Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-02
COILS TIGHTEN.
A Living Gordon Encircles San
tiago de Cuba.
Blockhouses Abandoned by the Enemy
arc Occupied by Cubans-Distress In
tho City-A Major General In
Tree Top Position of tho
American Troops.

'ii'iNhs ~ hllN GU ut AllltIltNll lEOul
has been advanced beyond the first
crossing of the Rio Guiana, about
mile, and n tug lies 3b miles from the
Spanish intrenchments. Gen. Law
tons brigade rests on the road to San
tiago. The Third brigade, under Gen.
Chatfee, holds the trench, with his
command lying across the road and
river. The First brigade, under Gen.
Evan Clark, lies on the left flank,
slightly in the rear, and the Second
brigade occupies the opposite position
on the right flank. Gen. Wheeler with
the cavalry is in the rear, between
Sevilla hills and the Rio Guiana.
A strong line of outposts is main
tanned ahead. Gen. Chaffee's brigade,
with 5000 Cubans, skirmished towards
the city on Monday. The Cubans had
several slight skirmishes with the
Spaniards stationed on the hills on
the American right flank and our
auXiliaries occupied the blockhouses
in that vicinity, which were evacuated
before daybreak by the Spaniards.
The latter retreated towards Santiago.
Gen. Lawton, Gen. Chaffee and Gen.
Wheeler have thoroughly reconnoit-
cred the Spanish position and with the
aid of information furnished by the
Cubans, have very good maps of the
roads and defenses of the city.
Much information has been obtained
from Spanish pacifcos who have
slipped out of the city and given them
selves up in the hope of getting food.
They report great starvation and dis
tress in Santiago. The Spanish troops
are on short rations and all the sup
plies are being held for their use. The
Cinls in fhn hncT,ifn1G CT ffpr.iny
from lack of food and they also re-
port that n Spaniards were killed and
SO wounded as the result of the en-
gagement on Friday last with Wood
and Young's commands.
There are two forts of considerable
importance within the Spanish lines,
Punta Blanco at the southern end of
the bay, and Santa Ursula at the
southeast corner. On the road to
Caney, on the north, is another fort.
There are about $50 men in each of
these Notifications ana, stretching
around the whole city are nine barbed
wire fences, so yards apart, while just
inside these are lines of rife pits.
Outside to the eastward, about two
miles beyond the American outposts,
is line of intrenchments extending
from the northern extremity of the
city to Moro castle. A little south, at
distance of about seven miles from
Gen. Lawton's headquarters, lies
MORO castle.
Gen. Wheeler. who made n recon
naissance for half mile beyond the
| skirmish lines on Monday, finding that
he was unable to secure the desired
view through the luXuriant tropical
foliage. dismounted and climbed a
This foot Of ~ IN, n n
62 years of age put to blush many a
younger officer of his own staff.
Juragua, Province of Santiago de
| Cuba, via Kingston, Jamaica. June 90
Maj Gen. Shafter arrived here from
Baiquiri with his staff Monday after
noon. He was met by Gen. Bates
who was experimenting the landing
of commissary supplies in the surf.
| Shafter was soon mounted on horse
and rode through the town, surveying
| the scene of the landing operations
and the camps of the troops. He halt
ed a moment before the the cottage
which serves as the headquarters of
the Cuban insurgents, and where
| Gems. Garcia and Castillo paid their
respects to the American commander.
Permanent hospital arrangements
are to be provided at Juragua at once.
| The transport Iroquois anchored off
the shore is provided with trained
nurses and all conveniences. Tent
hospitals will also be erected on cliff
overlooking the sea. There are very
few cases of sickness among the
troops-measles, heat prostrations and
| dysentery chiefly Sporadic cases of
| yellow fever are reported by the In
surgents, but the disease is not epi-
| Tho frnnnC in Onn1 a. "a m nS
| on high ground overlooking the sea.
| The nights and mornings are cool and
| pleasant, but the midday sun is hard
on the unacclimated troops in the
marches over the hills.
The movement of troops to the front
is steadily going on. The American
and Cuban infantry and cavalry and
long lines of mule pack trains and
| batteries of artillery choke all the
roadways over the hills to Santiago.
The auxiliary cruiser Yale arrived
with the Thirty-third regiment and
one battalion of the Thirty-fourth
Michigan infantry. Brig. Gen. Duff
field accompanied them and the men
are now encamped, awaiting the rest
of the Thirty-fourth Michigan and
| Ninth Massachusetts regiments on the
| Harvard.
| Lieut.. Victor Blue, Of the Suwanee,
returned TO the fleet on Monday from
another investigating trip ashore. He
reported that Cervera's ships are all in
the harbor. With the exception of one
torpedo boat destroyer they are at an
chor and show no signs of activity.
Blue went ashore on Saturday, to
the west of MORO castle, accompanied
by some Cuban guides. He advanced
until about two miles north of
Cabanas and almost up to the enemy's
batteries. He travelled 60 miles. AT
one time the lieutenant was at Gu
ban outpost, separated only by 4OO
yards from Spanish outpost.
"They popped away at each other
all the time" said Lieut.. Blue, but
! do not think the Cubans hurt the
Spaniards very much, and | know the
Spaniards did not hurt the Cubans.'
Entire First Corps to be Prepared.
Chickamauga National Military
Park, Ga, June 29.-The order issued
| Sunday to Immediately equip and pre-