The western recorder., 1898-06-30
,RooPs WAITING FOR ARTiL-
IERY
Gradually ciosinr In on santiaEo-Iss ps
f~uses Thought tn Ne Formid.b ..

Gradually CiosinE In on santiaEo-its Ia
fenses Thought to Ne Formidsb ..
New York. June PA cable to the
Herald dated with Army Near San
tIago, Sunday. by the Herald Dispatch
Boat Mindora TO Port Antonio, Mon
day." says:
Although only three or four miles OF
territory now separates General Shaf-
ter's advance column and the Spanish
forces about Santiago. II Is likely to be
several days before the assault upon
the city is made
Owing 10 the bad condition Of the
roads the machine and field guns can
be hauled to the front only with the
greatest difficulty. Much Of this day
has been devoted to this work and the
guns are now well on the way to the
advance position held by General
Wheeler. The work hardly can be
completed for two or three days, how
ever, and the attack cannot be made
before then.
Seven thousand American troops and
three thousand of General Gnrcla's
forces are encamped within sight OF
Santiago. and the American flag is still
floating all along the way from Bal
quiri to the outskirts of the beleag-
uered city.
1t is apparent now that General
Linares Will offer no serious opposi-
tion to the concentration of The entire
American and Cuban forces about the
city. He abandoned his last obpor-
tunity for making serious trouble
when he ordered his troops to with
draw from Seviila yesterday.
General Linares, the American Off
GERS believe. is devoting all his ener-
giles TO strengthening the defenses of
Santiago, both by land and sea.
From several sources the Information
comes that the Spanish general has n
larger force at his command than has
been supposed. Conservative leaders
in the Cuban army declare that at
least 1000 Spaniards have been gath
cred In Santiago. II also IL ascer-
tained that the cify's defenses have
been strengthened to a marked degree.
and that the capture OF the city will
not be the easy task so many have ex-
pected.
Thus far the Americans seem TO be
more In need of artillery than of men,
but 1t is believed that the composition
Of the present land force is due TO the
plan for the cooperation OF the fleet.
The health of all the troops IL excel
lent. All of the wounded are doing
well.
General Shafter and his subordinate
officers are unsiinted in their praise of
both volunteers and regulars while un-
der fire. Our troops have shown them
selves TO be brave. cool and eager. and
the examples set by the officers have
been worthy of the highest praise.
The next fighting will be directly
before Santiago. Our troops have
swept all before them. They took
Sevilla sooner than they had expected
and without a struggle. Owing TO the
extraordinary energy of our command
ing officers in pushing the men along.
coupled with the eagerness of the
troops TO advance. the American flag
was raised over Sevilla during Satur-
day night.
In this village. where Genenl
Linares had made his headquarters
while American troops were landing. n
desperate engagement was expected.
Spanish troops had been fastening to
that point from all directions for sew
eral days. 1t was the last defense he
tween Santiago and the American
troops. Despite its stretgic import
ance. however. the Spaniards offered
l!ttlc opposition. They fired on our
troops for some time in desultory
way, but without effect They then
retired from the village. leaving 1t for
the Americans TO occupy.
Our troops. after making Sevilla n
temporary headquarters. pressed on 10
n point two miles beyond, and estab-
lished themselves within four miles of
Santiago.
The Spaniards halted in their flight
at Caney, small settlement to the
northeast of Santiago and on the right
of our line.