The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-01
!. WITH The ARMY;
n,
:ss;ftatk Begins When Troops
, = Are Modified.

Q Copyright, 1898, the Associated Press.
= On board the Associated Press despatch
I boat Dandy, off Juragua, Province of
Santiago de Cuba, Wednesday, June 30.
9 p. H., via Kingston, Jamaica, Thurs
day, June 30.-11 a. m.-The forces of the
American army are beinglmobilized as
rapidly as possible in the vicinity of
Aguardores, four miles from Santiago de
Cuba. The moment the tedious task is
completed, the attack on Spain's last
ditch in Eastern Cuba will be begun. When
that will be, Gen. Shafter himself cannot
say. The troops can be moved without
serious delay and are pushing forward
rapidly. but the movement of the pack
trains, wagons. ambuIances and artil-
lery is taxing the skill and endurance of
the officers and men to the utmost From
Baiquiri, where the artillery was landed,
to the present point of concentration, the
road run through tangle of tropical
underground. up and down steep hillsides
and over treacherous swamp burd cred
streams, for distance of over IL miles.
Through this continuous thicket the rear
guard of the army is cutting its way. En-
gineers are at work levelling the track
and filling pits, while a large force Of
regulars and volunteers with axes, aided
by Cubans with machetes, are hacking
drvn trees and clearing out the brush.
9w light guns have already reached
-pot, but the seige guns are not with
i've miles of tie van guard.
zen. Shafter left his ship today and took
his quarters with Gen. Wheeler at the
Mt. His appearance there gave rise
the rumor that an attack on Santiago
would occur tomorrow, but the staff Off
GERS tonight say it is impossible to get
the army in shape to strike blow for
several days. About 1000 troops are
camped four miles east of the beseiged
city and the remainder of the forces
stretch along the road from there to
Juragua and Baiquiri. The advance
forces are in semi-circles, the left flank
resting about two miles from the sea, un-
der the command of Col. Miles,, about
a mile to the northwest. Bog nning
with the 18th infantry at the extreme
left, the 9TH, 7th, 4th, 25th and 10th in
fantry extend to the right in the order
named. Beyond them picket lines are
established three quarters of a mile near
Gen. Chaffee's and Col Miles's troops.
Much amusement has been caused
among the officers by the large number
Of Red Cross flags flying from buildings
in Santiago. Seven such flags could be
counted today and it is reported that two
more were hoisted tonight. They are all
flying from the largest and most promi-
nent buildings and our officers say the
Spanish soldiers evidently intend to thus
try to protect every place in the city offer
ing good mark for the American artil-
lery.
For the past day or two landing places
have been without incident. The hos.
pital corps has finished it's camp and sew
earl patients are already undergoing
treatment.
There are quite few cases of measles
under the care of the physicians. but a
majority of the cases Of sickness result
from the heat and the extreme hardships
the men have undergone. principally In
awaiting for shelter and food since the
landing off Santiago.
The fleet lies silent and grim waiting
for the moment to come when it shall
finally measure its strength with the har.
Dor batteries.
All day long four American men of
war lay within mile and q half of Nor
ro's guns, but not shot was exchanged.
Ihn sailors on bonrd could almost have
exchanged words with the soldiers ashore
and the fact that the Spaniards did not
risk IL shot or two is taken TO indicate