The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-04
SANTIAGO
Sampson and SChIey's Naval
Gordon.
THE CHANNEL is MINED
THREE ROWS MINES STRETCH
ACROSS NARROW ENTRANCE.
The SPANISH FORTS AND BATTERIES
They Look not Only Formidable But Almost
ImpregnabIe---But Counter Mines
May Soon Solve the Problem
For Our Men.

/ For Our Men.
\ Copyright by the Associated Press.)
4 Off Santiago de Cuba. June By the
Associated Press Dispatch boat Wanda,
/ via Kingston, jamaica, June 3.-Rear
Admiral Sampson, with the United
States cruiser New York, his flagship,
accompanied by the battleship Oregon,
the cruiser Mayflower and the torpedo
boat Porter. joined Commodore Schley's
squadron off Santiago Wednesday morn
ing, and their combined commands have
the Spanish feet securely locked
in the harbOr. Admiral Sampson
left the heavy monitors and light gum
boats off Cardenas Monday morning,
all danger Of the appearance of the
Spaniards from the eastward having
been removed with the information that
Commodore Schley had hunted them to
their hole; and under command of Com
modore Watson, the monitors and gun
boats returned to reinforce the block
ade on the north coast of Cuba
Admiral Sampson did not assume COM
mand and amalgamate the squadrons
upon his arrival. Each squadron retains
its separate entity. and Commodore
Schey hys his single starred pennant on
the Brooklyn.
The fighting ships include the New
York, Brooklyn, Iowa, Oregon, Massa-
chusetts. Texas. New Orleans. Marble
head. Dolphin, Mayfower and Vixen,
and the torpedo boat Porter. There is
every Indication that active operations
viii begin at once The last cable which
ninds Cuba TO Madrid and the outside
*w0s4d Was cut to-day.
Pending the execution of Admiral
SIMPSONS plan of campaign. our ships
form Il Gordon about the entrance of
Santiago harbor to prevent the possible
egress Of the Spaniards, should Admiral
Ceryera be foolhardy enough to attempt
to cut his way out. Communication has
also been had with the shore. The
mountains and hills which surround San
tiago are in full possession Of the Cuban
insurgents; and in certain contingencies
the latter might be enabled to render
effective aid.
The reconnaissance made by our ships.
principally the smaller auxiliary yachts
and torpedo boats, which are able to
creep close in shore ut night, have pretty
definitely determined the location and
character of the defenses of the harbor.
Several new batteries have been thrown
up on the high ground on each side of
the entrance, and ii is evident that the
Spaniards are prepared to make stout
resistance. The lines of batteries which
crown the hills. and the grim gray walls
and castpIlated turrets of MORO Castle,
with the yellow and red flag of Spain
flying from the keep on the central tow
er. make brave picture from the line
of the blockadng squadron lying five
miles off the shore.
Across the narrow neck of the chan
mel which ut the entrance, is scarcely
more than Il hundred yards wide, have
been placed three rows of mines, mark
ed by wooden buoys. SO far as has been
ascertained there are three new bat
teries on the west side of the entrance.
These appear to be formed entirely
of earthworks. The embrasures for
the guns can esily be discerned with the
glasses. Cayo Smith, Il small island
which lies directly beyond the throat of
the entrance is fortified; and back of
MORO, which sits ON the rocky eminence
at the right Of the entrance are Estella
battery and Saint Carolina fort. Furth
or up the bay. guarding the latter APP
Droach to the city of Santiago Is Blanco
battery. The forts are of stone, and
were constructed in the early sixties.
Saint Carolina fort is partly in ruins.
The guns in both Moro Castle and Es
tella battery are of old pattern, Is and
n Founders, and would not even be
considered were it not for the great
height Of the Notifications which would
enable these weapons TO deliver Il plung-
ing fire. At Cayo Smith and Blanco bat
terry there are also four modern guns
The mines in the narrow tortuOus chan
mel and the elevations of the forts and
batteries, which must increase the effec-
tiveness of the enemy's guns and at the
same time decrease that of our own. re-
inforced by the guns of the Spanish fleet
inside, make the battery as it now ap-
pears almost impregnable. Unless the |
entrance is cOuntermined it would be |
folly to attempt to force it's passage with |
our ships But the Spanish fleet is bot |
tied mp and plan is being considered to |
drive in the cork. If that is done, the |
next news may be thrilling story of |
closing the harbor. 1t would release a |
part of our fleet, and leave the Span |
iards to starve and rot until they were |
ready to hoist the white flag Not a |
gun has been fired from shore or ship |
since the bombardment on Tuesday. The |
Spanish fleet. which lay near the mouth |
of the harbor ON that occasion. has with |
drawn to a safer anchorage farther in. |
behind Cayo Smith, and not a
glimpse of it has been seen since
IT may be that the final act in the
Spanish American war drama. of which
The Cuban revolution was but the pro- /
logue, may be enacted here, where the
insurrection originated three years ago. I