The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-29
Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.

AT the front, on the Rio Guiana, Mon
day, June %, noon, per associated press
dispatch boat Wanda, via Port Antonio,
Jamaica, June 2S, via Kingston, ia
maica, June 2s, 1895 p. m.-The Ameri-
| can front has been advanced beyond
the first crossing of the Rio Guiana
about a mile, and now lies three and a.
half miles from the Spanish entrench-
ments.
General Lawton's brigade rests on the
road to Santiago de Cuba. The Third
brigade, under General Chaffee, the 18th,
18th and eth regiments, holds the trench,
with his command lying across the road
and river. The first brigade. the sth,
22nd and End Massachusetts,, under
Evan Clark, lies on the left of the bank
slightly in the rear; and the Second
brigade the 1st, 4th and 25th, occupies
the position opposite the right flank
General Wheeler, with the cavalry, is in
the rear, between Sevilla hills and the
Rio Guiana. a strong line of outposts
is maintained ahead. General Chaffee's
brigade, with 5000 Cubans under Gem
eral Aguirra, and 700 under Colonel Con-
zales, were skirmishing toward the city
this morning
The Cubans had several slight skir-
mshes with the Spanish stationed on
the hills on the American right flank,
and our auxilfaries occupied the block
house in that vicinity, which was evac-
uated before daybreak by the Spanish.
The latter retreated towards Santiago
de Cuba. No fatalities are reported
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 mans
of the roads and bitches in the vicin-
ity. Much Information has also been
obtained from Spanish pacficos who
have slipped out and given themselves
up in the hope of obtaining food. They
report starvation and distress in San
tiago. They say the Spanish troops
are on short rations and that all the
supplies are being held for the soldiers.
The sick in the hospitals. the pacificos
say, are suffering from lack of food,
and they also report that II Spaniards
were killed and that SO were wounded
as the result of the engagement on FRI
day last with Colonel Woods and Colo
mel Young's commands.
The most startling information OBJ
tained from the pacificos is that since
the advance began almost 10000 Span
ish soldiers have arrived at Santiago
de Cuba. This statement is made on
the authority of General Lawton, ami
he is also of the opinion that General
Pando may be able to effect a juncture
with General Linares at Santiago de
Cuba.
There are two forts Of considerable
significance within the Spanish lines.
Punta Blanca, at the southern end of
the bay, and Santa Urasula, at the
southeast corner. On the road to
Caney, on the north, is another fort.
There are about $50 men in each of
these fortifications, and stretching
around the whole city are nine barb
wire fences so yards apart. while just
inside these are lines of rifle pits.
Outside. to the eastward. about two
mile beyond the American outposts, is
a line of intrenchments extending from
the northern extremity of the city to
MORO castle.
A little ives; OF south, at a distance
OF about seven miles from General
Lawton's headquarters. lies Moro cas-
tie. The road to within a few hundred
yards of the batteries at the rear of
MORO was reconnoitered yesterday af-
ternoon by General Chaffee and sever
al members of his staff.
The Cubans believe that If the water
supply of the city can be cut off San
tiago will have to yield at once. They
say that Admiral Cervera's entire fleet
ror. is in the harbor.
General Lawton is inclined to discred-
il the reports that guns have been TAX
en- from the ships to strengthen the
defenses on land. He says IL would
be impossible for Admiral Cervera TO
reach the position of the American
army with his big guns from where the
Spanish ships lie.
No aggressive move by the Americans
is anticipated for several days. The
road to the base of supplies must be
greatly improved before the onward
movement can be safely made. At
present il taxes the quartermaster's Dc
partment to the utmost to get proyi-
sions and ammunition. Last night one
pack train arrived with provisions 10
last tonight. and as this is being writ
ten another train of ammunition is
coming in. A battery of Calling guns
and dynamite guns attached to the
rough riders has been moved to Cen
eral WheeieT's camp. There is no high
ground in the present position where
Hotchkiss or Gatiing guns could be put
in position. but a little further on is
ground where guns can be mounted
and from which an effective fire can
be directed at the Spanish entreneh-
ments.
Many OF our officers are amazed. as
they have looked for a resistance 10
our advance. The ground over which
they have travelled could have easily
been defended, but the Spanish have