The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-23


men. also regulars. At four p m, after
a gallant assault, the Americans took
San Juan, its garrison being either killed
or taken prisoners, except few who had
escaped to Santiago de Cuba. At six.
after repeated ASA ults in which the
Cuban forces under Major Hany took
part. the Americans occupied Eel Caney.
The garrison o this village persisted al
most in the assault and those who escaped
died in the field, among them General
Varia Del Rey, who was already fatally
wounded. The enemy attempted to make
q sortie from Santiago de Cuba and was
repulsed. This day General I4inares, COM
manding the garrison, was wounded IN
the trenches of Santiago. He turned MS
command over to General Toral.
The Americans advanced 20 tne
suburbs of the city by the road ieaalng
from Caney. the vanguard being the
Cuban forces under Col Gonzales. ur
losses his first day of July were about lUO,
all our forces being I'm der the enemy's
fire.
the right flank of his army on the ad-
vance on Santiago and l made a nlgnt
march, camping as ten O'Clock the same
night at the country house Ducureau,
after ordering some forces almost on to
Santiago.
At dawn of the I'd continued to ad-
vance by the right flank toward the north
side OF the city. Gen. Cabreco, going
with his division in the van guard and
at the extreme Of the same Gen. Sanchez
Nechevarria with his forces. Upon
reaching the railway line from Santiago
to San Luiz the Cuban van guard halted,
the van guard occupying the heights
across the line. When Gen. Francisco
Sanchez advanced by the railway line on
Santiago. on the morning OF the "a he
met four guerillas, who fired on our
forces, which returned the fire and killed
them. Ferrero, advancing by the right,
met and defeated guerilla on the M, nh
we held as also the heights Of La
Carload. During the day ordered a
column to advance by the railway line to-
wards San Luiz The enemy after light
fire, abandoned the village OF Cubitas
and Boinato and several forts, reconcen-
trating in San Vincente. During the
whole day of the second. heavy fire ex-
who from the Notifications fired with
rifles and guns at our positions. We had
ten casualties. This day the French
CO ony let the city accompanied by the
consul of their country taking shelter
under our flag. My forces slept in the
positions occupied, within rifle shot OF
the city.
b On the morning of the third, there was
firing at the city. AT 10 O'Clock the
Spanish navy weighed anchor from the
bay of Santiago, where it had been for
some weeks and within one hour 1t was
destroyed by the American men of war.
Admiral Cervera, with his officers, and
ssamen, about 900 escaped by landing
west of Santiago, but the Cuban forces
on the coast compelled them to surrender
to Col. Cebreco, who afterwards delivered
them to the American navy, against a
receipt.
At 10 O'Clock ordered a force of fire on
the village of San Vicente, which the
spanish abandoned, retreating toward
Ell Cristo and they also abandoned Des
Bocas, on the railroad line of San Luiz.
On the night of the third, by the road
of El Cobro, column of the enemy,
5000 stro ng, entered the city under Col.
Escarrio. having left Manzanillo on the
2ed of June, and being hurried BY the
Manzanillo division up to Biiro. From
tackled by forces of Gen. Estrada, suffer-
ing heavy losses, the dead having been
left strewn by the road. With that
column Lieut.. Col Lora fought. aided
by the cavalry of the division Of Bayamo
and also my escort of cavalry under
Lieut.. Col Poey. Col. Escario recovered
somewhat at Palma where he left his
arrived in Santiago de Cuba by the
Cobre road, having sustained some firing
Perhaps the entry of this main column
into the city might have been prevented
had l been able to meet it with my
forces, but In that case would have
been obliged to have abandoned my po-
sition on the right flank of the Ameri-
pficial message that the enemy had
evacuated the town of Ell Cobre and forts
Bartolen. Monterol, Coleto and San
Miguel. After 10 O'Clock firing was sus-
pended to allow Gen. Shafter to parley
with the Spanish. Asia result of this,
the Spanish governor permitted all the
families to leave the city for fear OF a
families took refuge In the houses and
streets Of Cubitas and Ell Caney.
On the 7th, Gen. Estrada Incorporated
his forces of q 0 men with the besiegiug
army. On this day also some Ameri-
can regiments arrived FROM the United
States. My forces continued to gain
position on the right flank, reducing the
circle around the city.
On the 9Th the armistice discontinuing,
the army asked permission to evacuate
the city md retire to Holguin. Gen.
Shafter replied that he would submit the
proposition to his government. pointed
out to Gen. Shafter the unwisdom of
Allowing evacuation IN THAT form. l
had reliable information from HolguIn
that q strong force under Gen Haria,
about 5000 to 1000 men, was ready to come
to the assistance of Santiago de Cuba.
In view of this l covered all the roads
approaching our rear guard to prevent
the enemy realizing their plans, and also
to prevent those who we're besieged from
making a sortie to reach Holguin. l
reinforced sll that part of my line at
points where they might make the break
At the same time repeated the order
that the forces Of Gamaguey, which were
in the east. and the two divisions Of
Holguin, should so place themselves as
to cut Maria of.
On the 10th / advanced my right flank
to completely close circle and as at 10
O'Clock the armistice came to an end. l
ordered my forces to execute flank
movement chat the enemy might think
intended to surround their position and
trenches of Des CANNES and compel
them to give them up. The operation
gave good results. The enemy In great
haste abandoned the villages OF Des
CANNES and Ell Cobre and all the forts
and trenches on this side of Jarago. With
this evolution, the circle was completed,
the west of the city being occupied by the
forces Of the division of Cuba as far
as the shores of the bay, including the