Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-07-20
LETTER FROM cusa.


landing we have been steadily gain
mg ground, wading through span
ish sirongholds and capturing their
camps, aud thus far have not met
with a single reverse.
lis true that the Spaniards have
made some feeble resistance. but ma
every instancc'the shot and she'll
from the Americans has been more
than they could confront. Their
mode OF lighting is very unfair
and treacherous one nothing Il too
despicable for them TO resort TO.
But unfair as has been their tactics
they have IN every combat been re
pulsed.
The first attack made bv the
Spaniards upon us was from ambush.
For two miles or more along a
rough aud rugged road. on eithcr
side of which. Is clustered "A dense
schrubbery. the Spanarls lay in
seclus;on ready To belch forth their
murlerous vollcys upon us as We
marched by. When the time came
for action their aim was poor aud
their staying qualities worse. but
had the same GOODNESS of mind and
precision of aim characterized the
Spaniards as did the Americans
they would have experienced bat
little trouble in compelling us 10
retreat Analamous a. Il may seem.
the Spaniards were not over twenty
yards from the road through which
we marched, and then their first
volley was fired several feet over
our heads, but the second came
nearer the mark and felled several of
our boys by this time we had them
nearly surrounded and then the
Americans took their turn. Fight
ing Joe Wheeler was i'm command
For fully half an hour the Amer
lcans poured shot into the enemy
and pursued the rapidly retreatine
Spaniads till out of sight. Their
loss is much larger than ours.
We are now closing in on Santa
20, one OF the Spanish strongholds.
The city is completely surrounded
and from all reports the Spaniards
seem az our mere In several in
stances their outposts have been
driven IN, and the circle of troops
is gradually closing in nearer upon
them IL will in all probability Ice
week or more before the attack is
made, as the road through the coun-
try from the coast Is impossible. A
large force of men are now ut work
removing distractions in order TO
make a passage way for the artil-
lery, which will be planted all
around the city on every available
spot. The artillery will no doubt
be a potent factor in the cap
turing of Santiago. Among the
latest war accoutrcmcnts are some
large dynamite guns, which are con-
sidered the most dangerous of the
American artillery, and are expect
ed to give a good account of them
selves IN battle.
The Spanish exterminators were
augmented a few days ago by the
arrival of 1000 Cubans from near
Matanzas. They were brought in
American transports, and are under
command Of General Gomez. who is
the head and shoulders Of the Gu
ban army.
Several Spaniards came into our
camp the other day and gave them
selves up. They must have fully
realized the wrath TO come. told
the boys that they smelled our bacon
and could not resist thu temptation.
They agreed with me.
II ls Obvious on every side that
the hand of progress or industry
has never been implanted upon the
island Of Cuba. A scope of terri
tory SO richly endowed by nature
aud totally devoid of all marks of
human handiwork or modern mee-
nmty is really astounding. The
whole eastern end OF the island has
not over twenty miles Of railroad,
no wagon roads that are passable
now, aud could not have been much
better prior to war; aud in fact
there Is nothing which would indi-
cate that civilization bad ever dawn
ed over this tropical land, favored
by nature a. none other
From two to four crops Of all
vegetation can be raised yearly and
fruit grows totally uncultIvated.
The forests are filed with ripe fruit
now
History shows that the island has
been q bone Of contention for year
upon year, and % this reason alone
can bee attributed its awfully desc.
late condition.
One would probably think that
the newspapers have been rather ex-
travagant ia speaking Of the condi.
ton Of the Cubans, but such IL not
the case. Their works Of tyranny.
oppression and bondage H. almost
inexpressibie and by their awful
suilcrings and iuhumau endurance
they indicate that they prefer liber.
ty Or death
SfCAnT J.. RiTz.
1.-THE above letter was eighteen
day- reaching us; hence b. q litile