The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-13
Roads Soft and Almost impossible
and Many of the Soldiers Flooded
Out of Their Trenches.
SPANIARDS IN TIGHT PLACE
CAIMANEs TAKEN BY CUBAN INsUR-
GENTS WITHOUT OPPOSITION,
And shafter Now in Position to Strike
the Enemy ON the Left Fiank-In-
cidents of Mondays Fight.
lcopzright. 1sas. BY the Assoclatea pregsl

Copyright $685. by the Associated Press)
BEFORE SANTIAGO, via Playa del Este,
Guantanamo bay, July 12.-This morning
General ToraI sent out a reply to General
Skaters second demand for the uncondi-
tional surrender of Santiago. made by the
latter yesterday afternoon. In his reply
General Toral referred to his refusal to ac-
cede to the American demand made on Sum
day, and again reiterated his determination
to resist.
Notwithstanding this the American bat
teries did not open fire this morning, and the
renewal of the bombardment will probably
be postponed until tomorrow wednesday,,
when, it is hoped, that all of General Ran
dolph's batteries will be in position. The
siege guns landed yesterday will also be
brought up as soon as possible. Torrents of
rain fell last night, drowning out the boys
in the trenches and making the road almost
impossible This may delay the batteries
and siege guns.
The volunteers who are being hurried on
to the front are being located along the
right center in the positions which have
been occupied by General Lawton's divisiol.
while the latter has moved forward, ex-
tending our right until it almost touches
the road to Caimenes, over which General
Toral would have to retreat should he be
foolhardy enough to make the attempt. The
Cubans under General Calixto Garcia took
Caimenes without opposition Monday night
and have entrenchments on either side of
the road. The Americans are now in position
to strike the enemy on the left flank and
roll it up, making the Spanish entrench-
ments north of the city untenable. General
Toral realizing the weakness of this flank,
has been busy during the existence of the
truce in doubling back with intrenchrlents
and fixing his guns in the direction from
which he is threatened. Most of General
Randolphs guns will be located upon the
heights in the center Of General Lawton's
new position where they command the town
Yesterday afternoon the Capron and
Grimes batteries. on the right, succeeded in
tearing up the emplacements for palm"
battery, as it is called, and in plumping
shells into several blockhouses on salients,
but the shots directed at the Spaniards in
the trenches did not appear to have much
effect. Shrapnell was rapidly broken direct
ly over the trenches, yet in five minutes
the trenches at every point of explosion
would be alive with the enemy. They would
watch for the flash of our guns and drop
before the shells exploded. Our mortar fire
was directed at the Spanish bull ring and
tore up almost everything in the vicinity.
1t is understood that the bull ring is being
used as a barracks.
Three large steamers lie in the harbor
alongside the Philadelphia Transportation
Company's wharf and a small Spanish gun
boat is anchored at the head of the bay
All these could be plainly seen by the AS
sociated Press correspondent
The First Illinois Volunteers and the Dis
trict of Columbia Volunteers are now To-
Gated in the trenches that We're occupied last
week by General Schafter's brigade.