The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-19

menus IN which the latter had been hid
den. and took their pisees as posSessors
ot a dominating position. that ire whole
panorama OF the fight was unfolded IS
those who were carefully watching Il from
the exposed vantage point OF Crimes asll
Between Ave and six miles 10 the north
eastward the insistent airing OF L.awion's
artillery could be marked distinctly. First.
tha white puff of old-soshioned powder.
What seemed to De many seconds would
tick away before the dull boom reached
the ear; lastly. through the glass. around
the base OF the old church. converted into
a blockhous-. near the upper end OF the
town. or else upon the ramparis OF tbs
stone fort above Il. great masses OF dirt
and dust were seen 20 rise showing that
the shell had struck ana expoded AZ or
near its mark. A mist hung over the
lower foothills. however. and only where
a deeper fringe-of vapor hoatej over the
edge Of the valley could tho line OF our
infantrymen be made out II was. Of
course, much in advance OF tia artillery
position. which was a sharp-pointei, py-
ramid-shaped hill 10 our right rear. Thu
steady pop pop OF Lawton's rres. TN
swered by the Spanish at longer inter
walls was cheering enough. as well because
II proved the GOODNESS and elaboration Of
our ularksmen as that il Indicated an uE-
compromising onward movement
The firing continued heavier on the
right throughout the whole OF the first
day than it was on the left Nowhere
was better demonstrated the fact that
posi- ton and defensive works were the
chief reliance of the enemy. This carries
with II the gorollary that these two fac
tors had been immensely underesti mated
by our general officers. II was marvel
to everyInllitary man who surveyed the
field, after we had secured possession OF
the whole Spanish line. how we ever had
been able to do It. They all declared that
with such positions. SO covered by in
trenchment, no army in the word equal
to ours in numbers could have dislOdged
US. unless. indeed, 1t had great pre-
ponderance in artillery
One of the most striking facts of the
campaign Is that the Santiago expedition
was insufficienIy equipped with field
guns; but even had We three times as
many field guns, it would sun be true
that we were absurdly wrong in our no
ton of the lighting capacity Of the Span
ish troops and of the value OF their prep
aratious for defense. While for three or
four days our army was encamped on the
SsviIA branch of the San Juan. II became
a common remark of field and company
officers that any enemy with small de-
gree Of enterprise could attack US there
and easily do us great damage. IL, in
deed, he could not roU~ us and drive Us
back in confusion, SO crowded and Jubled
was our camp and 50 imperfect our for
nation. A high ridge TO the westward OF
our center, which was not thoroughly
picketed would have afforded him COM
mand of our entire POSITION But not
even a demonstration was made against
us. 1t was only when 1t was thought that
the Spaniards were erecting new and
more menac!ng works in the vicinity OF
Caney, which might enhIade our right,
that General Skaters determination to
move at once was announced.
The reason 70 rthe Spanish indifference
to our position "a nd also for the very
feeble resistance which they made to our
advance near Sevilla is no longer far 70 !
seek. They had chosen the decisive bat
tie ground and there alone did they wish
to fight
Their confidence in the strength Of the
San Juan position was entirely JUST
fed.
The wilderness in Virginia presented
far les difficulties to the invading north |
erners than did the San Juan valley 10
Skaters army. The greater part OF Il !
is densely covered with young timber !
interlaced with thorny !
vines, or studded with NATURAL abbatis OF }