The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-05
GEN. LAWTON'S HOT FIRE
THE CAPTURE OF OVER TWO
THOUSAND PRISONERS.
VILE USE OF THE RED CROSS FLAGS
Spanish Batteries Masked by Block House
From Which They Were Floating Firing
upon the Wounded--S Spanish Losses
Probably Three Thousand.

VII tie I'LL. llttE L uSo, btipiN 90"
tiago de Cuba, Saturday, July =, ) p. M,
via Port Antonio, Jamaica. per the AS
sociated Press dispatch boat Dauntless.
-Four batteries of artillery which were
placed in position this morning, began
the day with bombarding the San Juan
quarter of Santiago and the Spanish po7
sition in front of our right. After Il
quarter of an hours Smelling, General
Lawton's troops who had been rein
forced. pressed forward upon the en-
emy's left flank. pouring i'll an exceed
ingly hot fire. which was continued dur
ing the greater part of the afternoon.
1t is not intended to force the fight
ing before tomorrow, the present plan
being to turn the Spanish left, taking the
whole line in entilade and thus obtain
speedy entrance into the upper end of
the city.
Admiral SIMPSONS heavy guns thun-
dered ut intervals all the forenoon and
the American shells were seen to ex-
plode with tremendous force beyond the
San Juan barracks, over which numer-
Gus Red Cross flags were flying. The
concentration of the batteries on what
is now dubbed Grimes HILL near our
left centre, was the result of blunder
made last night in posting our guns
so near the Spanish infantry entrench-
ments that they could not be properly
supported. The idea of a cross artillery
fire was perforce abandoned, but the po-
sition occupied by tie batteries on our
right was not reinquished.
The rifle firing at that point at one
time was as heavy as anywhere along
the line yesterday. The Spaniards KEEP,
81, f,,lix l,,ff
deliberate spacing of our own shots
showed that our men, as usual, were
cool and effective in their work Later
Admiral Cervera's fleet in the harbor
succeeded in getting an approximate
range angle of our advance on the left
and sent in many heavy shells which ex-
ploded close to the entertainments.
1t was realized late yesterday that We
might have hard fighting today in order
to maintain this advanced position
around the large block house, or So
called fort. Strong entertainments were
thrown UP there during the night.
Thus far today the Spanish infantry
have let these works severely alone.
Near this position two hundred Span
ish soldiers and sixty-two officers were
captured this morning. Both these and
the two thousand prisoners taken yester-
day on the right were marched to the
rear during the forenoon. The. express
sion on all their faces was exceedingly
sullen.
VILE USE OF THE RED CROSS.
The rumor that one prisoner turned
upon a lieutenant of the Tenth cavalry
who had just turned him over to the
guard and stabbed him, the guard taking
I.ntn g., II
deed by telling the Spaniard with a
bullet, is not confirmed. There are many
evidences of disloyal methods of warfare
upon the part of the Spaniards yester-
day. One of their batteries was masked
by a blockhouse over which the Red
Cross flag was flying, and the road lead
ing from Gen. Skaters quarters on the
Rio Sevilla to the front has been for two
days infested at various points by sharp
shooters who fred deliberately upon our
wounded. 1t was supposed they have
stolen through our lines on the right,
taking refuge in the hospitals.
In the trenches captured by us many
shells and explosive cartridges have
been found. The impression appears to
be well founded that the Spanish losses
will probably amount to three thousand
kllleu WouuuCu. nC IoSStS VI Tic
Spanards are much heavier than ours.
In some of the trenches the corpses lay
in unbroken lines, and occasionally
three deep. 1t was not Gen. Skaters
intention to attebpt a general assault on
the Spaniards to-day unless our bonn
bardment and Gen. Lawton's obIique
fire on our right developed an exceptional
opportunity. The morning orders were
IN capf;ua n,Ip nriucipol rpara tiouc to tho
defences of the positions we have taken,
and reinforcements for the whole line
were sent forth early in the forenoon.
The Second regular infantry was sent
to the right, the Ninth Massachusetts to
the left and the Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth Michigan to the centre, in all
aobut 1000 fresh troops.
The formation of the line to-day is as
follows:
T;en. Lawton on the right, Gen
Wheeler left centre and Gen Bates on
the west Gen. Garcia's main insurgent
force is thrown out to the right. Gen.
Lawton sent a message to Gen. Shafter,
later in the afternoon, saying he was in
possession of several fine positions for
planting batteries to dominate both the
city and the outer Notifications of the
port.
Gen Shafter says Gen. Pando has not
vet arrived ut Santiago de Cuba and
that Gen. Garcia is expected to stop him
and has been asked to do so at all
hazards.
As the correspondent is about to leave
with this dispatch for the seacoast,
heavy fighting has been resumed on our
right. The sharp cracking of the Span
ish yolIpyS alternate with the steady
business-like discharges of our infantry.
1t is understood that we have gained
there substantial advantage commando
ing the Spanish TANKS.
A German newspaper correspondent,
named Ring, was arrested by order of
Gen. Shafter last evening on the charge
of being a spy in the pay of the Span
iards. The safest estimate of the killed
and wounded in yesterdays fight places