The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-15
LOOKING DOWN ON SVNTIAGO
Picture of the City and the Army BE-
fore the Surrender.

Sevilla- Six Miles From santiago Uo
Cuba. June 25.-From the high hill on
which the advance line of the American
army rs now encamped, Santiago is pam
ly visible across a valley OF great
beauty, which is surrounded by hlgh
mountains. The individual houses OF the
city. mostly low and fat, can be plainly
made out. On the right is large forth
fcation of brick or reddish stone, and
on the left what is said to be hospital
Nearer than the hospital, covering rise
o fland, are earthworks OF large size ana
formidable appearance. Several churches
one of them apparently the cathedral
are seen. To the right of the hill on
which the Seventeenth United states
infantry is now encamped is a haIloW OF
valley descending to the plain through
which the road winds down, and beyond
tht another high hill which is now occu-
MED by the Twelfth United States In
fanttry. A lower projection or crest or
tnfantryeach of these hills is occupied by
pickets from both these regiments. Inc
extreme left of the line is held by the
Eighth infantry and the extreme rlgnt
by the Seventh infantry. The line thus
formed presents solid front of battle
covering A little less than two miles, with
the road-a mere trail or bride path'
often badly collaborating the line mid
way The hills so completely command
the valley and the city a to make 1t ap-
pear tint the Spaniards have given up
their last line of defence this side or the
city. However, the broad valley about
Dioi br1t
cred with low hills, several of which are
crowned with earthworks. which would
be easy to defend against infantry. the
advance line is now halted here to await
the artillery which is the key of the
present situation. From the hills to our
front. which descend, first in great fan,
and then in lesser falls, it should be easy
with field artillery to clear the way by
successive stages, and prepare for the as
sault with siege artillery upon the forti-
flcations of the city.
The most wonderful thing about the
campaign is that the army has advanced
so far with so little resistance The
American picket lines are now at least
Is miles. by the road we have followed,
from Balquiri, the place of landing. The
road is a mountain trail. which for the |
greater part of the way runs through |
tropical thickets or through gplches and |
low canons. Through thi road. for two |
day the American army advanced either |
in single file or in columns of twos. |
Throughout these two days one regiment /
was in advance for a time and then an I
other No screen of scouts was kept in !
nj bIf
their scouting was utterly Ineffective, as |
the ambuscade at Guasimas on the 2+th /
proved. The army seemed 10 have gone |
on the supposition that. since the Span /
iards neglected their excellent opqOrtun- /
ity to annihilate the Americans AT the /
landing, they would do nothing this side /
OF Santiago. In this somewhat happy +
go-lucky way the forces advanced to I
Siboney. eleven miles from the landing;
here the way parted, one road going d. (
rectiy over the mountain behind that .
place. and the other through The valley 4
or canon at the right OF II. These roads I
came together IN an acute angle, Ike /
that Of the wish bone Of a fowl, abcu, /
three miles from the village.
Al this point the mountain road de- /
scended quite sharply while the parallel +.
road coming pthe valley rose The I
Spaniards knew that the Americans +.
would advance by one OF the other of
these lines. and possibly by bota nd /
they prepared 70 meet the advance They .
were posted straight acros both roads, /
and upon the side OF the mountain which +
fauked the canon road on the right Our 1
troops came Up in single ia over ooFA 1
roads. the Rough Riders on The hill Rad. /
and the First cavalry followed b. the I
Tenth caviary. on the canon road The I
enemy we're first encountered b. tne +
First cavlary. and almost simultaneously (
by ~. Rough Riders OF he hll- There 4
were TWO OF three Cuban scouts IL at- 4
vance but they gave no warning n +
time. There IS 10 bou6t tht both reg .
rnen,s were surprised and sm5uscaf3a--. /.
and that nothing saved our army from 4
q serious cheek excep- me absolutely I
steady quality Of the American troops 4
Not A man = either advanced rsElzne1t. 4
nor n The Tenth yuTlzTv. ~ black resi- I
was brought VI 20 il support. ~svere'i ]
Hor an instant; though Il 5 An gncoabtc3 Z
fac; that single ofscsr = Ire Rough (
Riders, nor q high rank. vas very n1trca j
confused ard to-ok uzEz-Tazsed proceed I
iuxS. Our TROOPS 6eplsye6 - r7Eat ard {
sstt. ard zf-s= a great deal q sighting 4
and a hard ssvzzc. drove TIE Spanish /
cat e< ia n>3CAbo-Ao.od- t-1LcE1-g upo- !.