The silver lance., 1898-06-24
BUSY AT GUANTANAMO.
spanIards Concentrating Forces to Crust,
the Marines.


the Marines
Denver, June ia New York spe-
cial to the Republican says:
A cable to the Herald from on board
the dispatch boat Sommers N. Smith,
of Guantanamo, Cuba, Wednesday,
via Kingston, Jamaica, Thursday,
says:
1t is evident that the Spaniards do
not intend quietly to abandon the po-
sitions they took when the American
marines were landed on Cuban soil,
six days ago.
They have been driven inland day af-
ter day, but are assembling additional
forces every hour and are preparing to
make a fresh assault upon the Ameri-
can defenses.
The Spanish gunboats in the inner
harbor have been hard at work carry
ing troops across the bay to surround
our men. This work was watched
from Camp McCalla by the American
officers. 1t continued all day. As sooD
as the Spanish soldiers were landed on
the eastern shore they vanished in the
woods.
There is little doubt that these troops
are being sent to common rendez-
our forces, either in mass or by night
surprises. The defenses of the camp
are being strengthened hourly. Lieu
tenant Colonel Huntington evidently
expects fighting at close quarters, for
when | left camp he was sharpening
his sword on grindstone.
The activity of the enemy led to sew
eral engagements during the day in
Guantanamo bay. Early this morning
a considerable number of Spanish sol
diers appeared on the western side of
the harbor and were about to be fer
ried across to the eastern side on the
gunbOat that has been anchored in the
inner harbor. This movement had been
anticipated by Admiral Sampson, who
sent the Texas to join the Marblehead
and Suanee at this point
When the Spaniards began the work
of transferring their men across the
inner bay, the Texas, Marblehead and
Suanee steamed into the mouth Of the
inlet opened u lively fire with their
heaviest guns at "A range of 800 yards
The first shot fired by the Texas was
answered by the Spaniards in the fort,
who put shell between the Texas and
the Marblehead. They then sent an
other shell across the bows of the Mar
blehead, narrowly missing the vessel
-Four more Spanish shells struck the
water near our ship during the next
fifteen minutes, but after that time
nothing was heard from our ships The
Spanish troops could not be stopped
by the warships.
Shot after shot sent by the American
vessels hit the Spanish fort near the
entrance Of the inner harbor and the
hIIi 4.
molished. The mortality among the
Spaniards must have been very great
Marines on the outpost of Camp Nc
Gala this morning saw a man In the
brush waving handkerchief. They
investigated and the man ran away.
He presently picked up courage and re-
turned. He was found to be Span
ish soldier. After he had surrendered
he told an interesting story. He said
he was one of twenty men sent around
the mountain to surprise the men on
the Marblehead. He had been for for
ty-eight hours without food or water.
He became disgusted with his lot, he
said, and decided that he could be no
worse off with the Americans than he
would with the Spaniards, so he decid-
ed to surrender.
After eating like wolf, he said he
was one of many young Spaniards who
mad fought in the war, having been
drafted. Upon reporting for army du-
ty, he continued, he found there was
little food for the soldiers, that they
were badly treated and were being
paid no wages. Many others were
ready to surrender, but were told by
their officers that the Americans would
slaughter them mercilessly.
The prisoner also declared that the
Spaniards were massing for an attack
on Camp McCalla and that they were
trying to bring field artillery to bear
on the American position. As there
was no attack last night our men sus-
pect that some surprise is being pre-
pared py the enemy. They assert
however, that they are not afraid of
any number of Spaniards who may be
sent against them. They have placed
3-inch field gun and n Colts rapid
fire mountain battery on the hill dur
ing the temporary cessation of hostili-
ties and now are prepared to give the
Spaniard a warm welcome.
The Americans spent the morning
cutting and burning the undergrowth
about the camp to obliterate the hiding
places to which the enemy resorted
during the opening engagements. The
spanish troops are not expected to
nght In the open, as they are practical
ly helpless If they have nothing behind
which to hide.