The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-02
TROOPS WAITING ron AnT,l-
IRRY.

0saAaaIay Cses1ag h - sastsase-Is De
fsasss fbsagAs - Ds 1esaiAsA:eA
New York, June ga cable to the
Herald dated "With Army Near Ban
tlago, Sunday, by the Herald Dispatch
Boat Aindoro to Port Antonio, Mon
day" says:
4lthouS6 o6ly three or four miles Of
territory now separates General Shat
forces about Santiago, It II likely to be
several days before the assault upon
the city " made.
Owing to lAe bad condition Of the
roads the machine and ield guns can
be hauled to the front only with the
greatest dimculty.' Much Of this day
has been devoted to this work and the
guns are now well on the way q the
advance position held by General
Wheeler. The work hardly can BE-
ever. and the attack cannot be made
before then.
Seven thousand American troops and
three thousand OF General Garcia's
forces are encamped within sight Of
Santiago. and the American nag IL still
floating all along the way from Bal
quiri to the outskirts Of the beleag-
uered city.
1t II apparent now that General
Linares will offer no serious opposi-
tiOn to the concentration Of the entire
American and Cuban forces about the
city. He abandoned his last OppOr-
tunity for making serious trouble
when he ordered his trOOSA to with.
draw from Sevilla yesterday.
GERS believe. II devOtinR all his ener-
giles to strengthening the defenses Of
Santiago. both by land aud sea.
From several sources the informal tlou
comes that the Spanish general has q
larger force at his command than has
been supposed. Conservative leaders
In the Cuban army declare that at
least 1900 spaniards have been gath.
cred In Santiago. Ii also In ascer.
tnind that the city's defenses have
been strengthened to marked degree.
and that the capture OF the city will
not be the easy task 10 many have ex-
pected.
Thus far the Americans seem to be
more In need Of artillery than Of men,
but 1t Is believed that the composition
OF the present land force In due to the
plan for the cooperation Of the fieet.
The health Of all the troops 10 excel
lent. All Of the wounded are doing
well.
General Shaftcr and his subordinate
onfcerr nre unstinted In their praise Of
Doth volunteers and regulars while un-
der hre. Our troops have shown them
selves to he brave. cool and eager. and
the examples set by the officers have
been worthy Of the highest praise.
The next nGhting will be directly
before Rantiaeo. Our troops have
swept all before them. They took
SeviIin sooner than they had expected
ana without struggle. Owing to the
extraordinary energy OF our command
Ing officers In pushing the men along.
coupled with the engerness OF the
troops to advance. the American nag
was raised over Scvilln during 6atur-
day night.
In this villnap. where General
Linnre~ had made his Headquarters
while American trOoJ,s were landing. a
desperate engagement was expected.
Spanish troops had been Fastening to
that point frOm Ill drecfions for aev.
erni days. Il was the last defense be.
tween Santiago and the American
troops. Despite Its stretgic import.
ance. however. the spaniards offered
little oppoNtioa. They iired on our
troops for some time In q desultory
way. but without eject. They theu
retired from ihe village. leaving II for
the Americans - eecepy.
Our TROOPS, after making Scvilla q
temporary headQsarterA pressed on to
= point two miles beyond. and estab.
lishcd themselves within four miles Of
Santiago.
The SpanIarsis halted In their filgh,
at Cnncy. 4 small settlement to the
northeast Of santiago and on the right
OF our line.