Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-11

perate efforts to get in supplies through
the American blockade lines. Inspired by
the successful attempt of the Purfssima
Conception to land supplies on the island
he Is now causing to be loaded another
steamer at a Mexican port with the inten-
tion of running the blockade and bringing
in food and ammunition to the beleaguered
capital. This is a large ship of about $500
tons, and she has already taken on a boun-
tiful supply of food, and is expected to load
100000 cartridges. The craft is believed
to be the steamer Montevideo, now at Vera
Cruz, and protests have been lodged with
the Mexican government by the American
consul there against the clearance of the
vessel.
This particular ship Is an auxiliary
cruiser of the Spanish navy, 1t is said, and
carries a considerable battery. including
two Hontoria guns and secondary battery
which would make her a most formidable
opponent for most Of the smaller United
States craft now engaged in blockading
the southern coast of Cuba and on Ha-
vana, for it is gathered that the monitors
have been withdrawn, and are now at Key
West. Notice of the vessels movements
will be promptly communicated TO the
blockading squadron. and it is entirely i'm
probable that she will be able to repeat the
Suffering at Tampa.
A long list of names of wounded and sick
enlisted men came from Tampa this morn
ing over the wires to the War Department.
The names are being carefully verified and
arranged in lists by the department, and s
this work is time-consuming, it will scarce
ly be ready for publication before the close
of the day.
Gen. Skaters Force.
General Skaters available force today,
after counting all reinforcements and de-
Quoting the dead, sick and wounded, is
@, $50 fighting men. according to military
estimates. This is based on an estimate
of 10000 men in General Skaters origi-
nal expedition and about 10000 In various
expeditions which have gone since then,
making in all 260O0 men. Against this,
however, must be deducted the casualties
in the fighting thus far, and also the men
confined to the hospital by sickness. The
deduction is roughly estimated at 5000.
leaving about $4,000 men available today
as the fighting force of the American army
at the front.
The reinforcements have gone forward
from time to time, and it has been rather
difficult to KEEP track of them. In detail
the forces are summed up as follows:
General Skaters original command,
10000 men. Reinforcements-Genera Duff
fields brigade, about $500 men; recruits
for regular army, $50: 1st Illinois, $50: 1st
District of Columbia, $50; six light bat
teries United States Artillery, 700; General
Garrettson's brigade, Sth Ohio, 1900; 9th
Massachusetts, and 9th Illinois, $500; total,
% $50.
The Duffield brigade went from New
pert News, part of the Garrettson brigade
went from New York city on the ST Paul,
while the remaining part went from
Charleston on the Yale. The other troops
went from Tampa. All of these forces
have arrived at Santiago, or will arrive
today, the Yale being due there today.
General Miles and staff are on the Yale
Another force of $500 men, comprising
General Ernst's brigade, is ready to start
With the sick and wounded the full
strength of the army in Cuba will then be
approximately 81, 500.
The Presidents Expectation,
President Mckinley expects news at any
minute that Santiago has fallen after a
desperate fight He will be much surprised.
possibly disappointed, If this news does not
come some time this afternoon or tonight.
General Skaters recent kilograms have
indicated confidence in his ability to take
ha " q tor H.