Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-06-30
THEY ARE PREPARED
Spanish Position Strongly Fortified
at Santiago.
IT CANNOT Be EASILY TAKEN,
The Rows Of Rihe Pits Protected by
BRrbcd Wire Fence, Make AS
snult Dinlcult-NIOre Ariil-
lery III Needed,

the American army rests on this
stream, with the city of Santiago
four aud u half miles westward In
plain sight
Last night the outposts, consisting
Of two companies OF the Seventh in
fantry, under Major Coolidge, occu-
pied positions at right angles 10 the
road, guarding the crossing mile
and half beyond Sablnalla, where
three regiments OF General Lawton's
division camped, the First Fourth
and Seventeenth. The Eighth, the
Second and Twenty-second Massa-
chusetts, with the rough riders,
Tenth cavalry and portions OF several
other regiments, are strung out be-
hind them toward Juragua. About
900 Cubdns, under General Gonzales,
were camped around General Law
toms headquarters, but less than fifty
OF them did scout duty last night.
General Wheeler to-day, with the
First, Second and Tenth cavalry, and
rough riders, with dynamite gums,
moved up 10 where General Lawton's
outposts were last night, and four
batteries OF the Third artillery and
four Calling guns, with special de-
tail, under Lieutenant Parker, were
brought up and planted on the brow
OF u hill overlooking the basin in
which Santiago lies,
Not shot was fired from the
American side last night, though the
front of the American line was not
$500 yards from the intrenchments
where the Spnniards propose to COM
bat the advance ON Santiago
Cannon shots were heard during
the night. They seemed TO come from
the distant Spanish batteries, or, per-
haps, from seaward. The top of every
hill aud mountain north and east of
Santiago is occupied by blockhouses,
whence the Spnniards can view the
movements of the American army as
IL advances beyond SabinallQ, while
TO the eastward of the city gashing
every knoll aud every bit of high
ground, are Spanish intrenchments.
The correspondent of the Associ-
ated Press, from an elevation to the
right Of the American line, to-day
counted thirty-Gour of these intrench-
ments, completely fencing every APP
proach to the city. The trenches
have been dug as the conformation
OF the ground admitted. The ends OF
the trenches overlap where breaks In
the line occur, thus securing compar-
atiyely safe retreat from the rifle fire
In case parts of the trenches are cap
tured, Upon some of these works
modern guns have been mounted.
They can be plainly seen with the
naked eye.
Spies report that inside the in
trenchments are four parallel lines
of rifle pits, shoulder deep and in
front of them are marked ranges and
several rows of bnrbed wire fences.
No officer who has surveyed the
field over which the advance must be
made underestimate the task ahead
of the Americans. although orlr bows
still express the most contemptuous
opinion of their adversarles.
The general opinion is that more
artillery will be necessary before II
will be safe to attempt to make an
assault upon the Spanish works, as
the fire of the rifle pits must neces-
sanity be deadly and sufficient to de-
moralize amy force, no matter how
brilliant in it's courage, when halted
by wire distractions.
Some officers believe 1t will be nee
essary to lay regular siege to San
tiago, and advance with a line of
earthworks until the rifle pits can be
shelled with shrapnel by the light ar
tillery. These pieces have an etfec-
tive shrqpnel range of $500 yards,
and the Mauser rifles in the hands of
the Spaniurls are sighted to 1900
yards and they kill at 2,l00 yards.
However gratifying TO the national
pride ls the careless attitude of our
enlisted men, the grave fear remains
that they may need n more severe
lesson than the ambush Of the rough
riders before they realize the deadly
possibilities Of modern warfare.
The road over which the ordnance
must be brought is densely lined by
underbrush, and the road TO the base
of supplies is in a similar state. But
very little danger is 0pprehended of
flank attack, as it is evident General
Linares is acting strictly on the de-
fensiyc. The failure of the Spanish
troops at lIolguin, Manzanillo and
Guantanamo to effect junction with
him have left the Spanish commander
so weak that it would be an act OF
insanity upon his part to attempt to
assume the aggressive, or to retreat.
The problem now confronting the
army is the transportation of sup
plies, for the roads to the front are
still impossible for wagons, but are
being improved. In the meantime,
the pack train is being used. The
first of these left Juragua late last
might, and others left to-day. The
officers and men were completely owt
of ratons yesterday. The Seventh re-
ceived half rations, and to-day they
received nothing. The boys are COM
planning bitterly, but are pacified
with the assurance that the pack
train will be here tonight.
Should night attack occur, our