The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-26
AT HEADQUARTERS

| LOT "A u
AT HEADQUARTERS
At Gen. Wheeler's Headquarters, Before
Santiago, July 10.-The morning of the sec
ond Sunday of the investment OF Santi-
ago broke fair and clear. The sun rose in
a halo of gold over the hills beyond the
city. The white flag of truce hung list
! lessly from the Spanish line, barely six
hundred yards away, and save for the
tented lines Of our men and the networks
OF trenches and bomb proofs. one could
have easily have failed to discover any
emblems of war. The beautiful valley OF
! Santiago, which stretches away 10 the
east, lay peaceful in its verdant herbage
and foliage. The lofty hills. in verdue
! CLAD dotted here and there with a dis
mantled hamlet, and again with the snm-
mer estancia of some wealthy resident OF
Santiago, all seemed emblems Of peace
and rest. And in the city itself the cathed
raj bells could be plainly heard calling the
| few remaining families to early mass.
All along our lines, extending for nearby
seven miles, the men sought repose and
rest. There was httlel conversation; they
seemed indeed impressed-and who could
| fail to be?-with the granduer OF natures
works. with the majesty of I'VE hills
which lift your heads on high with the
absolute still and divine serenity of this
Sabbath morn. Many of them were read
ing their Bibles the Catholics their prayer
| books; and who can doubt that their
thoughts were with their dear ones far
away? There was no unseemly jesting or
boisterous badinage. These brave men
of our regular army, who, save for the
Rough Riders, are alone in the fighting
line, and who stood face to face with the
enemy, could not fail to impress a feel
ing of admiration and respect at their
manly and soldfer-like bearing. They did
not speak lightly of their next attack, of
the charge down the slope into the second
line of Spanish trenches and streets of the
city, reported to be infested with mines
and guncotton; but they did say-and in
saying it they spoke with calm determin
alton which imbued one with the spirit
which emulates them-that when the
word to commence firing was given they
would never falter until they had charged
down the slope owe rthe two lines of Span
ish trenches and into the city itself. And
as they spoke they pointed out the Span
ish batteries, with the morning sun, as it
were, emphasizing the powers of destruc-
ton.
These men had been on half rations for
the last two days. Away to the northeast
from their commanding position. they
could easily discern the winding road
through the wooded valley from Siboney
to Ell Caney, and they could see train
load after train load of provicions and
I;o, AZ
the Santiago refugees; they also knew
that man yof these people were Spaniards
who accepted the food given them with
bad grace. Down the slope, a few yards
back from the fighting Line, Gen. Wheeler
and his staff sat slipping their cold water
and eating hard tack. They were out of
coffee and everything else. They thought
it a little hard, but neither from the Gen
eral, his staff. or his men was a word of
complaint heard. From tine divisional
commanders to the privates all were i'm
patiently awaiting the decision Cor rather
indecision) of Washington advisers, that
this inaction might cease, and that they
be allowed to put a speedy termination to
the capture of Santiago. None of the gem
ef2l staff believed the task an easy one
but hey knew their men were ager for the
fray
While I was there Spanish deserter
was broubht in. He was a good looking
clean shaver fellow of perhaps II or 49,
He was dressed in the usual blue uniform
of Spain, his shirt was we'll Iaundere, and |
although he was a striking contrast to the |
average dirty ill-condiuoned Cubans At |
the request on an staff officer / acted as
interpreter, and while the deserter enjoy |
ed the hospitality of the mess-water and |
crackers-he frankly answered the ques- |
tons put to him. He admitted that he |
had come into our lines to save his neck; |
he had been sent out to forage, and had /
slipped over. The Spanish soldiers, he /
said, were not by any means discouraged; |
they were indignant at not being prop !
erly fed and at receiving no money. The |
officers, he said, took care TO have their !
wants attended to, and had all kinds of !
luxury at their mess. including wine, ice,
and meat Since Toral had succeeded
Linares things had somewhat bettered
They had been paid s. a day, the first
money they had received in six months,
but the officers had been paid. here was
no bread for the men, but the wealthy
people could get it. he ice factory at the
head of the harbor was still running The
hospitals were full of wounded The Spa
nish Sisters of Mersy remained, tending
the sick. but the Cuban sisters had left
and also the Sisters of Charity All the
stores were closed. but General Toral had
seized all provisions in them and taken
possession of the wine shops When the
deserter left the Spanish had not looted |
any houses, but had seized horses and
mules left by the paciflcos and were
them for the army The
Spaniards, he said, had from 1900 TO %. 600
troops in the city. Before Cervera left he
had supplied the army with ammunition
and guns.
When asked IL the Spaniards liked the
Cubans. he promptly replied: mo. no.
They are cowdarly and treacherous. and
the Americans will soon find that out"
While the Spaniards would always fight.
they were tired of the war: they did not
think Cuba was worth fighting for. If
ne Americans captured Cuba, many Spa
1Ish soldiers would desert and settle here.
because they knew they could earn an
Easy living by farming. etc, but they
would never stay under the treacherous
-ule Of the Cubans After the deserter
lad given his story. ne was told 20 return
o his lines, IS he was not wanted. He
'epied that he did not want 20 go. and /
lpon the general threatening TO shot him.
having suspicious that ne was a spy. ne
eplied; If I 90 back. I will be shot so
would as soon be shot here"
Standing on the elevation overlooking