The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-28

Facing Each Other-Our KvOOps Can
Their Position-Formidabie Defenses
OF the City-The Spaniards are Eat
ing Horses-The Losses in Fridays
Battle.
Copyright by Associated Press.) ,
On Board the Associated Press DIS
patch Boat Dandy, Off Jaragua, sat
urday g .. NO. via Kingston, Sunday
June 26th $3.50 p. m.)-The troops OF
the United States and Spain are almost
face to face and less thai three miles
apart. Tonight the picket lines at GER
tain points are within hailing distance
of the enemy. 1t seems certain that
the battle of Santiago must come off
within a week.
The troops are all ashore here to-
night and at Baiquiri with the excep-
ton of a few scattered companies that
have gone forward. The supplies are
sufficient to enable the army to sus-
tain a weeks campaign at both land
ing points.
There is a continued procession Of
SINAI DOaIS IlullS oh LhC oSoSA
through the pounding surf and, as one
weeks rations are already landed, it
is believed the required supplies will
all be ashore by Tuesday, the 28th.
THE LANDING OF OUR TROOPS.
The landing of troops, horses and
supplies has been extraordinary.
With only one steam barge and COM
PEELED to depend on ~eacherO small
90 rannro1 Cboffar hoC landed nVar
16, 900 men hundreds of horses and
mules and thousands of dollars worth
of supplies on the exposed beaches and
only two men have lost their lives.
No more han fifty animals have been
drowned and scarcely a package of
supplies has been lost.
The officers generally are surprised
at the small loss of life and property.
General Shafter said to a correspon-
dent of the Associated Press today:
II am we'll satisfied with the prog
ress that is being made. The disem-
barkation is slow, but considering the
limited facilities and the exposed ma
ture of the landing places, the men
have lone well. / only await the land
ing of sufficient supplies to begin the
movement on Santiago. I am unable
TO say when it will take place. / am
much pleased at the gallant conduct of
our men in the action at Sevilla yes
terday and with their cool and vet
eran-like work. The victory was COM
plete."
THE LOSSES IN FRIDAYS BATTLE
General Wheeler in his official re-
port, places the number of lead in the
engagement at Sevilla at twenty-five
and the number of wounded at be-
tween seventy and eighty. No at
tempts has yet been made to prepare
an official list with the names of the
dead and wounded. The high grass
and brushes of the battle-ground make
it difficult to find the bodies but an
official list will probably be prepared
by Monday. The bodies Of the thirty
nine S%paniards have been found and
the Spanish loss in killed and wounded
was doubtless much heavier than the
American.
The majority of the American troops
are now here or at the front in the
vicinity of Sevilla. The force at the
latter place, which is about nine miles
from Santiago lumber 5000 Americans
and 1900 Cubans. General Wheeler is
in command there, with Generals
Young, Lawton and Chaffee. General
Wheeler will remain at Sevilla, which
will be made a rendezvous for the
troops landing at BaiQuiri, and at this
point. The artillery and cavalry are
being put orwar from Baiquiri. The
cavalry has been sent ahead to cut a
wagon road through the underbrush.
SANTIAGO IN SIGHT.
From the American position at Sc
villa, Santiago is plainly visible and
the Notifications can be seen. The fol-
lowing reports to General Shafter from
generals at the front show the condi-
tons:
ITO General Shafter:
II have just seen two egr boys
who left Santiago this Morning (Sat-
urday.) They report that the soldiers
and citizens are very short of food.
The soldiers and officers have seized
all the food in the shops. They are
killing young horses for food, and in
the hospitals are subsisting on bread
made of rye flour.
Three Spanish generals took part
in the fight at Sevilla yesterday. Five
wagon loads of wounded were carried
into Santiago, and many others wound
ed got there on horses or afoot. We
can see MORO castle and the flag very
distinctly from our position. The Gu
bans confirm the reports as to the
fine character of the Qualifications
around the city. Seven lines of barb
ed wire are stretched around the
trenches. The Spaniards have recently
dug deep trenches around the entire
city, connecting a series of small forts.
(Signed) WHEELER"
Dater Saturday a~fternoon)
To General Shafter:-We can plain
Iy see Santiago less thar seven miles
away. The country is level for six
miles this side of the city, except for
hills on the south, which extend to
within a mile Of Santiago. These hills
appear deserted. The country is fair
ly open and it will not be difficult to
mov troops over it. General Chaffee
occupies Sevilla today.
(Signed) YOUNG.