The record-union., 1898-06-04
BOTTLED UP.
Spanish Fleet Securely Locked in
Santiago HarbOr

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 3
By the Associated Press dispatch boat
Wanda, via Kingston (Jamaica). June
3.-(Copyright, 1898, by the Associated
Press.)-Rear Admiral Sampson. with
the United States cruiser New York,
his flagship, accompanied by the battle
ship Oregon, cruiser Mayflower and
the torpedo-boat Porter, joined Com
modore Schley's squadron off Santiago
Wednesday morning, and their COM
bined command have the Spanish
fleet securely locked in the harbor
Admiral Sampson left the heavy
monitors and light gunboats off Car
denas Monday morning, all danger Of
the appearance of the Spanish from the
eastward having been removed, with
the definite information that Commo-
dore Schley had hunted them to their
hole; and, under command of Commo-
dore Watson, the monitors and gun
boats returned to reinforce the block
ade on the north coast of Cuba.
Admiral Sampson did not assume
command and amalgamate the squad
rons on his arrival. Each squadron
retains its separate entity, and Com
modore Schley retains his single
starred pennant on the Brooklyn.
Inc AUleIlCdH meet OIL odulldSO now
numbers twelve fighting ships, two
colliers and a cable-cutting ship. Mel
ther the Solace, the hospital ship, nor
the Red Cross ship State of Texas,
which the Associated Press dispatch
boat Dauntless passed on her way here.
has yet put in an appearance. The
fighting ships include the New York,
Brooklyn. Iowa, Oregon, Massachu-
n,Io
head. Dolphin, Mayflower and Vixen
and the torpedo-boat Porter.
There is every indication that active
preparations will begin at once. The
last cable which binds Cuba to Madrid
and the outside world was cut to-day.
Pending the execution of Admiral
Simpsons plan Of campaign, our ships
form a Gordon about the entrance Of
Santiago harbor to prevent the possi bic
egress of the Spaniards. Communica-
ton has also been had with the shore.
The mountains and hills which sur
round Santiago are in full possession
of the insurgents The reconnoisances
made by our ships, principally the
smaller yachts and torpedo boats,
which are able to creep close in shore
at night, have pretty definitely deter
mined the location and character of the
defenses of the harbor. Several new
batteries have been thrown up on the
high ground on each side Of the en-
trance, and it is evident that the Span
iards are prepared to make a strong
resistance.
The mines in the narrow, tcrtuous
| channel, and the elevation of the forts
| batteries which must increase the ef-
fectiveness of the enemy, and at the
same time decrease that of our own.
reinforced by the guns of the Spanish
| fleet inside make the harbor as it now
arrears almost impregnable. Unless
the entrance is cOuntermined 1t would
he folly to attempt to force its passage
| with our ships.
| But the Spanish fleet is bottled, and
| the cork If this is DONE the next news
! may be q thrilling story of closing the
harbor 1t would release a part of our
fleet. and leave the Spaniards to starve
| and rot until they would hoist the white
| flag. Not a gun has been fired from
| shore or ships since the bombardment
| on Tuesday.
| The Spanish fleet, which lay near the
| mouth of the harbor on that OCCASION
| has withdrawn to a safer anchorage
| further in, probably behind Cayosmitch
| and not a glimpse of it has been seen
since.
Spanish American war drama, of which
| the Cuban revolution was but the pro-
! (Continued on Eighth Page.)