The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-29
CONCERNS SANTIAGO.
War Department Procures Valuable
Information From Two Men.

Washington, June 29.-Two men who
are recognized by the military authori-
ties as having complete information of
the ground around Baiquiri, Jura qua,
Santiago and the entire field of present
war operations have been at the war
department. They are George w
lean Iron company, with headquarters
at BaiQuirf. and c. H. Zeigenfuss, gem
eral manager Of the Juragua Iron COM
pany. They were asked to join Gen.
Skaters staff to assist in the advance
of our army. They have been confer
ring with Brigadier General Stone on
Gen. Miles staff, on the best means of
getting troops, light and heavy artil-
lery and stores westward from Gen.
Skaters present base.
Mr.. Pfeiffer says there were about l.
600 Spanish troops there when he de-
parted from that place and another l.
900 at Siboney. They were we'll equip
ped but there was no organization or
drill as in the American army About
the only systematic action was when
the bugle sounded for rations. With
war declared the Spaniards began their
depredatiOns and considerable of the
mining property of the SpaniSh-Ameri-
company, was destroyed. But the fine
ocean pier of the company, being built
of steel, resisted all efforts at destruc-
ton ana mas proved an effective means
for landing our troops and stores.
Mr.. Zeigenfuss says Juragua exists
only in name as there is no town what
d IL.
town proper is Siboney. This lies on
the coast, while the SO-called Juragua
is four miles inland. 1t is between Sib-
oney and the Juragua mines that Shat
the ground is denseIy covered with un-
derbrush with few patches of open
ground. There are no roads thus far
east The only thing in this line is
trails wide enough for a horse or one
man. They would be of no service for
light or heavy artillery, or for any
army unless the engineers cleared them
out
From Siboney west to Santiago the
prospect for the rapid advance of our
army is much better. Instead of trails
good roads begin to run toward Santi-
ago. MIR. Zeigenfuss says the COM
pany has good railroad running from
Siboney direct into Santiago. While
the Spaniards have destroyed the San
tiago end, considerable part of the
track remains. There were nine loco
motives and several hundred fiat cars
gOndolas. etc. up to the time Mr.. Zeig-
enfuss left SibOney- There is only one
bridge along the route. 1t crosses the
San Juan river and is regarded so es-
sential for the use of our troops that
three Warships from Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet are covering it with
their guns. There is practically an
open field around Santiago, well suited
for the maneuvering of troops. Mr..
Pfeiffer says the city has prac ticalIy no
defenses II the land side. There are no
walls, no Qualifications, no blockhouse
and no intrenchments. Anything in this
line must have been put up hastily
within a few weeks. He asserts that the
only thing in the way of defense from
the land side, so far as he knows, is
double line of barbed wire, about five
or ten feet apart, with a tangle of the
wire in the intervening space. He cal
culates with forced marches Gen. Pando
might reach Santiago within five or six
days. Mr. Pfeiffer doubts, also whether
the Cubans could stop the advance of
Spanish reinforcements, as their main
body is with Gen. Shafter, and they
could not hope to DO much against Pan
do and TO- 900 men.