The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-02
DANGERS or THE CAMPAIGN.
Immediate Attack on Santiago shown
 to be the Right Thing.

[Copyright 189s The Associated Press
 Off Santiago de Cuba, June 90, p.
 m, by The Associated Press dispatch
 boat Wanda. filed Port Antonio, Ja-
 maica, July 1, 8 a. m.--A two days
 visit to the Cuban outposts by cor
 repondent of The Associated Press has
 developed situation which if not
 broken by vigorous and successful
 attack on Santiago may result in caus-
 ing much more serious work than has
 been anticipated with the Spanish
 forces that have arrived from the vi-g
 cinity of Acerraderos, on the west, and
 Baiquiri, on the east to join General
 Linares. The forces in Santiago and
 within the fortified defences of the
 city now number II ,o00-7,000 regulars
 and 1000 volunteers,
 Concerning the latter, the Cubans
 allege that they will not fight with
 any heart, but will lay down their
 arms. According to Spanish soldiers
 captured yesterday and held in the
 camp of General Perez, near Guam
 tanamo half of the force of men on
 the Spanish warships has been landed
 with all the rapid fire guns. This
 would make a total force in the city
 of 800 men, in addition to the pro- lection from earthworks. To meet this
 force, or at least to invade it's strong hold, the American commanders have
 now 17,100 men and about 4,000 Gu
 bans, tn latter to prevent, if possible, flank movements at the expense of the Americana.
 Marching from Manzanillo, 120 miles west of Santiago and, having been on the road for six days. quite well ad vanced now in his progress, is General Pando with several battalions aggre- gating S,400 men. To oppose him is General Jesus Rabi, with g. force of 2,200 Cubans, lying in wait seventeen miles from Santiago and on two roads, Now, of course it would be perfectly possibly for General Pando to take his column far to the north and make Junction with the Spanish troops sup posed to be on the way from Holguin and number, it is said, 5000 men. This advance from the north is being held in check by about 1,500 Cubans, under General Castillo, who claims to hold the passes.
 General Castillo admitted in camp yesterday that his method was to do
 Indian fighting in the mountain pass es. When he was asked what his forces would do if flanked, he gravely
 said he had not thought of that but he supposed he would have to retire. As flank on the west end of the American army, General Rabi's forces combined with those of General Cas- tilIo would only give a combating force of 3,700 Cubans and the Cubans do not hesitate to run before over whelming numbers.
 Nor is that all that menaces IeaY- ing Guantanamo camp of marines and
 plunging into the woods to the west, the Associated Press correspondent found a force of 800 Cubans under com- mand of Colonel Perrez. This force had been variously estimated at from | 1.Sno to 2,500 Cubans, but there was certainly not more than 800, as Colonel Perrez admitted. although he had dis tinctly claimed to have about 2.000 men. | This force of 500 men is supposed to
 keeping at bay 3,400 Spanish troops in the town of Guantanamo. The ma rines are near this camp, but to the east of it. so that they could do noth- | ing to prevent the Spaniards from | moving to the west on the flank of the American army. In other words there | is to the northeast and west of the l army of invasion a fankiner force a,