The news & observer., 1898-06-28
THE AMERICAN ARMY
IS NEAR SANTIAGO
The Opposing OupOsis Now Near Each Other that
They can Almost See the Whites of Each Others
Eyes--A Battle Expected at Any Moment
Every Hill About Santiago s.CrOwned
With the Enemys BOckhOuses
and EarthwOrks.

Sabinalla, where three regiments Of
Gen. Lawton's division cdmped, the
First, ourth and Seventeenh, the
Eighth, Second and Twenty second Mas
sachusetts, with the Rough Riders,
Tenth cavalry and portions of several
other regiments strung out behind them
towards Juragua. About eight hundred
Cubans under General Gonzales were
camped around General Lawton's head
quarters, but less than fifty of them did
scout duty last night
General Wheeler to-day with the First,
Second and Tenth cavalry and the
Rough Riders, with dynamite guns
moved uD to where General LawtOn's
outposts were last night, and four bat
teries of the Third artillery and four
Gattlng guns, with a special detail un-
der Lieutenant Parker were brought up
and planted on the brow Of a hill over
looking the basin in which Santiago lies.
Not n shot was fired from the Ameri-
can side last night, though the front Of
the American line was not $500 yards
from the entrenchments where the Span
iards proposed to combat the advance ON
Santiago.
1nree cannon shots were 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 blockhQuses, from whence the Span
iards can view the movements Of the
American army as it advances beyond
Sabanilla, while to the eastward of the
city, gashing every knoll and bit of high
ground are Spanish entertainments.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press, from an elevation to the right of
the American line to-day counted thirty
four of these intrenchments. completely
fencing every approach to the city. The
trenches have been dug. as the confor-
nation OF the ground admitted. The
ends of the entrenchments overlap where
breaks in the line occur thus securing
comparatively safe retreat from rifle
fire in case parts of trenches are cap
tured Upon one Of these works modern
guns have been mounted. They can be
plainly seen with the naked eye.
Spies report that inside the entrench-
ments are four parallel lines Of rife pits.
shoulder deep, and in front of them are
marked ranges and several rows of
barbed wire fences
The general opinion is that more ar
tillery will be necessary before it will
be safe to attempt to make an assault
upon the Spanish works, as the fire of
rifle pits must necessarily be deadly and
sufficient to demoralize any force. no
matter how brilliant It's courage, when
halted by wire distractions.
The problem now confronting the army
is the transportation of supplies for the
roads to the front are still impassable
for wagons, but are being improved. In
the meantime. pack trains are being
used The first of these left Juragua
last night, and others left to-day The
officers and men were completely out of
ratiOns yesterday. The Seventh re-
ceived half ratiOns then, and to-day they
received nothing
The Cubans with the advance forces,
in spite Of the good behavior Of their
comrades ut Guantanamo seem to be
utterly worthless. All day they sit i'm
the Shade of their palm thatched camps.
and at night they smoke cigarettes and
gorge on Uncle Sans ratiOns. while i'm
sight of them Uncle Sans boys with
empty stOmachs and not n bit of tobacco
for their pipes. build roads all day under
the blazing sun and sleep on their rifles
under the Starlit sky at night
The outlook here is threatening.
Everybody believes a great battle is
imminent With the Spanish and Ameri-
nan advance posts almost close enough
70 see the whites of each others eyes,
collision may occur at any moment.