Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
LINE OF SPANISH RETREAT.
mt the Disposal OF the
War Department.

Information mt the Disposal of the
War Department.
The military authorities here are fully
considering the chances of a retreat of the
Spanish army from Santiago and are en-
deavoring so to shape events that General
Skaters force will not only take Santiago,
but will capture the IL 600 Spaniards before
they get away northward to effect juno
ture with General Pando. Full information
as to the possible lines of retreat has been
placed at the disposal of the War Depart
ment. One Of the most interesting state
ments is that Of General Manager Cox of
the Spanish-American Mining Company, at
Baiquiri, who is thoroughly acquainted
with all the country surrounding Santiago.
He shows that the two possible lines Of re-
treat are: First, by the road to Ell Cobre;
or, second, by following the line Of the Sa-
banillo and Marato railroad. The first line
will be easy for about the first ten miles, or
as far as Ell Cobre, but after that the coun-
try is mountainous and barren. and would
not afford subsistence, and the pass to
reach the central plateau of the island
would be difficult.
The more likely line Of retreat will be
along the line of the above mentioned rail-
road, crossing the Sierra Maestro at Ell
Cristo, q pass 600 feet above the sea, ten
miles north of Santiago, which is the low
est pass through the Sierra Maestro for
rolling plateau of rich agricultural land.
At MANAGES, on the railroad. two miles
north of the pass is an iron bridge, con-
sisting G. a series of thiry-foot spans on
iron trestle bents. This point is about two
miles beyond the Cristo summit. and just
beyond this bridge the railroad divides in
to two branches. The destruction of this
bridge would be the most feasible method
Of preventing the approach of General Pan
dos Spanish troops to relieve Santiago
1t Is probable that If the Spaniards re-
treat by this road they will make a stand
pass of Ell Cristo. The only other pass
through the mountains near this point is
at Escandel Summit, about six miles i'll q
straight line east of Ell Cristo pass. Es-
candel Summit is 200 feet above the sea,
and is reached frcm Santiago via Caney.
good. being wide enough for vehicles. Be
tween Caney and Escandel the road, which
IL no mora than a trail. ascends the noun
tains and Is very winding and broken. Be-
yond Escandel across the range, the coun-
try is heavily timbered and broken. and
country for ambush. This Is probably the
only pass through which the Spanish posi-
ton could be turned should the Spanish
troops occupy the Cristo plateau and pass.
The railroad has been fortified by line
of blockhouses. protecting the bridges, and
certain zones OF cultivation inclosed be-
tween these forts have been planted dur
ing all the time Of the war. and would at
ford supply for the army for certain
time. In the meanwhile sweet potatoes
could be planted, which in three months
would ripen. These zones OF cultivation
exist along the road as far as San Luis,
at which point there Is considerable of the
country in cultivation. On the other branch
(the Sabanilla branch) the zones of cult
walton extend as far as SongO.