The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-18
NEWS THAT BROUGHT RELIEF.
Reinforcements Reach Our Hard-Pressed
Marines at Crest Hill-A Fine
Military Stroke.

WASHINGTON. June 16.-Like the re-
lief of the beleagured garrison at
Lucknow came the welcome news to
the navy department yesterday after
noon that the little band of American
marines who had planted the Ameri-
can flag on Crest hill, and we're de-
Tending it night and day against
heavy odds, were not only safe, but
were strongly reinforced by 1,50O Gu
bans from the commands of Garcia
and Rabi, and were now strong
enough to more than hold their own.
1t was disclosed in a dispatch from
Admiral Sampson and brought much
relief 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
Gen. Skaters invading army reached
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 tirneliness of this Cuban co-opera-
ton.
The admiral in his dispatch states
that the condition of the marines was
entirely satisfactory, which assurance,
although brief, was enough to relieve
officials here of the fears they had en-
tertained.
But probably the most significant
feature of the admiral's dispatch was
the statement that the Cuban general
Rabi had occupied A~ccerrados, only
eight miles from Santiago and practi-
cally a suburb of that Spanish strong
hold.
1t was the execution of a plan ar
ranged in Washington some weeks ago
when two staff officers of Gen. Garcia
came here to confer with Gen. Miles.
At hat time Garcia and Rabi were at
Bayamo, in the western part of Santi-
ago province, and more than 100 miles
west of Santiago de Cuba. Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch showed that Rabi
and his force had made a complete cir
cult of Santiago de Cuba and coming
up to the south of it had occupied Ac-
cerrados.
This is looked upon as a fine mill
tary stroke, for Accerados is the port
where iron wharves will afford facil;-
ties for unloading the heavy artillery
carried by Gen. Skaters invading ex-
petition. The news also indicated to
the authorities Eere that the garrison
at Santiago has practically retreated
inside the city proper, giving up the
outlying towns.
Admiral Sampson also states that
Gen. Garcia is cooperating with the
American forces. Whether this mean
that Garcia himself has arrived from
Bayamo is not quite clear, but if he
has, the joint forces of Garcia and
Rabi will make 5000 seasoned Cubans.
recently armed with S~pringfelds.
From sources other than the dis
patch of Admiral Sampson, the navy
department has been informed that
500 Cubans were rendering efficient aid
to the marines at Crest Hill. Now
that Rabi and Garcia are. on the scene
this 500 will be swelled to thousands.
News of the routing, with severe
loss. of the Spanish guerillas and the
capture VI IilCII "dlCL supply ny hC
marines and Cubans had not been re-
ceived up to the close of the depart
ment. but it is felt here that it will
make the Spaniards very cautious and
enable our forces to get much needed
rest.
In making his march Rabi has
crossed the line of communication be-
tween the Spanish commander Gen.
Pando, at Holguin, and the Spanish
forces at Santiago de Cuba. This fact
makes it clear that Santiago is lot
likely to get reInforcements from Gen.
Pando.
In circling around Santiago to reach
Acceradoes, Rabi, it is believed here,
has also established it as a fact hat
the lines of communication and re-
lief to Santiago are interrupted and
practically cut off in all directions.
A disagreeable impression has been
created among officials here by the re-
fusal of the Spanish authorities to
carry out their early offers for the eX-
change of Lieut.. Hobson and his asso-
ciates. The good faith of the first
offers are now being questioned and
the impression is growing that the
Spanish are indirectly e~ndeavoring to
hold Hobson as a valuable prisoner.
Secretary Alger yesterday afternoon
denied positively that the government
was considering the ACCESSIBILITY of
making another call for volunteer
troops. On the contrary, the war de-
partment is entirely occupied with the
task of completing the equipment of
the large number of organizations still
without accoutrements, and has not
even taken up in earnest the procure
ment of the $4,000 men called for in the
second proclamation of the president.
All that has been done so far under the
call is to arrange to fill up the regi-
ments secured under the first call that
are short according to the present
standard of the service.