Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-06

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through submarine mines. or from the
shore batteries. Little account is
taken Of the mines Vince the spanish
fleet passed over them The spaniards
are in the habit Of usizk contact mines.
so that there Is little likelihood ~
their being mines operated by electric
connections with the shore. The forts
and batteries have been badly weaken
ed by the constant flfe OF the fleet for
many weeks past and while still
factor, they are greatly disabled.
Once up to the city. the fleet and army
could combine in terrific double fire.
No less than 292 heavy guns would be
trained from the American warships on
the city. and at the same time the big
siege guns. which. 1t is believed. are at
the front of Skaters line, would rain
down torrent Of steel from that
quarter.
The siege guns throw shells of 1876
pounds. Aside from them there are four
Morton howitzers and large number of
smaller howitzers. These are In the
heavy artillery, while the light artillery
embraces number Of guns of 32 calibre.
Combined. this fire from land and sea
would be terrific in Its effect.
The action OF the foreign representa-
tives at Santiago has been an additional
reason for deferring the bombardment.
1t was known, late today, that one Of
Gen. Skaters dispatches stated that
these representatives had joined in a re-
quest to him to put OF the Smelling of the
city for another brief period until their
respective colonies could be removed.
This accounts for the departure of the
foreign warships from Santiago harbor.
as they are bearing away the foreign res
idents in the period before the lombard
ment begins.
The activity of the consuls at Santiago
has led to no diplomatic complication
which has reached the state department
thus far, and the authorities here feel
that nothing of that nature will develop.
The state department. today, took occa-
sion to dispel some of the Spanish illu-
sions over. the escape of Admiral Ger
vera's fleet. 1t seems that Madrid is not
alone in the belief that the fleet made
handsome sortie from Santiago and left
the American ships far in the rear.
"A telegram came, today. from United
States Minister Lunis at Caracas, saying
that the Spanish residents there were
clarifying the Spanish naval victory. The
minister was briefly informed that Ger
vera's feet had been destroyed, the ad-
miral made prisoner and that Gen. Shat
ter had demanded the surrender Of the
city.
The definite official report reaching
here. today. that the Spanish fleet had
entered the Suez canal, made no change
in the plans of the navy department as
to sending Commodore Watsons squad
ron to the coast of Spain. Secretary Long
said it would start at the earliest pos
sible moment, but he did not care to give
the day of departure.
The humiliation of the Spanish fleet
continues to be an absorbing topic among
naval officers and they are giving most
generous praise to Commodore Schley for
the notable manner in which he directed
the fight when the immediate command
fell to him. The commodore's friends
have long predicted that If he secured an
opportunity he would render a good ac-
count of the fighting ability of the Amer
lean navy. and they are glad this oppor-
tunity was afforded.
1t is one more and perhaps the greatest
achievement in a long line with which
Commodore Schley's name has been assoc
ciated, the others including the relief of
the Greedy Arctic expedition and the
command of the Baltimore at Valparaiso
when war was imminent as a result of a
mob attack on the American bluejackets.
The war department has chartered the
steamer Grand Duchess of the Plant
Line. for use as transport. She is now
at Newport News and is well adapted for
the work intended. The lat Rhode Island
Regiment Infantry, Col Abbott COM
manding, is under orders to proceed to
Santiago on this vessel and may leave
Camp Algcr at any time. The OLDHAM
purchased from the Netherlands Line, is
being fitted out to accommodate 1900 in
fantrymen. The Mobile of the Atlantic
Transport Line. is being prepared to ac-
commodate cavalrymen and will be sent
to Southern port for transporting such
troops.
Hereafter the OLDHAM is to be known
as No. 80. the Mohawk as No 20, the
Mississippi as No. %, the Mobile as No.
1, the Port Victor at No. and the Pana-
ma as No. 3. This is in accordance with
the policy adopted of changing the names
of foreign vessels to designated numbers
after they come into the possession of the
United States.