Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-02

showed that 5000 of those at Manzanillo
had covered half the distance to San
tiago, and it is the belief of military Of
ficials that General Pando is making
similar advance with his $1,000 men from
Holguin. These advances, now prac-
tically unopposed, are regarded as one
of the most serious phases of the situa-
ton.
There is the further element to which
the military authorities are giving care
full attention. that one man entrenched
behind earthworks or in rifle pits Is
worth three men in the open. 1t is said
that the battles of Charlottesville and
Spottsylvania afforded the most direct
proof on this point.
1t was announced at the war depart
ment that by its reports 5000 soldiers
should be leaving Tampa to join Shat
ter. They will be three or four days on
the voyage, and it is probable that it is
this force that General Shafter refers to
as likely to arrive too late for his action.
General Skaters various dispatches
also contain much information on other
features of the military situation. He
expresses the warmest thanks for the
congratuat tons sent to him by the presi
dent through Secretary Alger and those
of the commanding general, General
Miles, though he modestly refers to the
recent affair in which the rough riders
and cavalrymen participated as unim-
portant. He says only 9G4 men on our
side were engaged, but 1t was very de-
cisive in our favor the enemy retreating
precipitately. The lack of cavalry was
all that prevented the capture Of the
Spanish forces. He expresses the deep
est regret at the loss of Captain Capron
and so many of his men. General Shaft
ter emphasizes the need of horses. In
particular he wants horses for the Third
battalion of the first cavalry and for
Colonel Woods rough riders. He says
the horses he carried on the expedition
stood the voyage very well.
official reports have been received to
confirm the story that General Skaters
troops are in possession of the water
works supplying Santiago. 1t Is not
doubted that the troops crossed the line
of aqueducts and could have cut off the
supply of Santiago If deemed desirable
to do so. The opinion is, however, that
if the pipes have been tapped by the
American troops it has been done with
! the main purpose of supplying them
selves and stock with drinking water.
1t is not thought that there was de-
| liberate purpose to cut off Santiago
water supply, for in the minds Of per-
sons best posted on the situation such q
method, while causing the population
| of the toyyn n good deal of discomfort
would be entirely ineffective in hasten
| ing the surrender Of Santiago.
The country in the rear of that place
to the northward and westward Is said
to be well supplied with streams of fresh
water emptying into the bay, and as our
troops so far have not managed to &C.
cupy that territory, this source of water
is still within reach of the Spaniards.
1t is said also that in city as large as
Santiago there is an abundance of steam
boilers, which could be changed very
quickly into distillers Of the salt water OF
the bay.
Inasmuch as disposition has appeared
in some quarters to question the right
of the American army under the modern
| rules of war to resort to this medieva
means of shortening a siege, it can be
stated that the military authorities here
after careful examination of the mat
1 ter, have reached the conclusion that
there is full warrant for the cutting of
of the water supply 1t would not bt
permissible to do this if the Spanish gen
oral had led his forces out of the towr
several miles at least to repel the in
vaders.