The age-herald., 1898-07-02
The Battle Before santiauo.

Neither General Shafter. who weighs three hundred pounds, nor General Wheel CT, who tips the scales at one hundred and twenty-five pounds, are sentimentaists. When they decided to attack General Lin ares' lines, they did not do so in order to promote the celebration of the Fourth of July: they had in mind only considerations bearing upon the success of American arms. sentimentallty and patriotism are good qualities; but in determining when an assault against barhed wire and rife pits is to be delivered they are not to be trusted or even considered.
 Beyond a reasonable doubt General Shaf- ter determined to attack the Santiago de- from Manzanillo and Holguin could fill them These towns lie west of Santiago at distance of about one hundred miles. It is believed that General Pando has about that he is endeavorng by forced marches to enter Santiago. driving in as many cat tie and as large a pack train as he can muster He is regarded as one of the best soldiers in the Spanish army. He knows every foot of Santiago city and Santiago province having fought over both in the Ten Years War.
 If Pando succeeded in reaching Santiago, the joint Spanish force in the city may have consisted of 36, ,OO0 regular soldiers. captured report shows that in June the Spaniards had in Eastern Cuba thlrty-six battalions of infantry, twelve squadrons of cavalry, mostly dismounted; four com panies of heavy artillery four mountain batteries, six companies of engineers, and four companies of transport corps. These organizations should include 5000 effective men. General Lnares was in command at Santiago, General Luque at Holguin, General Adore at Manzanlla, and General March at Puerto Principe. Over all was General Pando, who has been ordered to repair to Santiago for the purpose of as- suming supreme command. Pando proba- bly had not arrived at Santiago when Gen eral Shafter attacked it's defensive Line. He is encumbered by a long pack train of provisions and ammunition, which are greatly needed in Santiago, and he will do nothing to endanger his supplies of cattle, provisions and ammunition. Such things are of great importance in blockaded Cuba.
 General Linares and General Pando are both lieutenant generals, and General Lin ares outranks his brother officer; and the order placing General Pando in chief com- mand shows both the highest estimation in which he is held in Spain and in Cuba and it also shows that Spain intends te fight to the utmost and to the bitter end.
 The city was undoubtedly attacked before endorsements arrived. General Linares was in command and he had under him about 14000 Spanish regulars and 2,755 men from Cerveras fleet. Whether any vol unteers had been armed or not, is not known. His strength within excellent works did not greatly differ from the forces assault is one of the bravest in our his tory, and one of the most expeditions, and at this writing it is not too much to ex- pect that the Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July in Santiago city, and that Richmond Pearson Hobson will have place in the celebration alongside Shafter, Sampson and our own Joe Wheeler, who led the left wing to victory