The San Francisco call., 1898-06-20

@ ON BOARD ASSOCIATED C Q PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DAN @ DY, OFF GUANTANAMO, June C IS (via Kingston, Jamaica, June c @ 19).-Cuban scouts report to-day Q that the inhabitants of Caima- = nera have strewn the streets with . straw and oil with the intention . of destroying the city and fleeing tS to the hills. Caimanera lies four e miles up the bay from Camp Me Q Calla, under the guns of the Q American ships and the situation C . Is desperate. Starving and fam 0 ine-stricken, convinced of the ul- @ timate triumph of the American c arms and without faith in the Q protection of the Spanish sol c diery, the people are believed te Q have determined to leave their C c houses in ashes behind them and 0 seek safety in the hills of the c north. The scouts declare that e every building of the town is be- c ing rapidly prepared for the c torch. c
 The situation of the besieged is a fearful one The people are eating horses and mules and are securing the hills for fruits and herbs. Occasionally brief bOmbardments by the American fleet leaves the helpless citizens terror stricken, no preparations for defense being made. It is also stated that the Spanish gunboat at Caimanera has been loaded with inflammables and will be burned with the city, her command CT declaring that she will never become an American prize.
 The scouts also say that the Spanish soldiers are in almost as complete a state of panic as are the civilians and that they could easily be induced to surrender. Some of the prisoners taken by the marines also say they believe the Spanish troops are on the verge of sur Arender. owing to the lack of food.
 Captain McCalla of the cruiser Mar blehead, and Lieutenant-C Colonel Hunt fngton, in command of the marines, are not so sure, however, of the reported Spanish rout They received informa- ton yesterday that a general attack by a force of $500 Spanish soldiers and guerrillas on Camp McCalla is contem- plated within night or two. Prepara- ton was made for an assault. When lllE E1SSDCie1tE0 ACSS QlSDdlCn DOdl Dandy arrived in Guantanamo the hills about the marine camp were brilliant under the shifting rays of the search lights of the Marblehead, Dolphin and Scorpion and the marines were lying in the rifle pits, at the guns, ready and anxious for battle, but the night passed without the firing of a shot.
 The same watchful care was exer- cised to-day, as Captain McCalla is convinced that an attack is likely to occur at any time.
 The Iowa joined the fleet here this morning and later the admiral came over on the flagship to inspect the for tifications and confer with Captain Me Calla and Lieutenant Colonel Hunting ton.
 The coast in the vicinity of Guanta- nano is dotted with the bright-hued Cuban flag. Numerous camps of the in- surgents have been established along the beach between Santiago and this place. and are used by the admiral as means of communication with the Cubans in the interior. The aid which these men have given has proved highly valuable to the Americans. Their stories of the destitution and revolt among the Spanish soldiers in this vi- cinity have been corroborated by inter- views with prisoners captured around the camp.
 General Pereto, who is in command of the Spanish forces here is undoubtedly desperate in regard to the obtaining of food for his men. The prisoners who have been captured appear to have been ill-fed, and are apparently indif- ferent to their fate.
 Another body of five Spaniards was captured yesterday by Ensign A. A Pratt of the Marblehead. While cruis- ing in a steam launch outside the bay he picked up a forty foot sloop con-