Action of 13 June 1898 decided to withdraw. At the outbreak of the Spanish–American War Cienfuegos was a strategically important port due to its facilities and good communications with Havana. Some prewar plans recommended its prompt capture, but instead it was blockaded, along with some other important ports of the southern coast of Cuba such as Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo. The most powerful Spanish naval units of the island, meanwhile, had been gathered in Santiago, and submarine defenses consisting mainly of torpedoes had been installed in the major ports of Havana, Cienfuegos, Santiago and San Juan de Puerto Rico. The naval units based in
Santiago (film) Santiago (film) Santiago, also known as The Gun Runner, is a 1956 film starring and co-produced by Alan Ladd set in 1898 Cuba against the background of the Cuban War of Independence. Martin Rackin wrote the screenplay, based on his unpublished novel, as well as producing the film. A hardened gun runner attempts to take a shipment to Cuba to assist with the rebellion against Spain. The project was first announced in July 1955 and was originally known as "The Greater Courage". It was based on an unpublished novel by Martin Rackin, who also acted as producer. Although Ladd had