The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 2, No. 23, June 9, 1898 | Page 9

and others whose lives are
endangered by the uprising of the natives.

Day by day news from this district becomes more alarming; all of this
part of Africa is at the present time in a state of great excitement, and it
is expected that great difficulty will be experienced in suppressing the
revolt. Early in May, the rebels attacked the American mission at
Rotufunk and killed five of the American missionaries--Mr. and Mrs.
Kane, Miss Archer, Miss Hatfield, and Miss Schenck. Their bodies
have been recovered.
The hut tax, which has been made a pretext for all this trouble, amounts
to about one shilling a year for each member of the population, or, in
case of families, five shillings for each family. The insurrection was
started by a native chief who has given the colonial government much
trouble heretofore.
[Illustration]
During the latter part of May there were first rumors, then reports, and
then confirmed reports that the Spanish fleet was at Santiago, Cuba,
and that it was caught as in a trap by our war-vessels.
The harbor of Santiago is a deep one, with a very narrow mouth, as
stated in a recent issue of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD. The Navy
Department feels extremely happy over the locating of the Spanish fleet
and the fact that it may be kept where it is for the present; this will
make possible the invasion of Cuba and the carrying out of the general
plans of the campaign without fear of having them interrupted by attack
from the Spanish vessels. Santiago is not very well supplied with
provisions, and it will be but a question of time when the Spanish fleet
must either force their way out of the harbor or else surrender. It is to
be hoped that the capture of this fleet will be accomplished without
battle, for battle will mean a large loss on both sides, and it can have
but one ultimate outcome. The inevitable may be deferred, but the
United States is pretty sure to win in the long run.
One or two of our battle-ships or monitors stationed at the entrance of
the harbor will be sufficient to prevent the exit of the Spaniards, even if
we do not succeed in so blocking the channel with obstructions as to
make exit impossible; this will leave the rest of our fleet free to operate

elsewhere. Great vigilance will be exercised to prevent the Spanish
torpedo-boats from running out and attacking our vessels under cover
of darkness. The entrance to the harbor is so narrow that a patrol of
small boats can be established, making such an attack almost
impossible.
Cables connecting Cuba with the world outside are being rapidly
located and cut, and by the time this paper goes to press Cuba will no
doubt be cut off entirely, and we will cease to see reports from Madrid
of what is going on in Havana and elsewhere in Cuba.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: =Latest News=]
May 31st Commodore Schley made an attack upon the forts at the
entrance to the harbor of Santiago, with the intention of ascertaining the
position and strength of the fortifications. At one o'clock in the
afternoon of that day the signal to form column was hoisted on the
Massachusetts; the New Orleans, Iowa, and Vixen followed her as she
steamed slowly toward the harbor entrance. When between three and
four miles from shore two of her 13-inch guns were fired; it is reported
that one of the shells struck the partly dismantled Spanish war-ship
Reina Mercedes, crashing through her bow and killing a number of
men; two shots followed quite near the same vessel; the two guns in the
forward turret sent their projectiles so close to the Spanish flagship that
the spray was thrown all over her. The shore batteries at this time began
a rapid fire on the Massachusetts, but she was soon beyond their range.
The fire was then turned on the New Orleans; the shells from this
vessel struck the large battery on the hill above Morro Castle, and a
great cloud of dust and débris rose in the air as the shells burst. They
must have done considerable damage; the shells which followed sent
portions of the wall of Morro Castle tumbling down, a mass of ruins.
Almost every shot found a mark in either the batteries or vessels. It was
the Iowa's turn next; her shells made things lively for the Spanish fleet
in the harbor, although it is believed she was not successful in hitting
any of the Spanish vessels. The little Vixen swept along after her
predecessors, and banged away with her one 6-pounder with as great an

air of importance as if it had been a 13-inch rifle; then she steamed
away in a