Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1898 — BOŢLED UP IN THE BAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOŢLED UP IN THE BAY

Spanish Armada Is Entrapped at Santiago de Cuba. SCHLEY BLOCKS DONS’ WAY? Admiral Cervera Will Now Be Forced to Surrender or Fight. Our Squadron Is Guarding tbe Entrance tb the Trap at Santiago de Cuba arid Spain’s Ships May Never Leave That Harbor-Madrid Has Official Advices of Cervera’s Predica- 1 ment—ToWn la Short of ProviataMl* and Could Soou Be Starved Into Subjugation. Washington special: The Navy Department has official and positive information that tbe Spanish fleet is at Santiago de Cuba, and that the American warships are on guard to prevent its escape. A cipher dispatch from Commodore Schley was received at the

Navy Department stating that he is off Santiago, guarding the harbor entrance, to prevent the escape of the Cape Verde fleet. This places Admiral Cervera and his ships in prison and incommunicado, according to Spanish regulations. They are as securely imprisoned as any insurgent in Morro Castle. The Spanish admiral

has played himself a Spanish trick and has bottled himself np in a harbor where he could not go out and make ah even fight if he wanted to. ‘A much inferior force could prevent the Spanish fleet leaving the harbor because of the narrow inlet which permits only one vessel to pass at a time. He would have to take his fleet

out in single file and be able to use only his forward guns, while the ships waiting outside could pour broadsides into him os he made the run. Sampson and Schley have the Spaniards imprisoned and can keep them there until they surrender. The naval authorities say that with the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba, it ceases to be a factor in the war. It is imprisoned and cannot be released. Should Spain send another fleet to Cervera’s relief, Sampson can station his monitors in front of the inlet to destroy Cervera’s fleet as it comes out, and take the fighting ships to meet the coming fleet. The only question With naval officers is as to how long it will take to starve out the Spaniards. It is not believed that Santiago has enough food, to support the people and the Spanish troops and the Spanish navy for more than two or three months. ' Spanish Mail by French Boats. The Madrid postofflee has authorized the dispatch of letters to Cuba and the Philippine Islands by French mail boats. Cuban Volunteers Landed. The 380 Cuban volunteers taken from Tampa by the steamer Florida have been successfully landed in the island. The steamer also carried several thousand Springfield and Remington rifles, a large amount of ammunition, and a quantity of other military supplies. Water Scarce at Key West. • The Government is having to ship drinking water to Key West. Wednesday the wetexwhip Maverick came in with 1,000,000 gallons, and also towing a barge containing 350,000 gallons.

A Valuable New Book on the Waav, Thewar with Spain la the topic now: uppermost In the minds of tbe people, and, as tbe navy is playing tbe most important part in this memorable conflict, every one is anxious to follow the movements of tbe fleets and acquire authentic information regarding the construction, speed and armament of each vessel. The most accessible source from which to obtain a tborougb knowledge regarding American warships Is “The Official Photographs of 3he. United States Navy.” This is a hand-( some book, with illuminated cover, containing over 200 views made by JE.* H. Hart, official naval photographer? together with a large colored map of the East and West Indies, showing all the Spanish possessions and by means of which the reader can locate the position of each squadron. It is impossible to enumerate the wide range of subjects covered without naming them 1 all, but it can be said that no feature that is of any importance Is omitted. Torpedo boats, torpedo boat destroyers, cruisers, battleships, gunboats, monitors, rams, dynamite cruisers, dispatch vessels and other war craft are shown, exhibiting the American navy as it exists to-day. A complete description of the construction, displacement, sfce, speed, batteries, armor, crew and cost of each boat enables the reader to form an accurate estimate of our fighting strength. Included with these are photographs of the leading Spanish men-o’-war, also fully described. Perhaps the most interesting portions of the book are views of the Maine, takenbefore the disaster in Havana harbor, showing the life and discipline aboard the battleship, together with portraits of the officers and crew, supplemented by photographs taken after the explosion, depicting the divers at their work, and other incidents in connection with this sad find memorable event. Taken, all in all, it is doubtful if so much in the way of immense public interest and coneern and so opportune in the scope covered was ever presented at such a low price. The book is sent by mail, postpaid, on Receipt of twenty-five cents, by Chicago Newspaper Union, 93 South Jefferson street, Chicago, UL

ADMIRAL CERVERA.

SANTIAGO HABBOB.