Schley's squadron off Santiago on the first of
June.

A naval officer with the squadron summed up the situation in a
communication to his friend at home:

"Pending the execution of Admiral Sampson's plan of campaign, our ships
form a cordon about the entrance of Santiago Harbour to prevent the
possible egress of the Spaniards, should Admiral Cervera be foolhardy
enough to attempt to cut his way out."

The officers of the blockading squadron were well informed as to the
situation ashore. Communication with the Cubans had been established, and
it was known that a line of insurgents had been drawn around Santiago, in
order that they might be of assistance when the big war-vessels had struck
the first blow.

The defences of the harbour were fairly well-known despite the vigilance
of the enemy, and it was no secret that within the narrow neck of the
channel, which at the entrance is hardly more than three hundred feet
wide, eighteen or twenty mines had been planted.

A report from one of the newspaper correspondents, under date of June 1st,
was as follows:

"So far as has been ascertained, there are three new batteries on the west
side of the entrance. These appear to be formed entirely of earthworks.

"The embrasures for the guns can easily be discerned with the glasses.
Cayo Smith, a small island which lies directly beyond the entrance, is
fortified, and back of Morro, which sits on the rocky eminences at the
right of the entrance, are Estrella battery and St. Carolina fort. Further
up the bay, guarding the last approach to the city of Santiago, is Blanco
battery.

"The first are of stone, and were constructed in the early sixties. St.
Carolina fort is partially in ruins. The guns in Morro Castle and Estrella
are of old pattern, 18 and 24-pounders, and would not even be considered
were it not for the great height of the fortifications, which would enable
these weapons to deliver a plunging fire.

"Modern guns are mounted on the batteries to the left of the entrance. On
Cayo Smith and at Blanco battery there are also four modern guns. The
mines in the narrow, tortuous channel, and the elevation of the forts and
batteries, which must increase the effectiveness of the enemy's fire, and
at the same time decrease that of our own, reinforced by the guns of the
Spanish fleet inside, make the harbour, as it now appears, almost
impregnable. Unless the entrance is countermined it would be folly to
attempt to force its pa