The herald., 1898-07-02
AT THE CAPITAL
CONTINUED from Page One.)

Cox Of the spanish-American Mining COM
pany at Baiquiri, who is thoroughly ac-
quainted with all the country surrounding
Santiago. He shows that the two possible
lines of retreat are:
First, by the road to Ell Cobre; or, seos
ond, by following the line of the Sabanills
and Marato railways. The first line will be
easy for about the first ten miles, or as FAR
as Ell Cobre. but after that the country
is mountainous and barren and would not
afford subsistence and the pass to reach the
central plateau of the island would be diff
ficult.
The more likely line Of retreat viii be
along the line of the above mentioned rail-
road, crossing the Sierra Maestro at Ell
Cristo, a pass six hundred feet above the
sea- ten miles north of Santiago, which ID
the lowest pass through the Sierra Maestro
for many miles. The country back Of this
Is a rolling plateau Of rich agricultural
land. At Manacas, on the railroad, tive
miles north of the pass, Is an iron bridge
consisting of series of thirty-foot span1
on iron trestle bents. This point Is about
two miles beyond. the Cris,o summit and
Just beyond this bridge the railroad divides
into branches. The destruction of this
bridge would be the most feasible method
of preventing the approach OF General
Pando's Spanish troops to relieve Santiago.
1t Is probable that If the Spaniards retreat
by this road they will make stand on the
plateau at Ell Cristo and hold the pass Of
Ell Cristo. The only other pass through the
mountains near this point Is at Escandel
summit, about six miles in a straight line
east Of Ell Cristo pass. Escandel' summit
is 1900 feet above the sea and Is reached
from Santiago via Caney. The road from
Santiago to Caney is fairly good, being wide
enough for vehicles. Between Caney and
Escandel the road, which Is no more than
a trail, ascends themountains and 10 very
winding and broad.
Beyond Escandel, across the range the
country is heavily timbered and broken.
and the roads are not very good. 1t Is an
ideal country for ambush. This Is probably
the only pass through which the Spanish
position could be turned should the Spanish
troops occupy the Cristo plateau and pass.
The railroad has been fortified by line Of
block houses, protecting the bridges and
certain zones of cultivation enclosed be-
tween these forts have been planted during
all the time of the war, ad would AFFORD
a supply for the army for a certain time.
In the meanwhile sweet potatoes could be
planted, which in three months mature.
These zones of cultiXati9p exist along the
road as far as San Lucas, at which point
there is considerable country in cultivation.
On the other branch, the Sabanillo branch.
the zones of cultivation extend as far ~
Santiago.
While not prohx in his utterances, Adj
miral Dewey loses no opportunity to keep
the navy department informed Of the state
of affairs at Manila. A dispatch came from
him today, dated Cavite, June 9th report-
ing that conditions are practically I'M
changed, but not recordingthe arrival OF his
reinforcements. He had some other mat.
ters Of interest to communicate, but they
werd not of a character that could be prop
erly made public at this stage. For one
thing. 1T can be stated that Admiral Dewey
has been particular to avoid committing
his government to any particular line or
action respecting the future Of the Philip
pines or to do anything that would embar-
Mss General Merritt in framing policy to
meet the needs of the case when he arrives.
He has made no official pledges to the IN
surgent leader, although he has not hese-
tated to openly praise his good ,qualitieS
and his accomplishments.
So far the navy department knows the
Cadiz fleet is still at Port Said. unable to
coal, but 1T -is taking no chances on this
course, and is steadily pressing the arrange
ments for the dispatch to the Mediterranean
of the eastern squadron under Commodore
Watson. An evidence of this purpose was
made visible today dn the packing ana for
warding of boxes of charts Of all the waters
likely to be traversed by Watson's squadron
directly to the ships at Santiago.