The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-07-15

proposition for conditional surrender
accepted. They did not want the Span
! ish troops to have an opportunity peace
fully to evacuate the beleaguered city.
! While the SpaniardS left white flags
floating over their intrenchments, the
Stars and Stripes were raised over the
| American lines as soon as the armistice
ended
1t is expected that by tomorrow six
batteries, with thirty-six guns, will be
in position to sweep the Spanish lines.
although Gen. Shafter can get along
without them when our troops open
fire from the ridge of San Juan hill.
From that point the key to the Spanish
position can. be swept with artillery
and infantry fire, and it will be inn
possible for the enemy to live in 1T.
Plot to Rush the Dons.
am told by officers and line officers
that whole regiments in the forward
trenches have agreed to rush upon the
Spanish lines at the first opportunity,
either with or without specific orders.
Officers of regiments and companies,
when asked about this report, pretend
ignorance, but they add that they do
not know whether they can hold the
troops in check or not.
A great part of the results accom-
plished thus far in the operations be-
fore Santiago have come about with
out specific orders. At Ell Caney, for
instance, our men had fought all day,
| slowly forcing their way through
hedges lined with barbed wire, and
through woods filled with entangle-
ments in the face of withering fire to
within few hundred y=rds of the
enemy's trenches. While these troops
were preparing to charge, am told,
one of Gen. Skaters aides rushed up
to Gen. Chaffee with an order to desist
from attacking Ell Caney proper, and to
march TO the support of troops in front
of Santiago. Gen. Chaffee, my inform
ant alleges. refused to obey except on
the written order of Gen. Shafter. The
aide went back to Gen. Skaters head
| quarters, and returned half an hour
| later with an order to cease the attack
on the village. Gen. Chaffee pointed
| to the lines Of the Twenty-fifth and
| Twelfth Infantry, who then were climb
! ing the steep hill toward the principal
fortifcation of Ell Caney and said:
There are my troops. Go and stop
| them"
| The aide returned to Gen. Shafter, it
| was added, and reported the alleged in
subordination, but before his report
was heard by the American commander
Ell Caney had passed into possession of
Gen. Chaffee's troops.
l am told that the reason the Spanish
proposed to evacuate Santiago if they
could march out quietly with their
arms and ammunition, was that they
feared they would be massacred by the
| Cubans If they would surrender uncon-
ditionally. There is much feeling be-
| tween our troops and the Cubans, due
| in part to the refusal of the insurgents
to help build roads. The New York,
Massachusetts and Michigan troops
have done this work.
Told by DESERVING Don.
A Spanish deserter, who entered our
lines this morning, was taken to Gen.
Wheeler's headquarters. where he told
of the situation in Santiago He said
that the Spanish soldiers were much
better satisfied since Gen. Toral took
command. owing to the wounding of
Gen. Linares. Toral, he said, issues
supply of rum to the soldiers three
times day and has paid each soldier
So. That is the first pay the Spanish
troops have received in six months
They still are willing to fight if given
plenty to eat.
Although the water pipes leading into
the city have been tapped, enough water
for all present needs is obtained from
the wells in the city. There is also
enough rations, particularly rice and
beans, on hand to supply the Spanish
forces for some time. this deserter de-
clared. He said that the city streets
were filed with trenches. and that
many houses had been loop-hooled. SO
the troops could fire from within
From this same deserter the informa-
ton was obtained that there are no
vessels of any kind in the harbor; that
Gen. Toral has plenty of rifle ammuni-
ton, but that artillery ammunition is
now in and about the city numbered
II, 600 men, including the reinforce
ments which recently arrived.
The conditions of the refugees at FL
Caney is slightly improved, but the
situation is such as to invite disease.
The Red Cross is doing excellent work,
but the relief furnished to the sufferers
still lie inadequate.
yultures Attacking the Dead.
Efforts are being made to mark the.
graves of all the Americans killed in
the operations about Santiago. Vul-
lures already are attacking the mounds
where our fallen heroes are buried.
It is proving to be impossible to keep
soldiers from violating the rules laid
down for their guidance. The men
persist in eating green fruit and drink
ing unboiled water.
Soldiers today carved the name of the
late Lieut.. Guerney on the San Juan
blockhouse. He participated in the
fighting on San Juan hill as member
of the Twelfth Infantry. and was killed
there.
The body of Sergt. Hamilton Fish,
Jr., has been disinterred and now is on
the way to New York.
Roosevelt's Rough Riders still hold
position in the front line of the Ameri-
can forces.
The fire of the feet on Santiago was
directed bv signals from hill top, but
the shots were aimed too high and fell
bevond the CITY. The men on land
then signalled that the r&rge was too
! long. This novel method of communi-
cation with the feet worked well, and
the American oupners soon found the