The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-05
SAMPSON PREPARED TO STRIKE.
Evidently Ready for . Decisive Blow
Mt Ceryera.

H1s
Evidently Ready for . Decisive Blow
mt Cervera.
Copyrighted. 1895. by the Associated Press
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT WANDA. OFF SAN
TIAGO DE CUBA, June VIA Kingston,
June 4--Aa hour before sunset tonight, as
dark rain clouds. lying low over the coast.
forehoced the usual tropical storm. and
the united fleet of America lay on the
harbor Of Santiago, fanked By a little
notila OF dispatch boats, Read Admiral
Sampson sisnaled the torpedo boat Porter
TO run alongside the flagship
Inc nature OF the aom!rafs orders were
soon known. for the Porter rushed along
side the newspaper dispatch boats, and in
turn megaphoned:
THE admiral directs you 10 move ten
miles south and take a station for the
night"
This meant business OF serious import
a1ce for the feet during the night,
whether a dash into the harbor or other
wise will probably be known on the ar
rival % the second Associated Press dis
patch boat at the nearest cable station
tomorrow.
Gen. Garcia's army is strong enough
unaided 70 strike the Spanish land forces
hard blow, and II reinforced by the
American army Of invasion, could seize
and hold the entire eastern half OF tho
island. Garcia's scouts confidently expect
the American troops soon. They say this
Is the best part OF the island for the land
Ing ard accumuiating OF troops. Well
drained ard healthy camps can be eetab-
iished on the high table lands that lie on
the sea front or on slopes Of the noun
| tains al any desired altitude. Pure water
| is found in the mountain streams and
| springs. while the fertile surrounding
| country yields abundant fruit and vege-
| tables, and everything Is favorable to the
| coed sanitary condition OF well discii-
| plined army.
The rainy season the insurgents say. is
, Get a serious drawback where camps can
| he Suickly formed on drained elevations.
! The isf>ad already shows the effect Of the
beginning - this season. Showers occur
| daily. and sosN- white rain mists are seen
| on the slopes ~ every mountain. The
| smoke and fires ~ the burning planta-
tions are being extinsSshed. and iuxurian:
| nature is rapidly heaSpS many or tho
ravages Of the war. Tho tropical storms
al night are wonderful exhibitions OF cleo
! irlcal pyrotechnics AT tim.N the light
| ming Clashes or the horizon line. and looks
| like the regular firing Of guns from dis
| taut fort. Again, the entire heavens
| seem ablaZe in vivid fame and forked
| tongues Of Gre appear 20 run down the
mountain slopes. dreDChing rain falls for
q hair hour or so. Then all il calm sni
serene. The fun moon and brilliant con-
siellations OF the tropics appear In all their
| glory as the black clouds roll away on
| the horizon.
Such storms are confined almost wholly
! 80 the coast only going to sea occasion
/ ally OF n cape or head.and to wake up
squat Ships sailing along the coast
| 81 calm seas and clear skies are witnesses
! 20 the beauty and grandeur Of the land
I storm without feeling the slightest effect
I ,.s4 NfgfF Sr}. fAvg M
Sixteen warshIps OF the United States
! AMI 1000 men are drifting here under the
! shadow Of Cubas towering mountains. In
/ the mountain side Is a small opening. II
rift that leads away twisting and turning
up tn tho city OF Santiago. nfteeen miles
I from the sea. Near this narrow harbor
/ stream lies The fee, OF Admiral Cervera.
| Al day and all night the eyes OF the
! American sailors are fixed upon the mar
row entrance 70 the harbor. as the war
| ships slowly drift up and down past 1t.
/ Perched high on the side of the entrance
! Ia the haroor il Moro castle. which for two
centuries has looked down upon all Yes
se.s entering there on the opposite point
/ some plants and tropical shrubs grow. rank
/ and green. almost hiding the battery that
, has been placed At that point.
Sailing along the shore. four miles OF.
( ore would scarcely distinguish Moro cas-
/ tie Z looks like thousand other rocky
+ spurs that proicct from the mountain sides.
ah along the eastern shores OF The island.
I This il the picture OF the Santiago block
ade today. The landscape In one OF great
+ beauty The mountain scenery IS majestic
Great PEAKS. green rohe3 rise 1850 feet
above the So with s1lnltt clouds ohScuviag
them ard then drifting away from their
cleaning submits. Down IN the deep
Swallowed blue at their base are the war
ships. silent ard grim. drifting, waiting for
re battle. ~ night the moonlight makes
a beautiful picture OF The mountains and
SEA. Imagine the OCEAN washing the hills OF
the Rocky mountains. with a tropical sky
aeove all. and yoll have picture Of SAN
tlago 10 Cuba
NJ attempt II made by the feet TO 60 into
this AaTbcs. Mines are near the entrance
ana tt would 10 suicidal for large xhi;ss 10
attempt 20 enter. 50 there Is nothing 70 -
ruf SAL III ard Down past the harbovs
TGoata. hop3ng the Spanish ships may
aS4iG 97ow themselves. o. come cut for an
open canltst.