Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-07
SANTIAGO INVESTED.
The American Army Being Rapidly
Modified Near the City.
AMERICAN FLEET CRIMLY WAITING.
A Spanish supply Boat Runs the Blockade
and Gets Into Port-tom m0dOre Wat
son TO Sail Monday for the
Spanish Coast.

OFF JURAGUA. June 20, via Kings
ton Jamaica, July /. The force of the
American army is being modified as
rapidly as possible in the vicinity OF
Aguadores, four miles from Santiago
de Cuba. The moment the tedious
task is completed, the attack on
SPANS 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, ambulances and artillery is
taxing the skill aud endurance OF the
officers and men to the utmost.
From Baiquiri, where the artil-
lery was landed, to the present
point of concentration, the road
runs through tangle OF tropical un-
dergrowth, up and down steep hlsides
and over treacherous swamp-bordered
streams, for distance OF over II miles.
Through this continuous thicket the
rear guard of the army is cutting its
way. Engineers are at work leveling
the track and filing pits, while large
force of regulars and volunteers, with
axes, aided by Cubans with machetes,
are hacking down trees and clearing
out the brush. A few light guns have
already reached this port The siege
guns are not yet within five miles Of
the vanguard.
Gen. Shafter has left his ship and
taken up his quarters with Gen.
Wheeler at the front His appear
ance there gave rise to the rumor that
an attack on Santiago would occur to-
day. but the staff officers said last
night that it was impossible to get
the army in shape to strike a blow for
several days. About 1000 troops are
camped four miles east of the besieged
city, and the remainder of the forces
stretch along the road from there to
Juragua and Baquiri.
Much amusement has been caused
among the officers by the large num-
Der of Red Cross flags flying from
buildings at Santiago. Seven such
flags could be counted yesterday, and
It Is reported that two more were
hoisted last night. They are all flying
from the largest and most prominent
buildings, and our officers say the
Spanish soldiers evidently intend thus
to try to protect every place in the
city offering good mark for the
American artillery.
For the past day or two the landings
have been without incident The hos
pital corps has finished its camp and
several patients are already undergo.
Ing treatment. There are quite few
cases Of measles under the caro- Of the
physicians, but majority of the cases
Of sickness result from the heat and
the extreme hardships the men have
undergone, particularly In waiting for
shelter and food during the landing
off Santiago.
The fleet lies silently and grimly
waiting for the moment to come when
1t shall finally measure Its strength
with the harbor batteries. All day
long the American men.of-war lay
within mile and q half Of Moro's
guns, but not shot was exchanged
The sailors on board could almost
have exchanged words with the sol.
diers ashore, and the fact that the
Spanlards did not risk shot or two Is
taken to indicate that perhaps they
are very short of ammunition. Word
was received by Rear Admiral Samp-
son that the Spanish supply boat
Purissima Conception, which escaped
from Jamaica recently, has arrived
safely at Tunas, the port Of Sanct
Spiritus, on the southern coast OF the
province of Santa Clara. The naval
officers here are much chagrined at
the fact that the steamer got away.
WATSON TO SAIL MONDAY.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The coast of
Spain may be bombarded within the
next three weeks. Commodore Wat.
sons flying squadron will sail for the
coast Of Spain next Monday" said AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Allen
yesterday. "The Newark will be the
flagship, as was tho original intention,
as Admiral Sampson has reported that
the damage sustained by the vessel In
the collision with the Dolphin was
very slight. The squadron would be
ready to sail to-day were itnot for the
fact that considerable time will be re-
CURED to fill the GOLFERS All three
colliers are taking on coal day and
night and | am confident that the
work will be completed by Sunday"