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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

North Atlantic Fleet Squadron Bulletin No. 9.

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U.S. Flagship New York,         off Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

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Tuesday, June 21, 1898.

 

The day has been given to arrangements for landing on the 22d. Five hundred Cuban troops were transported by the Gloucester and Vixen from General Rabi’s camp at Acerraderos1 (18 miles west of Santiago), to Sigua (25 miles east). The intention had been to land at Cajobabo (5 miles west of Sigua), but the surf occasioned by heavy weather off Jamaica interfered with this. It is expected that this force, in connection with some 500 Cubans already there under General Castillo,2 will act simultaneously with the landing of General Shafter’s troops.3

     The Order of Battle for the 22d gives details of the proposed landing.4 It is expected to be able to land not less than 2,000 men at a time, the boats of the Squadron sent being equal to this number; the boats of the transports, also available, can transport 1,500.

     Seven mines were found to-day at Guantanamo Bay in the channel leading up to the fort.5 This makes ten recovered out of the total of eleven reported.

     The cable at Guantanamo has been connected with Mole St. Nicholas and an office opened for general telegraphic use.6

Source Note Print: Squadron Bulletins, 19-20.

Footnote 1: Gen. Jesús Rabí.

Footnote 2: Gen. José Rogelio Castillo.

Footnote 3: Maj. Gen. William R. Shafter was in command of the Fifth Army Corps.

Footnote 4: For the Order of Battle, see: Orders for the Landing of the Troops, June 21, 1898.

Footnote 5: Commander Bowman H. McCalla oversaw the minesweeping operations. See: Naval Operations at Guantánamo.

Footnote 6: The cable cutting at Guantánamo began on 7 June, by Cmdr. Bowman H. McCalla and re-established by the Army Signal Service on the same day that this bulletin was issued. See: McCalla, Lessons of the Late War, 1899.

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