The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-07-14
"HuMPHRIEs.' >
LINES STRENGTHENED.
the Fighting Commenced Again.
Positions of Our Troops.

BEFORE SANTIAGO, July 0, per dis
patch boat Wanda, via Port Antonio
and Kingston, Jamaica, July TO-
Everything on the firing line is now
ready for the commencement of hostili-
ties, in case the Spanish generals do
not surrender. The dynamite gun,
which has been in position for several
days, is now in better working order
than at the time of the battle Of San
Juan, and it is predicted that it's
charges, consisting of 20 pounds of gun
cotton and gelatin, will work havoc
in the Spanish trenches when it opens
fire.
Twelve mortars in one battery are
mounted and ready for use, and they
are relied upon to do effective work In
shelling the city. Three batteries of
artillery are now posted on El Paso
ridge, 2,400 yards from the town, and
the Capron and Grimes batteries are
1900 yards to the north of the road in
the rear of General Lawton's division.
In firing the field guns will be COM
PEELED to shell the town over the heads
of our own men, but the artillery otfi-
GERS say it can be done safely and with
out injury to our soldiers.
The dynamite gun has been so placed
that it will be able to enfilade several of
the Spanish lines.
On the other hand, during the truce,
which so far as regards the continuing
of preparations for defense or attack
has been no truce whatever, the Span
iards have not been idle. They have
been mounting guns and some of these
are of much heavier caliber than any
of the American armys which can be
brought into play. Some of their guns
are OF antiquated pattern and not cap
able of much damage, but others are
very differennt and capable of excellent
work. One Finch gun, which had SO
perfect a range during the battle of
San Juan, of many ridges occupied by
the American troops, has been located
with especial care by the American
gunners, and it will be the recipient of
much attention when hostilities re.
open.
General Bates division, which holds
the extreme left Of the line, moved for.
ward today to a new position, 400 yards
in advance of its former line. 1t was
since the battle of San Juan, planted
along the edge of precipitous ravine
the walls OF which are about 80 feet
high. This ravine is about 700 yards
long and about 400yards wide. General
Bates has now moved the Twentieth In
fantry to the side of the ravine nearest
Santiago, and placed the Third Infan
try, which, with the Twentieth, forms
his brigade, at right angles to the line OF
the Twentieth. The extreme left of his
line, which is the extreme left of the
American army, is about opposite the
upper end of Santiago Harbor and from
four to six miles from the coast line.
When hostilities are opened by the
bombardment great things are expected
from the navy. Admiral Sampson is
quoted throughout the army as SAYING
that he will drop one shell into the city
every five minutes, and if that is not
sufficient to do the work, he will dror
one into the city every two minutes
This fire, in addition to what the land
forces will turn in, it is thought, will
be sufficient to reduce the Spaniards tC
a point where they will surrender.
General Hawkins, commanding the
| First brigade of General Kent's division
who was wounded in the foot during
the attack made on our lines Saturday
night by the Spaniards, has returned tC
the United States. Colonel Theaker, Of
the Sixteenth Infantry, has succeeded
| General Hawkins in the command OF
the brigade, and Colonel Wood, of thu
rough riders, will succeed Genera
Young. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt