The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-24
OFF SANTIAGO!
Eyes of the Spanish Soldiers
Are Opened.


eral shafter Conferred With General
Garcia-Assurances on the Troops I'm
munity From Disease-Shafter to Have
Reinforcements-Estim as to the
Enemy's Strength Near the Scene
Kingston, June 22.-As soon as the
neet of transports arrived at a point
about 20 miles off Santiago Monday al
lernoon the steamer having on board
General Shafter and his staff left the
other vessels and steamed to the nag
ship of the American fleet in order TO
visit Rear Admiral Sampson. The gem
eral went on board the flagship ana the
Seguranca proceeded to Acerraderos
little over II miles west of Sal-tiago, near
which General Garcia is encamped with
5000 Cuban soldiers. General Smarter
and his staff and Rear Admiral Sampson
were conveyed to Garcia headquarters
about a mile inland, where they spent
several hours IN consultation. General
Garcia gave the Americans assurances
that they need have no fear of contract
ing diseases on the southeastern coast of
OuDd, DIS lHe ClllIldIG IIIClC 10 AlOb ali
healthy, only extremely hot, at this
season of the year. The Cuban general
declared that his own troops, i'll fed and
clothed as they were, were in good
health, and therefore the Americans
need not fear fevers brother ailments.
General Shafter examined the condi-
ton of the Cuban soldiers during his
visit and was impressed with their hardy
and soldierly appearance, though he
recognized the fact that they need
clothes and provisions both of which
were given them during the day. The
interview closed with the understand
ing on the part of both generals that
small bodies of troops are to be landed
at once at several points along the
coast, where they will be safe from seri-
Gus attack by the Spaniards and will be
able to keep the enemy in doubt, for the
present, as to their ultimate intentions.
Before nightfall all the other trans
ports and the conveying warships had
drifted nearer to the shore, and the
Spanish soldiers, watching from the
bluffs on both sides of the entrance of
Santiago harbor must have been i'm
pressed by the great array of vessels
standing off shore. There were nearly
so of them, including the troopships and
the men-Of-war, comprising Rear Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet and the squadron
of Commodore Schley. The 5000 Spanish !
soldiers and perhaps 1000 sailors guard !
ing the city and harbor of Santiago |
doubtless concluded that there was but /
a small chance Of overcoming the force
of American warships and some 10000 /
American soldiers and sailors which will !
be hurled against them before the pres
ent week is over.
The soldiers most of whom beheld the I
shores of Cuba for the first time in their
lives, watched the steep mountain sides
through the gathering darkness with .
many thoughts of home passing through |
their minds, realizing the fact that in
a few days they would be fighting for
their country's honor in the deep canyons
which were then darkly visible in the
gloom of the passing day, and wonder
ing how many of them would return to
the homes they had left to do service
in the nations cause, and how many
would find a grave in that strange and .
distant land they had come to conquer.
The newspaper dispatch boats, which
had been steaming back and forth
among the transports since the arrival
of the latter, were held at every stage
of their passage with the request to take
latters to the nearest mailing point, Civ
ing accounts of the voyage and an
nouncing the safe arrival of the army
off the enemy's coast For some it might
be the last word for mother, wife or
sweetheart at home from him who had
answered the call of his country and left
family and fireside with light heart,
buoyant spirits and all the enthusiasm
of youth to combat foe foreign to him
in race, tongue and natural instincts.
According to the regulations at the out
break of the war, not light was visible
on any of the ships and the Gordon of
men of-war lying under the Spanish
guns near Moro castle kept their vigil
with more than usual care during the
dark hours of the night to guard against
the approach of a destroying torpedo
boat which might attempt to run out of
the harbor and, with a well-directed
shot, sink a troopship in the depths of
the sea and send the souls of those
aboard her into the realms of eternity.