The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-26

and believed II was but WAS net then n
possession OF accurate informa ton o.
that point. The reason for its belief. 80
far as can be gathered. was hat the
Spanish squadron when last heard from.
ten days ago. was IN thai harbor and &c
had not been seen anywhSCa else IN spite
OF the fact that the scouting vessels ot
the navy fairly swarm in the West Indl-
an waters. and that the United States
consuis on every island are on the alert
to watch and report the movements OF
the Spanish feet
The department officials. accepting TIA
view that Cervsra was IN Santiago har-
Dor. were OF the opinion thar ne was IKE
ly to remain there for loas ilma-wesks
and months, perhaps. A study 81 the d.
fences OF the haroor and IFS tono-rspA-
ical features had convinced the expert,
that TO undertake to carry the place by
storm from the sea and 70 attack tha
feet while II was under the protection n,
the forts would invosvs a grea, loss OF
life on our part sucl a. - Be entirely
understandable under the existing eonai-
tons.
The barber IS known 70 be mined. am
these mines are 50 we'll protected BY su-
diciously placed shore batteries that IA.
usual methods OF countsrmininz could bs
p-acticed only with the utmost perl -
the sailors OF our nee' Moro Castle
one or the principal dctsnces OF the hsr-
Dor, IS perched uuon a very hIrh elevs-
ton. It's guns II served wfth anvthinx
like fair gunnery. could rain a most de-
structive fire down unon our ships ana
not even the battle ships and monitors
are designed 70 resist a pluns'nx IRE %
this kind on th- other hand. Y Is ~
tremely difficult To- guns mounted an
shtpboard 10 he sufficiently elevated "a
throw prOtectiles with my effect against
a modern fertilization Of an elevated biug
or hill. That g. the lesson learned a.
San Juan. and he feet there had he al
vantage OF being bic 10 lie OF ~ lenr
range. which Il w0nd not possess IN thu
attack on Santiago. or course the place
could be taken By assault. but. as already
stated. the officials Gid nor believs ~
present conditions warra7.ss such an sx-
pensive undertaking The EFFORT there
fore. II was said. woald probably BE-
made 70 keep Cervera inside santiago 10
Cuba harbor until starvation compelled
the surrender Of the Spanish squadron
and the Qualifications az Santiago That
this could be done WIS not doubted BY
naval experts as the narrow channel cen
Meeting the inner harb1r wlth TIE ses. re-
curing tho Spanish ships 70 emerge s,n-
ely. would expose them - almost certain
destruction 81 the hands OF a couple II
armored vessels or monitors commanding
the entrance. or course there would -
always the danger o. these watchdog.
being attacked and DESTROYED by n9u7e q
the torpedo boat destroyers attached -
Cervera's squadron. provided their cnra-
manders were desperate enough % face
the primary and secondary batteries -
the American war ships There was also
some risk 81 an attack on the biockadinx
vessels from without.
The news reached the ravy Departments
today that the spauis torpedo Aoat tyr
ror had cleared out 81 the harbor a
Port Sc France. afte Thaving taken coal
from tho Alicante.
Il give the Spanish squadron a fhres
months lease Of ne n they are n san
tiaso harbor." said prominent naval
ofncer this morning lie explained thas
he based his calculation On the length -
time the supplies % ~ feet would haif
,ut. Long before that time expires ~
town % Santiago. which would probably
b cut or entirely by the insurgents and
perhaps BY United States troops. would
practically Be starved oui. hut following
re Spanish practice eisswhere Havana
md Manila. for instance ths military ara
laval forces. appropriatiaR su ths food
supplies. would hold ouf longer.
The long wait Involved IN thir oai~uia-
ion. the of1cer explained. wouid hsv.
Tery substantial compensation fn fhs
probable requirement ~ fHa T'nffsf
'tateg az the splendid vessels that - -
make up the Spanish s0sadron through
heir Eprrender They represent n
money value aio1. % aheuf 81 ~ m srf
ave An additional value 20 ft= F'rifsa
itates ~ thIv furcture that csa18t Dc e.