The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-07-07
SQUADRONS MERGED.
Gen. Pando with q, 100 Men and . Sup
ply Train fastening to Reinforce
Gen. Linares at Santiago.

Fort Antonio, Jamaica, June %, by
way of Kingston, Jamaica, June SO.-.
The flying squadron, hitherto com.
manded by Commodore Schley, has lost
its identity by an order issued by Rr.
Adm. Sampson, and it has been merged
into the fleet under the admiral. The
order caused considerable surprise on
board the Brooklyn, which has been
the flagship of the flying squadron,
where it was supposed the squadron
would remain intact at least until the
fall of Santiago de Cuba.
From two Cuban officers picked up
by the Fixen Wednesday it has been
learned that Gen. Pando is moving
east from Manzanillo with s,7OO Span
ish troops, for the purpose of assisting
the beleagued city of Santiago de
Cuba. The Cubans had come to Acer-
raderos in small boats, with dis.
patches from Gen. Rios for Adm.
Sampson and Gen. Rabi. They re-
port that Gen. Pando has with him
seven battalions numbering s,7OO
men) with cattle and pack train with
provisions. He left Manzanillo,
province of Santiago de Cuba, on June
90, to relieve Gen. Linares. The Span
iards were moving at the rate of 12
miles a day when the messenger left
and at their present speed it is expect
ed they will reach Santiago de Cuba
next Sunday, July 8.
The Cubans have a small force hang
ing on the Spanish flank and rear and
harassing Gen. Pando's troops at every
step. Manzanillo is 1877 miles west of
Santiago de Cuba, and the roads are
in bad condition. The Spaniards say
that if Gen. Pando reaches his goal it
will be with less than half the force he
started with.
The Cubans who are harassing him
only number about 200 men, but in the
passes and in the bush they are at a
great advantage. 1t is probable that
immediate steps will be taken to throw
a force of Anne ricans and Cubans be-
tween Gen. Pando and Gen. Linares.
Pressed as the latter is on the east he
could not spare q man for sortie to
the west.
Adm. Sampson has ascertained that
Adm. Cervera's feet has moved into
the upper harbor of Santiago de Cuba.
Gen. Shafter, in his dispatches to
the secretary of war, complimented
the fleet for its assistance in landing
troops.
With the soldiers landed from the
Yale Tuesday and Gen. Garcia's army
transported from the westward, 1,00C
men in all have been disem barked in
the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba.
WASHINGTON, June 3O.-The military
authorities here say that Gen. Linares
has shown great military tact in slow
ly retiring during the last few days,
as he has gradually drawn our troops
away from the protection of the
| American ships and brought then
close to the fire of the Spanish ships
| in Santiago harbor. For this reason
| it was with relief the announcement
| was received here that Shafter haC
succeeded in landing all of his artil
lery, including his siege train, for un
less Sampson can be relied upon tc
force his way into the harbor and at
tack the Spanish ships, these siege
guns planted on heights commanding
the bay will be the main reliance O.
Gen. Shafter in offsetting the presence
of the. Spanish ironclads.
Undoubtedly Shafter is animated t.
attack as soon as possible by his
knowledge of the approach of the re
Inducements for Linares from Man
zanillo, for with this additional force
Skaters position would be disagree
able if not perilous, at least until ht
had received reinforcements. The
war department received the frs
definite news Wednesday as to the
approach of these Spanish reinforce
ments. This was in an official dispatch
from Gen. Shafter, stating that 5000
men, with pack trains and droves o
animals were advancing from Mama
milo and were "a miles from Santiago
|
from Lieut.. Joyce, made to Gen. Miles
that the Spaniards have $4,000 men al
Manzanillo and 10000 at Holguin, ant
every precaution has been taken t.
guard against their advance from eithe
quarter. The official report Wednes
day showed that 5000 of those at Man
zanillo had covered half the distanc
to Santiago, and it is the belief o
military officials here than Gen. Pand
is making similar advance with hi
10000 men from Holguin. These ad
vances, now practically unopposed
are regarded as one of the most ser
ious phases of the situation.
Stamps ON Telegraph Messages.
New YORK, June 3O.-On and afte