Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-01
SKATER PUSHING ON
ExERTIxG EVERY EFFORT TO-
WARD GETTING GUNS TO FRONT.
TIE LATEST SPANISH DODGE.
Rcd-Cross FIngs Are Being Display
cd over Every building of PrOmi-
hence in santiago-The Purfssima
Conception Safe.

Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS DIsPATCH-BoAT DANDY. OFF
JURAGUA, PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO
DE CUBA, Wednesday. June 20, P. NJ,
via KINGSTON, JAMAICA. Thursday.
June 80 IL A M.-The forces OF the
American army are being modified as
rapidly as possible in the vicinity OF
Aguadores. four miles from Santiago de
Cuba The moment the tedious task IL
completed the attack on Spain last ditch
in Eastern Cuba will be begun. When
that will be General Shafter himself
cannot say.
The troops can be moved without Sc
rious delay, and are pushing forward
rapidly, but the movement OF the pack
trains, wagons, ambulances, and artil-
lery is taxing the skill and endurance OF
the officers and men to the utmost. From
Baiquiri. where the artillery was landed,
to the present point of concentration, the
road runs through a tangle OF tropical
underground, up and down steep hill
sides. and over treacherous, swamp-bor-
dered streams, for a distance of over
twelve miles. Through this continuous
thicket the rear-guard OF the army is cut
ting it's way. Engineers are at work
dwelling the track and filling pits. while
a large force Of regulars and volunteers
with axes, aided by Cubans with ma
chetes. are hacking down trees and clear
ing ont the brush. A few light guns have
already reached this point. The siege
guns are not yet within five miles OF the
vanguard.
SHAFTER WITH WHEELER.
General Slater left his ship to-day and
took up his Quarters with General Wheel
er at the front His appearance there
gave rise 10 the rumor that an attack on
Santiago would occur tomorrow, but the
staff officers tonight say it is impossible
to get the army in shape TO strike a blow
for several days.
About 1900 troops are camped four miles
east Of the besieged city, and the remain,
der of the forces stretch along the road
from there TO Juragua and Baiquiri.
The advance forces are in semi-circie
the left flank resting about two miles
from those under General Chaffee, with
the extreme right, under Colonel Miles,
about a mile 10 the northwest. Begin
ming with the Twelfth Infantry, at the
extreme left; the Seventh, seventeenth,
Fourth. Twenty-fifth. and Tenth Infan-
try extend to the right. in the order
Beyond them picket lines are
esta blished three quarters of a mile near
er. Santiago City being in plain sight of
General Chaffees and Colonel Miles's
troops.
RED CROSS PROTECTION.
Much amusement has been caused
among the officers by the large number
of Red Cross flags flying from buildings
in Santiago. Seven such flags could be
counted to-day, and 1t is reported that
two more were hoisted tonight They
are all flying from the largest and most
prominent buildings. and our officers say
the Spanish soldiers evidently intend 10
thus try to protect every place in the
city Offering a good mark for the Ameri-
can artillery.
For the past day or two the landing
places have been without incident. Inc
hospital corps has finished its camp. and
several patients are already undergoing
treatment. There are q few cases or
measles under the care of the physicians,
but a majority of the cases OF sickness
result from the heat and the extreme
hardships the men have undergone, par
ticularly in waiting for shelter and food
during the LANDING OH SdntlasO
FLEET GRIMLY WAITING.
The feet lies silently and grimly wait
ing for the moment to come when 1t shall
finally measure its strength with the
harbor batteries. All day long four Ameri-
can men-of-war lay within mile and a
half Of Morros guns. but not shot was
exchanged The sailors on board could al
most have exchanged words with the SOL
1Iers ashore, and the fact that the Span
iards did not risk shot or two is taken
to indicate that perhaps they are very
short OF ammunition. The Iowa, Massa-
,hrsetts. Indiana, and New Orleans could
easily have been hit, as they lay almost
notionless within such easy range. out
MORO might have been country school,
house for all the hostile demonstration |
( made.
pURISsINIA CONCEPTION SAFE.
Word was received by Rear-Admiral |
sampson to-day that the Spanish supply |
)oat Purissima Conception. which sailed |
rom Jamaica recently, has arrived safe
v at Tunas. the port of sancti Spiritus.
IN the southern coast Of the Province OF
santa Clara. The naval officers here are
much chagrined al the fact that the