Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-06-16
.'|'HE MARINES RELIEVED.
Our Men at Crest Hill, Near Gai-
manera, No Longer 0Vertaxed.
THEY CAN NOW HOLD THEIR OWN

The Insurgent General Rabbi Has Oc-
cupied Acerraderos, About Eight
Miles From Santiago, and the Land
ing of Shafter's Troops Is Assured.
Washington June 16.-Like the re-
lief of the belsaguered at Lucknow
came the welcome news to the navy de-
partment yesterday afternoon that the
little band of American marines who
had planted the flag on Crest Hill and
were defending it night and day against
heavy odds, were not only safe, but
were strongly reinforced by 1900 Gu
bans frem the commands of Garcia
and Rabbi, and were now strong
enough to more than hold their own.
It was disclosed in dispatch from Ad-
miral Sampson, and brought much re-
lief to naval officials.
The early reports had indicated that
the marines were surrounded, and it
was feared that they might be COM
PEELED to return to the ships before
General Skaters invading army reach
ed there on Friday The coming of the
Cuban forces seems to have been in the
nick of time, and naval officials give
the fullest credit to the timeliness Of
this Cuban cooperation. The admi-
rails dispatch stated that the condi-
tion of the marines was entirely sat-
isfactory," which assurance, although
brief, was enough to relieve the officials
here of the fears they had entertained.
But probably the most significant
feature of the admiral's dispatch was
the statement that the Cuban General
Rabbi had occupied Acerraderos, only
eight miles from Santiago, and practi-
eally a suburb of that Spanish strong
hold. 1t was the execution of a plan
arranged in Washington some weeks
ago. when two of the staff officers of
General Garcia came here to confer
with General Miles. AT that time Gar
cia and Rabbi were at Bayamo. in the
western part of Santiago province and
more than 100 miles northwest of San
tiago de Cuba. Admiral Simpsons S
dispatch showed that Rabbi and his
force has made complete circuit of
Santiago de Cuba, and coming up to
the south of it had occupied Acerradores.
This is looked upon as fine military
stroke, for Acerraderos is the port
where iron wharves will afford faciIi-
ties for unloading the heavy artillery
carried by General Skaters invading.
expedition. The news also indicated
to the authorities here that the Span
ish garrison at Santiago has practical
ly retreated inside the city proper, Civ
ing up the outlying towns.
Admiral Sampson also reports that
General Garcia is cooperating with the
American forces. Whether this means
that Garcia himself has arrived from
Bayamo is not quite clear, but If he has
the joint forces of Garcia and Rabbi
will make 5000 to 5000 seasoned Gu
buns, recently armed with Springfields,
as bushwhacking guerilla force, to aid
the American troops From sources
other than the dispatch of Admiral
Sampson the navy department has been
informed that 500 Cubans were render
ing efficient aid to the marines at Crest
Hill. Now that Rabbi and Garcia are
on the scene this 500 will be swelled to
thousands.
In making his march Rabbi has cross
ed the line of communication between
the Spanish commander, General Pan
do, at Holguin, and the Spanish forces
at Santiago This fact makes it clear
that Santiago is not likely to get rein
forcements from General Pando. In
circling around Santiago to reach
Acerradores Rabbi it is believed here,
has also established 1t as fact that
the lines of communication and relief
to Santiago are interrupted and prac-
tically cut off in all directions.