North Atlantic Fleet Squadron Bulletin No. 1
U. S. F. S. New York, 1st Rate,
Off Santiago de Cuba, Cuba,
June 13, 1898.
S Q U A D R O N B U L L E T I N N o . 1.
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Information has been received that the Army was to leave Tortugas to-day.1 Unofficial news states it is to come round the west end of Cuba.2
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The St. Paul from New York, and the Vesuvius from scouting in the Old Bahama Channel arrived to-day. The St. Louis from Mole St. Nicholas <arrived> with despatches. The latter has returned to Mole St. Nicholas. The Collier Scindie, Commander Watson,3 has arrived at Guantanamo.
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Preparations have been made to open a telegraphic office at Guantanamo;4 it is hoped it will be in operation on the fourteenth, so that dispatches may go via. Mole St. Nicholas.
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The firing at Guantanamo has to-day been much less.5 The total losses have been:--Surgeon Gibbs and four marines killed on the eleventh, and two yesterday−-Sergeant Major Good6 and Private Taurman, the latter by falling off a cliff--.7 Six marines have been wounded.
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Sixty officers and men of the Cuba forces <at Guantanamo> have received arms, clothing and food, and have been of great service. Five hundred more are expected.8
Source Note: TD, DNA, RG 313, Entry 56. The first word in angle brackets is taken from the printed version of this bulletin. The second angle bracket is a handwritten interlineation. See, Squadron Bulletins, 5.
Footnote 1: The U.S. Army convoy left Tampa for Santiago de Cuba campaign on 14 June.
Footnote 2: The convoy steamed around the east end of Cuba and arrived at Daiquirí on 20 June.
Footnote 3: Cmdr. Eugene W. Watson. The correct name of the collier is Scandia.
Footnote 4: For more information on cable communications, see: Telegraphy and Cable Cutting.
Footnote 5: The U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo on 10 June. For more information on the subsequent action there, see: Naval Operations at Guantánamo.
Footnote 6: The secretary had typed “Woods” but someone handwrote a “G” over the “W” and crossed through the “s”.
