The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14

paign. This is likely to be the only trh
1 shall make to The front"
The last two days have been the worst
of the campaign so far as the weather is
concerned.
Fierce tropical thunder storms have
been frequent, with an almost continuous
downpour of rain.
The rife pits and trenches at the front
have been flooded, and last night few men
in the besieging army We're able to sleep,
owing to the amount of water on the
ground,
The already heavy hardships endured
have been greatly increased and much ill-
ness Is likely to result, as no adequate
shelter is possible.
The trail TO the front Is in frlghtful
shape The streams and fords are
swollen and the soft soil Is cut into al
most impossible shapes by the wheels of
supply wagons. One of Gen Randolph's
light batteries occupied a whole day in
getting to the front
The rain is coming down in torrents to-
night and a thunderstorm is raging along
the coast If the storm continues 1t is
likely to delay operations seriously.
Troops from the auxiliary cruiser Yale
and 81. Paul Paul have been landing in
the rain all day and have been going into
camp wet and miserable. il has been a
bitter experience for the raw troops, but
they will be pushed right ON 10 the front
tomorrow.
The fleet was inactive all day. The
Brooklyn occupied a position about five
miles west of the harbor entrance, and
the remainder of our warships We're strung
along the coast as far east as Juragua. Al
the latter point the flagship New York
lay nearly all day.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Gen. Miles
In
the forenoon. Gen. Miles went on board
the New York about o'clock. and a fire.
quent exchange of notes between the two
commanders occurred later. The nature
OF their conference could not be ascertain
ed: but 1t is supposed to have related TO q
concerted attack upon Santiago.
Several of our ships, including the New
ark, with Commodore Watson on board,
spent the day coaling at Guantanamo bay.
Scarcely wounded man remains at the
hospital headquarters here. Almost all
the sufferers have been either sent North
on the returning transports, or have been
sent on board the hospital ship Relief.
which lies off shore. 1t is most fortunate
that the transfer was made before the
rains set In, as it is difficult to provide
shelter from the storms.
A number of men sick with fever
measles and other ailments are etill here.
Malarial fever continues to give the
physicians trouble but so far only one
death has resulted.
Nicholas Fish will leave for the North
tomorrow with the bodies of Hamilton
Fish, Jr., and Capt. Capron, who were
killed with the Rough Riders in battle.
The men OF Cen LawtOn's division yes
terday cut large water main which is be-
lleved to be the source of the water sup
ply of Santiago. The main entered the
city from the northeast and is the largest
one yet found.
stream of pure water as large as
mans body has poured from the pipe
since 1t was cut and has proved valuable
to the Americans
A few deserters who came out of San
tiago reported that the city's water sup
ply is scant and of very bad quality.
Reports of wholesale desertons reach
the American lines almost daily, but
there have not been a hundred deserters
from the spanlards in ALL
Gen: Shafter telegraphed to Washington
to-day In regard TO the extreme privations
suffered by the 1900 Santiago refugees
now at lei Caney and he received re-
ply directing him not to assume the re-
sponsibilIty of their maintenance, but to
give them such food as he can spare from
the soldiers stores. Already p, 600 rations
have been given them, but these are ex-
hausted, as well as the provisions sent by
MISS cara Barton IN Dehalf or the Red
Cross Society.
The condition of affairs In the camp
of the refugees is terrible, and If 1t con-
tinues many people will starve to death
Up to date eight persons have died. The
churches are being uesd as hospitals. One
of them contains 1877 persons.
A very old woman committed suicide
to-day In her distress, killing herself with
a machete.
Gen. Wheeler recommended the follow
ing officers in his cavalry division for gall
lantry in actlon Brig. Gen. Carroll, Col
Sumner, Gen. Wood, Maj. Vessels, Maj.
Lebord Maj. Wint Capt. Hawes, Capt.
Hartman. Lieut.. Andrews, Capt Beck
ham, Lieut.. Col. Dorset, Maj. CARING
ton Capt West, Capt. Dickinson, Capt.
William Astor Chanlep and his aides,
Lieuts. Steele, Reeves and Wheeler
He also compliments Mr.. Mester, his
Cuban volunteer aide, for conspicuous ser
vice.