The record-union., 1898-06-29
Shafter Goes to the Front to Con-
suit With Division Commanders.
Twenty thousand Spanish Soldiers Said to
Have Arrived at Santiago Since the
American Troops Began to Ad-
vance on the City.

n Il ISOAN1 OAN AAA1 49,
GUIANA, Monday. June 9th, noon, (per
Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda,
via Port Antonio Jamaica, June 18TH,
Tuesday forenoon. via Kingston, ia
maica. 1876 p. m.)-(Copyright, 1898,
by the Associated Press.)-The Ameri-
can front has been advanced beyond
the first crossing of the Rio Guiana
about a mile.
General Lawton's brigade rests on the
road to Santiago de Cuba The Third
Brigade, under General Chaffee, the
Seventeenth, Twelfth and Seventh
Regiments, holds the trench, with his
command lying across the road and
river
The First Brigade, the Eighth, Twen-
ty-second and Second Massachusetts,
under General Evan Clarke, lies on the
left flank, slightly in the rear, and the
Second Brigade, the First, Fourth and
Twenty fifth, occupies the opposite po-
sition on the right flank.
General Wheeler, with the cavalry, is
in the rear, between Sevilla hills and
the Rio Guiana. A strong line of OUT
posts is maintained ahead.
General Chaffee's brigade, with 5000
Cubans under General Aguirra, and
several hundred under Colonel Con
zales, are skirmishing toward the city
this morning.
The Cubans had several Slight skirm-
ishes with the Spaniards stationed on
the hills, on the American right flank,
and our auxiliaries occupied the block
house in that vicinity, which was evac-
uated before daybreak by the Span
iards. The latter retreated toward San
tiago de Cuba. No fatalities are re-
ported
General Lawton, General Chaffee and
General Wheeler have thoroughly re-
connoitered the Spanish position, and
with the aid of information furnished
by the Cubans, have very good maps Of
the roads and bitches in the vicinity.
Much information has also been OBJ
tained from Spanish paciffcos who have
slipped out and given themselves up,
in the hope of obtaining food. They re-
port starvation and distress in San
tiago. They say the Spanish troops are
on short rations, and that all the sup
plies are being held for their use.
The sick in the hospitals, the pacificos
say, are suffering from lack of food,
and they also report that seventy
seven Spaniards We're killed and that
~
of the engagement on Friday last with
Colonel Woods and Colonel Young $
commands.
The most startling information OBJ
the advance began almost 10000
Spanish soldiers have arrived at San
tiago de Cuba. This statement is made
on the authority of General Lawton
and he is also of the opinion that Gen
eral Pando may be able to effect a
iuncture with General Linares at San
tiago de Cuba.
There are two forts of considerable
Importance within the Spanish lines
Punta Blanca, at the southern end OF
the bay, and Santa Ursula, at the
southeast corner. On the road tc
Caney. on the north, is another fort.
There are about 450 men in each OF
these Notifications. and stretching
around the whole city are nine barbet
wire fences, fifty yards apart. while
tust inside these lines are lines of rifle
pits. Outside, to the eastward, abou
two miles beyond the American out
posts. is a line of entrenchments ex
tending from the northern extretait,
of the city of Morro Castle.
A little west of south, a distance o
about seven miles from General Law
toms headquarters. lies MORO Castle
The road 10 within a few hundre
Yards of the batteries at the rear o
Moro was reconnoitered yesterday b.
General Chaffee and several member
of his staff.
The Cubans believe that If the waite
supply of the city can be cut OF, San
tiago will have to yield at once. Tns
say that Admiral Cervera's entire ilee'
except the torpedo boat destroyer Ief
ror, is in the harbor.
General Lawton is inclined to dis
credit the reports that guns have bee
taken from the ships to strengthen tn
defenses on land. He says 1t woui
be impossible for Acmiral Cervera I