The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-01

main at Juragua. Captain Wright on
his reconnaissance. obtained informa-
ton, which is believed 10 be reliable.
10 the effect that 5000 Spanish troops
have been sent 10 reinforce the garri-
son at Aguidores.
PLACING THE ARTILLERY.
General Lawton will probably make
a diversion with his artillery, so soon
as it is placed in position Heavy
rain this afternoon made 1t impossible
to move today beyond General Wheel
ers headquarters, but the roads will
dry quickly. The guns will probably
be brought up tomorrow and the in
trenchments will be shelled by the ar
tillery and by Colonel Woods dyna-
mite guns. The shrapnell fire will be
more used by the artillery. The guns
are 3.2 inches and with shrapneli,
they are effective at $500 yards.
The Cubaus say the Spaniards are
in deadly fear of dynamite and General
Lawton will see how he can terrify
them.
simultaneously with the lombard
ment, General Chaffees brigade will
move forward and occupy position
Of vital importance in advance OF our
front. The correspondent of the AS
sociated Press is not permitted at
present to divulge its location.
The military telegraph line has been
completed as far as General Wheel
er's headquarters, thus placing the
front in direct communication with
General Shafter, who still maintains
his headquarters on board the Segu-
ranca, where he can keep in close
touch with Rear Admiral Sampson
1t is probable, however, that he will
establish his headquarters at Juragua
tomorrow or Thursday.
TROOPS KEPT IN MARCHING OR
DER.
The troops belonging to General
Lawtons division are kept ready TO
move, in light marching order, while
the accommodating parties are out.
This precaution is considered neceS-
sary in order to avoid disaster in case
the small parties of troops should col
lide with the Spanards in force. Not
a single skirmish has occurred thus
far.
The Cubans under General Castillo
are doing commendable work as ad
vance pickets. They are thrown out,
day and night, from half mile to a
mile in advance of our pickets, along
the front and f1anks, thus forming a
double Gordon about the army.
s There are now more than $4,000 men
at the front.
Drinking water for the troops at the
front is obtained from the Rio Guiana,
a stream full Of springs, running di-
rect from the mountains. This water
I is remarkably good and is now care
fully guarded from pollution. The Gu
bans and our soldiers bathed in it at
/ first, but strict orders have been is
+ sued against such practices in the fu
ture and sentinels have been placed
TO enforce the orders.
= PLENTY OR FRUIT.
Strict orders have also been issued
about eating the great variety of trop-
zical fruitS-mangOeS, oranges, etc.-ln
(which the woods abound, the only eX-
ception being made in the cases of
milk from green cOcOanuts, which is
considered healthy and refreshing, and
lines. Some of our men made them
selves sick through eating fruit.
An epidemic of measles, which was
started on board one or two trans
ports is spreading to the camp and
about twenty new cases have broken
out today. The disease is not danger
Gus, but the men attacked have been
sent to the rear, where they can have
airy quarters. Our boys are cheer
full in spite of the excessive heat, and
the hard fare which thus far has been
confined exclusively to coffee, hard
tack and bacon, a diet hardly suited
for the climate. Rice would make a
splendid staple here But the great
deprivation is that both men and Of
ffcers are suffering from the lack of
tobacco.
SCOUTING PARTIES COLLIDE.
The men are remarkably steady and
confident. The pickets show none of
the nervousness which might be ex-
pected and there are practically no
alarms or phantom firing" on the
lines at night. Two accommodating
parties, one of the Ninth cavalry and
the other Twenty-fourth infantry, COL
lided this morning and several shots
were exchanged, fortunately without
accident, before their identity was es
tablished.
THE FLYING SQUADRON IS NO
MORE.
copyright by Associated Press.)
On the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dauntless, Off Santiago de Cuba,
Tuesday, June 2S (nighD, via Port
Antonio, ia, Wednesday Morning,
June 20, by way of Kingston, ia, June
90, l p. m.-The flying squadron, hith-
erto commanded by Commodore
Schley, has lost it's identity by an order
issued today by Rear Admiral Samp-
son, and it has been emerged into the
fleet under the admiral. The order
caused considerable surprise on board
the Brooklyn, which has been the flag
ship Of the flying squadron, where it
was supposed the squadron would re-
main intact at least until the fall of
Santiago de Cuba. Commodore Schley
has been assigned to command the
second squadron attached to Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet.
GENERAL PANDO ADVANCING.
From two Cuban officers picked up
| by the Vixen today ii has been learn
| ed that General Pando is moving east
ward from Manzanillo with S, 700 Span
| ish troops for the purpose of assist
| ing the beleaguered city of Santiago
| de Cuba. The Cubans had come to
Aserradoes, in small boats. with dis
| patches from General Rios for Admiral
| Sampson and General Rabi. They re-
| port that General Pando has with him
| seven battalions (numbering S700 mem
with cattle and pack train with pro-
| visions. He left Manzanillo province
| Of Santiago de Cuba on June 22nd to