The herald., 1898-06-11
SPANISH AT SANTIAGO
PREPARING FOR A DESPERATE
DEFENSE
SIMPSONS MEN ARE NtsT IDLE
A Wild and Woolly Rumor of Fleet
of Spanish Ships OFF Fort
Monroe
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT WANDA, off Santiago
de Cuba, Thursday Afternoon, June g. via
Kingston, Jamaica, June 10, 1890 p. m.-
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
In Santiago de Cuba there are about 20 900
Spanish soldiers, chiefly infantry, but with
a fair contingent of cavalry and field ar
tillery, drawn from the surrounding coun-
try. During the, daytime, the cavalry skir-
mishes in the vicinity, returning at night to
barracks. During the last few days the
activity Of the Spaniards has been particu-
larly noticeable. Oxen trains have been
making their way to the batteries, detach-
ments have been working on emplacements
and there have been other signs showing
chat the Spaniards are preparing desper-
ate resistance.
Some guns from Admiral Cervera's ships
may be moved to the forts. The insurgents,
about 5000 strong, have taken position on
a mountain to the westward. Two thousand
insurgents of this gathering are unarmed.
General MaXimo Gomez, now about $50
miles inland, is making his way toawrd the
coast. Admiral Sampson is actively CO.
operating with the insurgents. Yesterday
General Minail of the insurgent forces and
his staff went on board the New York for
long consultation.
The naval officers have been doing splen-
did and daring work in carrying communi-
cations and arms to the insurgents and
making trips ashore for the purpose of gain
ing information. Upon the gunboats Suwa-
nee and Vixen this work has chiefly de-
volved. The Suwanee landed 100000 rounds
of small arms ammunition, 800 Springfield
rifles 100 carbnes, 2000 machetes, with
equipments and provisions. They were
landed yesterday "wednesday about tif-
teen miles west of Santiago to some 500 in
surgents, who came down to the beach, the
main body remaining in the mountains. The
debarkation of supplies was tedious but
uninterrupted. The insurgents reported
that irregular engagements between their
forces and the Spanish cavalry were Of
daily occurrence. The Cubans were hard
up for supplies and ammunition, and were
overjoyed at the sight of the Suwanee's
cargo. Some, almost ravenous hacked at
the slices of bacon and ate raw beef. They
had been living on lines, cocoanuts and
sweet potatoes
Wild War Rumors
NEWPORT NEWS. Va, June 10, 2 a. m.-
(By Associated Press) A dispatch just re-
ceived from Fort Monroe says:
Intense excitement was caused at Fort
Monroe last night shortly after o'clock by
a dispatch received from the signal station
at Cape Henry stating that Spanish war;
ships were lurking in that vicinity.
"A short while later message was re-
ceived from Washington instructing the
commander of the fort to be on the alert.
reports as to the number of ships seem
to conflict. A lieutenant who was seen after
midnight said that he had been informed
that a Spanish battleship, two cruisers and
a torpedo boat had been caught under the
searchlight of Cape Henry steamipg in a
northerly direction.
"As soon as 1t was reported that the en-
emys warships had been sighted there was
great activity at the fort. The big search
light began to sweep across the bay and sig
nails were flashed to the cruiser Minneapo-
lis, auxiliary cruiser Dixie and dynamite
cruiser Buffalo, which were anchored off
Old Point. Quarters were sounded and the
crews hastily prepared the ships for action.
1.-The gunners took positions at their posts.
where they were ordered to remain during
the night. The ships searchlights were
kept playing on the waetr.
I'm the fort ammunition was hurried to
the big guns ana troops oruereu 10 tnelr
posts. Some of the officers were with their
families at the hotels. and buglers were dis
patched for them. The men scurried out of
the hotels, half dressed and fastened TO the
fort In the camp of the Maryland troops
orders were given for the men to sleep in
their clothes, with their guns close by
dispatch that came from Washington
stating that one of the vessels seen was
iybt baI
dency to allay the excitement among the
guests at the hotels, but the officers did not
relax their vigilance
At 2:30 a. m. there are no new develop
ments regarding the supposed Spanish war;
ships reported to be off Cape Henry.