The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19

the Cayo Toro, until they set fire TO the
fort on the Playa del Este, burning the
house of the pilots, which was occupied by
a detachment of American marines. The
cannonading, with more or less intensity
continued until 8 o'clock in the afternoon,
"As the Playa del Este had only two muz-
zle-loadlng guns and sand entertainments,
the detachment could do nothing before
six ships firing upon them from all sides
and they retired into Managua ana to
Cuzco Hill, where they remain to-day
making sallles on the beach.
Prom that day the soldiers occupied
Punta Caracoles, observing the movements
of the ships, which occupy all the outer
port with war transports, variable num-
Der of armed ships, other vessels Of war
and armed merchant ships, Total is never
less than four.
II have also taken the Enanto passes
and the vigilant gunboat Magnet is here
ready to fall on them where damage can
be done.
II remain in Caimanera, and Will only
leave when I think il necessary.
Il have not been abe to antagonlze the
American ships with rife fire.
Forts Sandoyal and Cayo Toro fired
their pieces of artillery, but their effective
ness was interfered with by the shortness
of the range, or when the ships retired to
the center of the channel and took up a
position in the middle of the bay they
would not have stopped answering the
| fire. which the enemy ships were keeping
up with imppnlty.
"Sandoval has not over seven rounds of
armor-piercing projectiles, and Caimanera
battery did not fire, reservirg its fire un-
til the ships entered the channel, which is
| where its guns reach.
II am told the insurgent forces at Bara-
Goa have come down to Signabos, being
apparently pleased at noting that the
American squadron has taken possession OF
the outer bay. as if for a base of opera
tlons, the American ships having anchored
as if in their own ports.
Since Saturday the Americans have cut
cables which are at the entrance and the
| center of The harbor and / have not
! been able to repair them, but they have
not again molested me, except with two
cannon shots on Monday.
1t appears from the work which is be-
ing done that the Americans are prepar-
ing to plant the harbor with mines or to
place their ships so as to embark troops
at Playa del Este. their favorite place.
If this turns out to be the case, and
that l have been the first 10 can your
attention to it, 1 would suggest that some
of our vessels should come here. The
members of the fire brigade are In good
! spirits.
| L am continuing to serve our half ra-
tons TO everything, and in that way I
4 shall able to reach to the end of the
month only, especially In bread.
i have no flour of any kind as I have
| previously said, and / have no way OF
| getting any as there has been no grain
/ here for some time past We are equally
! short of quinine in the hospitals.
| However, l have taken possession Of
/ the private drug stores and win have
enough until the end of the month. The
town is suffering from privation.
"On Saturday we has only two men
wounded. At Craigo Moro, the cable
house was riddled with shell, but 1t still
| stands, and If the Americans abandon the
/ port which 1 doubt, everything possible
| will be done 10 re-establish communica-
ton, to which end l have everything
ready.
To-day there is In the haTbor a large
armored vessel, the Oregon, and seven
more vessels, with a large transport, the
st. Paul, which appears to be a store
! ship.
"They patrol the harbor with armed
! launches.
II return to Caimanera after seeing the
hearer of this dispatch started. He is
worthy of my confidence. I earnestly rec
ommend him to your excellency, should
! he arrive. Felix Pareia.
Commanding Second Brigade, Eastern
Military Division of Cuba"