Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-25
NOT OUR TROOPS.
Cubans Instead of Americans
Meet Spaniards.
Washington Authorities Discredit Ru-
mors Of Running Blockade.
Cervera to Use His Squadron In Helping to
Defend Rear Attack by Land.

Washington, June Observation-Disclosures
ing the official Spanish reports of heavy
fighting between the American invad-
ing army and the Spanish forces, near
Santiago. army officers here are conf
dent that no engagement of any mo-
nrcnt has occurred between these
troops Part of the landing project
vas a movement in force by the Gu
bans across the country to prevent the
Spanish forces concentrating upon IN"
beach to oppose the landing of the
American troops. Taken in connection
with SIMPSONS plan of binding the
Spaniards to the real landing place by
an indiscriminate marrying of the coast
for 20 miles east and west, this scheme
worked admirably as far as tho Amer
lean troops are concerned, as was eVI-
denced by their landing without the
loss Of a man.
1t is suspected, however that the
Cubans have had to pay for this eX-
emption on the part of the Am orleans
and that the engagements described in
the Spanish dispatches We're really be-
tween the Cubans and the Spanard9.
Seeing that the CuI5ans. who We're al
most without clothing, have been lib
orally supplied by Sampson and shat
ter, it is conceivable Jhat the Spanards
might easily mistake them for Ameri
can soldiers, at a little distance.
The news coming from Jamaica that
Gen. Pando is sending heavy reinforce
ments to the Spanish general, LnaEas
in Santiago, is likely to have the effect
Of Fastening the campaign against thai
town. by the Americans Pando has
10000 soldiers at HolSuin less than leo
miles from Santiago. They are III"
pick of he Spanish army in Cuoa, and
their commander is known as 'the
Fighting General" We're they To- conI-
bina With the Spanish force in Santiago
the American campaign might be very
much prolonged and the task set for
our troops would be much heavier
Two factors have been relied upon To
prevent this combination. The first
the rough nature OF the country be-
Tween Holguin and Santiago when
would be exceedingly difficult for
troops to cover in less than four or five
days at the earliest The second il
the active efforts of the Cuhans -
harass the Spaniards on the march and
rctard their movements. With tn
:
the Cubans could do this very effectu-
ally, but they could scarcely undertake.
to absolutely check the whole Spanish
force of 10000 men.
The reports from Santiago Indicate
that the Spanish admiral is using his
squadron exactly as was anticipated
to defend the town from attack by SOL
diers in the rear. This only empha
1 1,
necessity for speedy action on the pat
of the INVADERS for We're Pando's men
to reinforce the garrison and CerVela's
squadron in full play, the Spanish fore
would be, from military point of view,
much stronger than the combined force
Of Americans under Shafter and Gu
bans under Garcia and Rab.
1t is believed that considerable reli |
ance must be placed upon the American
seige train, for as soon as the heavy |
seige guns are placed on the crest of
the hills, it is expected that the posi- |
ton of the Spanish admiral below, eX |
posed to a plunging fire. will be un-
tena.ble. and he will be obliged either
to surrender or make a desperate at |
tempt tn escape from Santiago harbor |
The naval authorities here are sat
sfied that no Spanish warship has es
capped from Santiago harbor. so far, |
and the Spanish newspaper stories 10
the effect that the cruiser Reina |
Christina escaped from Santiago" etc.
were received here with a good deal Of |
amusement.
At last accounts that particular YES |
sci was lying in the bottom of Manila |
bay where Dewey had sunk her on
May day The story is regarded as Il
fair sample of those put afloat to de-
ceive the Spanish at home and give
comfort to their friends in Europe
The formal statement by the Spanish
Continued on page a.