omprising the third expedition to Manila embarked at San
Francisco.

The sloop _Isabel_ arrived at Key West flying the Cuban flag. On her were
Capt. Rafael Mora, Lieut. Felix de los Rios and four others of the Cuban
army, carrying sealed dispatches from the Cuban government to Senor T.
Estrada Palma, of the New York junta.

The U. S. dynamite cruiser _Vesuvius_ shelled the fortifications at the
entrance to Santiago harbour.(30)

The water-supply of Santiago cut off by the American forces.(31)

A Spanish fleet entered the harbour of Port Said, Egypt, at the head of
the Suez Canal, on the twenty-sixth. It was composed of:

Battle-ship _Pelayo_, Admiral Camara's flag-ship.

Armoured cruiser _Emperador Carlos V._

Auxiliary cruiser _Patriota_, equipped with twelve guns, and carrying
troops and marines.

Auxiliary cruiser _Buenos Ayres_, equipped with ten guns, and carrying
stores and a few troops.

Torpedo destroyer _Audaz_.

Armed merchantman _Isla de Pany_, equipped with two guns, and carrying
stores and a few troops.

Auxiliary cruiser _Rapido_, equipped with twelve guns.

Steamship _Colon_, unarmed and with no troops.

Torpedo destroyer _Proserpina_.

Torpedo-boat destroyer _Osada_.

Transport _Covadonga_, carrying no guns.

Collier _San Francisco_.

_June 27._ The United States government, determined to delay, if possible,
the progress of the fleet toward the Philippines, instructed its consul to
protest to the English government against the coaling of the fleet at Port
Said. In response to such protest the Egyptian government refused Admiral
Camara's request to buy coal, and also refused to allow him to hire a
hundred and fifty native stokers.

The U. S. transport _Yale_, laden with troops, arrived at Daiquiri.(32)

The President sent to Congress the following messages:

"_To the Congress of the United States_:--On the morning of the third of
June, 1898, Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hobson, U. S. N., with
a volunteer crew of seven men, in charge of the partially dismantled
collier _Merrimac_, entered the fortified harbour of Santiago, Cuba, for
the purpose of sinking the collier in the narrowest portion of the channel
and thus interposing a serious obstacle to the egress of the Spanish
fleet, which had recently entered that harbour.

"This enterprise, demanding coolness, judgment and bravery amounting to
heroism, was carried into successful execution in the face of a pers