New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-02
DANGERS OF THE SITUATION.
FORCES THE AMERICANS MAY HAVE
70 CONTEND WITH IN AND
AROIIT SANTIAGO.

or Santiago de Cuba. June 90. p. m. via
Por, Antonio. Jamaica July Ia two Gays
visit TO the Cuban lines and outposts by corre-
sponden. Of The Associated Press has prough'
to light situation which, II not broken ny
vigorous and successful attack on Santiago. may
result IL, more serious work than has been an
tcipated with the Spanish forces.
The forces IN Santiago AID within the fortined
defences OF the city now number ll,oU-i""
regulars and 1000 volunteers. Concerning the
latter he Cubans allege that they Will not nsht
with any heart. hui; will lay down their arms
According To Spanish soldiers captured yester-
day and held in the camp of General Perez. near
Guantanamo. half Of the force OF men on the
Spanish warships has been landed. with all
the rapii-nre guns. This would make total
force IN the city Of $500 men. In addition.
there arc the ships In the harbor.
T. meet this force. or at least to Invade Its
stronghold the American commanders have now
seventeen thousand five hundred men and about
four thousand Cubans-,he latter to prevent II
possible flank movements at the expense Of the
Americans
MOVEMENT OF SPANISH TROOPS.
Now here Is the dangerous and most sig
nincant feature Of the situati Marching from
Manzanillo. enc hundred and twenty miles west
OF Santiago. and. having hecn on the rodu i"i
six days quite well advanced row In his prog
rcss is General Pando with seven battalions,
agsregating eight thousand four hundred men.
To oppose him Is General Jesus Rabi. with
force q two thousand two hundred Cubans.
lying in wait seventeen miles from Sah'aso
and on two roads
or course IL would be possible for General
Pando 10 take his column far to the north and
make a junction with the Spanish troops sup
posed to be on the way from Iolguin and num-
herring Il IL said eight thousand men. This adj
vance from the north is being held In check ny
about fifteen hundred Cubans. under General
Castillo who SAYS he can hold the passes
General Castillo admitted in camp yesterday
as he smoked lis cigar and slipped his cohee'
that his method was TO do Indian nghtns IN the
mountain passes. When he was asked what MS
forces would do II nanked. he gravely said ne
had not thought Of that. but he supposed ne
would have to retire. The object OF the Spanish
advancing from Manzanillo. may he to e'uue
Rabi and. by efrectng junction Win 'he
Spanish from the north. TO form an army OF
II 400 men.
COMBINED FORCE OF CUBANs
A flank ON the west end Of the American
army. facing the city. General RabFs forces
give only n combating force Of 300 Cuhans'
and the t'uhans do not hesitat, to run before
overwhelming numbers.
t. the Yves, 81 the Guantanam" camp of
marines there IS n force ~ 500 Cubans UNDER
command - Colonel Perez. This force had
variousy been estimated al from l.Sn to 2on
Cubans but there were certainly not more than
500. as Colonel Perez admitted In conversation
although he had previously asserted that he had
about 1000 men.
This force 81 500 Is supposed 20 be keeping at
bay .. iOO Spanish troops who are In the town
OF Guantanamo The marines near this
cary but to the east ~ It. 40 that they could
do nothing to prevent the Spaniard- from NOV
Ing 10 the west on the flank ~ the American
Army.
In othet words there are T. the northeast ana
ives. Of III. army of invasion a thanking force
Of spaniards comprising over 2uppp troops. held
a, bay by less than 1000 Cubans.
In an intervinw with General Garcia the cor
respondent called attention 10 this SITUATION.
General Garcia replied:
Il belieyr that we should be left 10 the west
and north ITO prcvent Pando making junction
with Iinares We can do that
In spite Of this waning General Garcia and
his force taken +" the east and landed
with the Army. only TO We transported in part
back again 10 prevent the very movement which
General Garcia had predicted. The solution ~
the difficulty evidently lies IN n brilliant and
quick attack
The unrellabil!ty - the Cuban statements as
70 forces may be better understood when 1t Is
known that the twelve hundred men Perez
promised to send to help the marines numbered
exGc,ly eighty-two. % whom twenty one are on
the sick list from overeating.