The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-15

and definitely located four spanish
armored cruisers and two torpedo a
d~estroyers. He saw also three small
cruisers or gunboats. Lieutenant Blues
report has definitely exposed the fiction
that any OF Cervera's cruisers were IL
rhe Bahamas. or In a position 10 ATTACK
the transports. Admiral Sampson COM
plimented him upon his daring n sue
cessful mission. He reported also that
diminishing continues In the hills around
Santiago between the Cubans and Span
iards. Tie latter have been repairing
the Notifications of the city.
The vesuvius. which Joined Admiral
Simpsons fleet of Santiago Monday
morning. is to be. followed by the Erics-
son, the Foote and other torpedo boats.
The arrival Of the torpedo feet will con
FIRM the opinion that Admiral Samp-
son intends to force the harbor on h
coming OF the troops. Every man In the
fleet is a~nxiously awaiting the soldiers,
for 1t is recognized that no decisive
movement Is possible until the troops
effect a landing. Everybody Is desper-
ately tired Of the present disheartening
conditions. The tedious maneuvers, the
ceaseless watching and the exasperat-
ing inactivity are telling on officers and
men.
At no place are the troopships more
anxiously watched for than on the sun
blistered hill top where Lieutenant Col
onel Huntington's marines lie In rife
pits under an almost continuous hail Of
Spanish bullets. Forty-eight hours OF
practically ceaseless fighting have we'll
nigh wrecked the men, who arrived here
incapacitated for active field duty by
the long wait on the Panther. With few
exceptions, however, the marines show
spirit under the persistent fire Of the
Spanish bushwhackers. the officers par
ticularly exhibiting the GOODNESS and
nerve OF seasoned campaigners.
A grim touch of realism was added to
the warlike scenes when the flags on
land and on the ships were placed at
half-mast at moor Monday and Sergeant
Major Goode was buried on the stony
hillside. scarcely 20 PAGES from the spot
whe he fell. The service was impress
sive, as the men felt that their situation
was desperate and openly said that they
expected to be gradually slaughtered
until the arrival of the troops. The men
freely criticise a policy which compels
them to hold a position that could be re-
I, taken, they say, by half an hours she'll
ing; but not the faintest disposition 10
manifested to do otherwise than to fight
II out.
Lieutenant Anderson of the Marble
head, with a steam launch, dragged the
harbor channel for mines and went with
in 40 yards of the fort and the city limits.
Although he did the work with the
greatest care, he found not the slightest
indication Of explosives. He Is highly
commended for the clever execution OF a
perilous duty. His report shows 1t pos
sible to take light draught ships right ur
to the port, as the sounding gives Is feet
in the most shallow spot in the channel
A bombardment Of the city and fort
of Guantanamo was expected Monday
afternoon, but the plan was abandoned
Despite the heat the health of the ma
rines ashore Is excellent, aside from ex'
haustion. On board the ships in tn
harbor the weather is delightfully."- cool
and the sailors here. like those of San
tiago, are in very good health. There Il
a good deal Of complaint as to the insult
fcient food supply on h ships. TIL
ward room mess on one ship sat dow
Monday to corned beef and hardtack
The officers of many vessels complain o
the shortage Of necessaries like flour
potatoes and Ice.