The record-union., 1898-06-28
made upon the Spanish works. All the
hills about Santiago are covered with
blockhouSeS

made upon the Spanish works. All the
hills about Santiago are covered with
blockhouses.
Not shot was fired from the Ameri-
can side last night, though the front of
the American line was not 200 yards
from the entrenchment where the Span
iards propose to combat the advance
on Santiago.
Three cannon shots We're heard dur
ing the night. They seemed to come
from the distant Spanish batteries, or
perhaps from seaward. The top of
every hill and mountain north and east
of Santiago is occupied by blockhouses,
whence the Spanish can view the move
ments of the American army as it ad-
vances beyond Sabinilla to the east
ward of this city. Crossing every knoll
and bit of high ground are Spanish en-
trenchments.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press, from an elevation to the right
of the American line to-day, counted
thirty-four of these entrenchments,
completely fencing every approach to
the city The trenches have been dug
as the conformation of the ground ad-
mitted. The ends of the trenches over
lap where breaks in the line occur, thus
securing comparatively safe retreat
from rifle fire in case parts of the
trenches are captured. They can be
L,
Spies report that inside the entrench-
ments are four parallel lines of rifle
pits, shoulder deep, and in front Of
them are marked ranges and several
rows of barbed wire fences.
No officer who has surveyed the field
over which the advance must be made
underestimates the task ahead of the
Americans, although our boys still ex-
press the most contemptuous opinion
of their adversaries. The general opin-
ion is that more artillery will be neces-
sary before it will be safe to attempt
to assault the Spanish works, as the
fire of the different regiments must
necessarily be deadly and sufficient to
brilliant in its courage, when halted by
wire distractions Some of the Off
GERS believe it will be necessary to lay
a regular siege to Santiago, and ad-
vance with line Of earthworks until
the rifle pits can be shelled with
shrapnel by the light artillery. These
processes have an effectual range of
$500 yards, and the Mauser rifles in
ha dc Of mi o,s1o eli bf fQ6
to 1900 yards, and they kill at 2,1O0
yards.
Should a night attack occur our SOL
diers would fare worse than did the
marines at Guantanamo, as the at
tacking force here would be at the dis
advantage of having to charge up hill.
The outlook is threatening. Every
body believes a great battle is immi-
nent. With the Spanish and American
advance posts almost close enough to
see the whites of each others eyes, a
collision may occur at any moment
The Cuban auxiliaries with the ad-
vance forces seem utterly worthless.
They sit in the shade all day, and at
night smoke cigarettes and gorge Uncle
diers with empty stomachs and no to-
bacco build roads all day under a
blazing sun and sleep on their rifles
under the sky at night.
MAY BE ATTACKED TOMORROW.
OFF BAIQUIRI, June 26, via Kings
ton (Jamaica), June 27.-The Third and
Ninth Cavalry only remain here, guard
ing the material ashore. All the other
regiments are being pushed as rapidly
as possible toward Santiago de Cuba
Active operations before that place
are officially expected to begin on
Wednesday next.
Interruption of commerce between
the army and the fleet by storm is
possible at any time. Juragua and