Evening star., 1898-07-04
COMMANDMENT OF SANTIAGO,
The Effort to Force the Enemy's Lef
on Saturday Morning.

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press
On the Hill Near Elpaso Santiago de
Cuba, Saturday, July % pm, via Port
Antonio, Jamaica, per the Associated Press
Dispatch Boat Dauntless-Four batteries of
artillery, which We're placed in position this
morning, began the day with bombarding
thu San Juan quarter of Santiago and the
Spanish position in front of our right. At
ter a quarter Of an hours shelling. Gen.
Lawton's troops. who had been reinforced,
pressed for' ard upon the enemy's left
flank, pouring in an exceedingly hot fire,
which was continued during the greater
part of the forenoon.
1t is not intended to force the fighting be-
fore tomorrow the present plan being to
turn the Spanish left, taking the whole
line in enfilade, and thus obtain a speedy
entrance into the upper end of the city
Admiral SIMPSONS heavy guns thundered
at intervals all the forenoon, and the
American shells were distinctly seen to eX-
piode with tremendous force and loud
detonations beyond the San Juan barracks,
over which numerous Red Cross flags were
flying.
A Mistake.
The concentration of the American bat
teries on what Is now dubbed Grimes Hill,
near our left center, was the result Of a
blunder made last night in posting our
guns SO near the Spanish infantry entrench-
ments that they could not be properly sup
ported. The idea of a cross artillery fire
was perforce abandoned, but the position
occupied by the batteries on our right was
not relinquished.
The rifle firing at that point at one time
was as heavy anywhere along the line
yesterday. The Spaniards kept up volley
firing for fully hour, but the deliberate
spacing of our own shots showed that our
men, as usual, were cool and effective in
their work.
Later Admiral Cervera's fleet in the har-
Dor succeeded in getting an approximate
rarge angle of our advance on the left, and
sent in many heavy shells, which exploded
close to the entrenchments.
1t was realized late yesterday that we
might have hard fighting today in order to
maintain this advanced position around the
large blockhouse or so-called fort Strong
entertainments were. therefore, thrown up
there during the night.
Thus far today the infantry have left
these works severely alone. Near this posi-
ton 200 Spanish soldiers and sixty-two Off
GERS were captured this morning Both
these and the 1000 prisoners taken yester-
day on the right were marched to the rear
during the forenoon. The expression on all
their races was exceedingly sullen.
Inc rumor that one prisoner turned upon
lieutenant Of the 10th Cavalry who had
Just turned him over to! the guard, and
stabbed him, the guard taking Immediate
vengeance for the dastardIy deed by telling
the Spaniard with a bullet is not con-
firmed. uI ,
Treacherou6 Spaniards.
There are many evidences of disloyal
methods OF warfare upon the part of the
spaniards yesterday. One of their batter
les, masked by blocknoise over which
the req cross was flying, on the road lead
ms from Gen. Skaters quarters. on the
Hio Seviiia, to the fropt, has been for two
Gays infested at various points by sharp-
shooters. who fired deliberately upon our
wounded and npon cur men who are en-.
gagged. 1t was supposed they have stolen
through our lines on the right, taking
refuge in the hospitals
In the trenches captured by us many
sfelis and exploded cartridges have been
found.
Ine Impression appears to be well found
ed that the Spanish lcsses will probably
amount to 5000 killed and wcanded. The
losses OF the Speniards are much heavier
than ours. In some Of the trenches the
corpses lay In Inbrcken lines, and occa-
sioraliy two or three Deep 90,
1t was not General Skaters intention to
attempt general assault on the Spaniards
today, unless our bombardEaent and Gen.
eral Lawton's obliQue fre on our right de-
veloped an exceptional opportunity. The
morning orders were to .conhne our prin-
cipal operations to the defense of the po-