New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-11
LINES MADE STRONGER.
PREPARATIONS FOR A CRUSH.
ING BLOW TO SANTIAGO.
DYNAMITE GUN. MORTARS AND SHELLS
FROM THE FLEET CONCEN-
TRATED on THE CITY.

TRATED ON THE CITY.
Before Santiago Saturday. July o. 9 p. m. per
Associated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, via
Port Antonio and Kingston. Jamaica. Sunday
July TO- IL d. m.--Everything the firing line
is now ready for the beginning Of hostilities 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 its charges. consisting Of
twenty pounds OF gun-cotton and gelatins. VIII
work havoc in the Spanish trenches when Il
opens.
Twelve mortars In one battery are mounted
and ready for use and they are relied upon to
do effective work in shelng the city. Three
batteries Of artillery are now posted on Ell Paso
Ridge . 400 yards from the town. and the
Capron and Grimes batteries are 1.JO" yards to
the north OF the road In the rear OF General
Lawtons division. In firing the field guns will
be compelled to shell the town over the heads
OF the American troops. but the artillery officers
say II can be done safely and without injury TO
placed that It will be able 10 enhade several Of
the Spanish lines
On the other hand. dirag the truce-which. 30
far as regards the continuing OF preparations for
defence or attack, has been no truce whatever
the spaniards have not been idle They have
been mounting guns, and GONE of these are ~
much heavier calbre than any the American
Army can bring into play Some OF their guns are
OF artiouated pattern and not capable Of doing
much damage but others very different and
CAPABLE Of excellent work. The American '-inch
gun which had perfect range during the
,attle Of San Juan has been located with espe-
c,al care by the American gunners. and 1t will
be the recipient Of much attention when hostili-
ties reopen.
General Bates's division. which holds the ex-
treme left Of the line moved forward to-day TO .
new position four hundred yards in advance q
lis former l.ne It was since the battle Of San
Juan planted along the edge OF a precipitous ra-'
vine. the walls o; which are about eighty feet
high This ravne Is about seven hundred yards
long and about four hundred yards wide. Gen
eral Bates mas now mo'e ed the Goth Infantry to
the side OF the ravine nearest Santiago and
placed the 3d Infantry. which. with the 10th.
forms his brigade. at right angles to the line OF
the Goth. The extreme lef. OF his line. which -
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-ne.
When hostilities are opened by the lombard
ment great things are expected from the Navy.
Admiral Sampson il quoted throughout the
Army as saying that ne will drop one shell into
the city every five minutes. and II that Is not
sufficient to do the work he will drop one into
the city every two minutes. This fire, in add
ton to what the land forces will turn Ia. II 10
thought. will be sufficient to reduce the Span
iards to a point where they will surrender
General Hawkins. commanding the First
Brigade OF General Kents division. VINO wss
wounded in the foot during the attack made on
N. American lines on Saturday night by the
span,ards. has returned to the United states.
and Colonel Theaker. Of the 10th Infantry. has
.ucceeded General Hawkins In the command OF
the brigade. Colonel Wood Of the Rough Riders
will succeed General Young. Lieutenant Colo
mel Roosevelt will command the Rough Riders
hereafter.
Sixteen Spanish prisoners who were wounded