowing
up Moro and Cabanas would still leave the
most formidable defences untouched. When
Santa Clara and Cojlmar destroyed K VIII
not be necessary to blow UP the castle and the
fortress The Ncsuvius can go into the harbor
and destroy mines. and the control Of the city
Will then be complete. Blanco Is pretty apt to
have Moro ard Cabanas filed with Cuban pris-
oncrs and possibly some Americans and Eu-
ropeans That will be the best protection he
can form for those defences.
4
The latest Information from Havana and It's
.nvrons was brought to-day by Lieutenant
Colonel Lima Of the insurgent army. He arrived
on n torpedo boat with three other insurgents
Two Of them left Jaruco Cove. which Is eighteen
miles east OF Havana Two others pretended TO
zoe Spanish fishermen. and succeeded in getting
out OF Santa cruz little further east. They
we're picked up by the Annapolis. and afterward
transferred 10 a torpedo-boa
Lima is an Intelligent young Cuban. who held
a commission under Aranguren. lie has been
with the insurgents operating undt: Alexandra
Rodriguez I'm Havana Province.
Lima AMI his companions say that all the live
stock IN the province has been conhsca,ed by
the SPANISH authorities who have also taken
possession Of the supplies in stores and ware
houses There is much suffering among the
poorer people
Nearly every man in Havana IS under arms.
Lima thinks there are not more than 1900 or
Nps, regulars, but fully 10000 volunteers. THIS
estimate is probably too small as applied 10 the
regulars. though they have not yet been masscd
IN the city. officers Of the blockadlng ships re-
port the shore alive with Spanish cavalry and
infantry at nearly all the landing places. 1t is
evident that they VIII he called into Havana at
the first signs q attack on the city. Com
manders IN small towns have been ordered TO
abandon their posts on the appearance Of Amer!-
can troops and concentrate in Havana
The actual number OF volunteers ~ hardly
likely to exceed 10000 They numbered $1,000
when Lee left the city. Conscrpting and re-
crulting would not double the number. This
volunteer army is more dangerous to the native
population than 10 the invading army. II IS
likely at any moment to turn into mob bent
on massacre.
Lima and his companions say that Blanco Is
keeping heavy forces AT work on the fortified
lions guarding the approaches to the city
RECRUITS HISS THE SEVENTH REGIMENT
4 STRANGE SCENE IS VOLUNTEERS SETTING OFT
FOR CAMP PASS THE REGIMENTS ARMoRY
LAFAYETTE POSTS WORK.
Ninety-three men, recruited ny Colonel Bloomer
ana known the ist Harlem Volunteers. left this
city for Hampstead yesterday afternoon in charge
u Lieutenant Andrews. They went to Camp Black
without any orders from hoadquarters expecting
that on their arrival soon nsterward they will
Ice accepted n recruits FOR another OF the
regiments in camp To- take the places OF mon who
have been refused by the surgeons The men
marched down Park-ave TO Thirty-fourth-st. and
to the Long Island ferry. At S.xty-eighth-st. and
Park-ave. the armory OF the 7th Regiment
passed. A few members OF the regiment
onto tho steps to see the volunteers pass by
The latter marched four abreast. ard the first
files passed the armOry they began to hiss. The
Kisses were taken up by the whole detachment. and
hootIne was nided to the expressions OF dis
approval. The men hld been loudly cheered all
along the line OF march. and they passed the
headquarters Of the Ith Regiment they more
loudly checrcI than ever by the bystandcrs
Sixty new recruits LETT the armory OF the 18th
Regiment, Coumbus-ave. and SiXty-second-st, yes
nd n1or cd IN no Gran Cant
Station, where they went tho 1880 o'clock train
for Pcckskill. They will take the places at the
camp OF an equal number OF the members OF the
regiment who have been examined by the surgeons
since they have been In camp. and have failed to
pass the examination. The new recruits