The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-29
American Army Being Put In Shape For the Grand
Assault
SPANISH FORCES AT SANTIAGO
REINFORCED BY 10000 SOLDIERS
Several SkriSheS Have Occurred, But There Will Be No
General Engagement For Several Days.

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.)
At the front, on the Rio Guiana,
Monday, June 81, per Associated Press
Dispatch Boat Wanda, via Port Anto-
Mo, Jamaica, June IS, via Kingston
Jamaica, 1926 p. m.-The American
front has been advanced beyond the
first crossing of the Rio Guiana, about
mile, and today lies three and a half
miles from the Spanish entertainments
General Lawton's brigade rests on the
road to Santiago de Cuba The Third
brigade, under General Chaftee, the
Seventeenth, Twelfth and Seventh regi-
ments. hold the trench, with his com
mand lying across the road and river.
The First brigade, the Eighth, Twen-
ty-Second and SecOnu Massachusetts
under Evan Clark, lies on the left bank
slightly in the rear, and the Second
brigade, the First, Fourth and Tween
ty-fifth, occupies the position opposite
the right flank.
General Wheeler, with the cavalry,
is in the rear, between the Sevilla hills
and the Rio Guiana. A strong line OF
outpostS is maintained ahead.
General Chaffee's brigade, with 5000
Cubans under General Aguirra and sew
eral hundred under Colonel Gonzales
are skirmishing toward the city this
morning.
The Cubans had several slight Skin
mishes with the Spaniards stationed on
the hills on the American right flank,
and our auxiliaries occupied the block
house in that vicinity. which was
evacuated before daybreak by the
Spaniards. The latter retreated to-
wards Santiago de Cuba ON fatalities
are reported.
Genera. Lawton General Chaffee and
General Wheeler have thoroughly re-
connoitered the Spanish position, and
with the aid of information furnished
by the Cubans, have very GOOD maps
of the roads and bitches in the vicinity.
Much information has also been OBJ
tanned from Spanish pacificos, who
have slipped out and given themselves
up. in the hope of obtaining food. They
report starvation and distress in San
tiago. They say the Spanish troops
are on short Tations, ftnd that all the
supplies are being held for their use
The sick in the hospitals, the pacitleos
say, are suffering from lack OF 1000,
and they also report that n Spaniards
were killed and that SO were wounded
as the result of the engagement on
Friday last with Colonel Woods and
Colonel Young's commands
SPANISH REINFORCEMENT
The most startling information OBJ
tanned from the pacificos is that since
the advance began almost 10000 Span
tsh soldiers have arrived at Santiago
lie Cuba. This statement is made on
1he authority of General Lawton, and
he is also of the opinion that General
Pan6o NAV be able to effect a juncture
with General Linares at Santiago de
Cuba
There are two forts of considerable
s-f, lima
Punta Blanca, at the southern end OF
the bay, and Santa Ursula, at the
southeast corner. On the road to Ca
new. on the north, is another fort.
There are about $50 men in each OF
these Notifications and stretching
around the whole city are nine barpeo
wire fences, 30 yards apart, While just
inside these are lines Of rifle pits Out
side. to the eastward, about two miles
beyond the American outposts, is line
of entertainments extending from the
northern extremity of the city to MORO
Castle.
A little west Of south, at a distance of
about seven miles from General Law
toms headquarters, lies MORO Castle
The road TO within few hundred
wards of the batteries at the rear Of
MORO was accommodated yesterday af-
ternoon by General Chaffee and sew
eraI members of his staff.
EASY WAY TO VICTORY.
The Cubans believe that if the water
supply of the city can be cut off, San
tiago will have to yield at once. Tney
saw that Admiral Cervera's entire
feet. except the torpedo boat destroyer
Terror is in the harbor.
General IaWton is inclined to dis
credit the reports that guns have been
taken from the ships to strengthen the
defenses on land. He says 1T would be
impossible for Admiral Cervera to
reach the position Of the American
army with his big guns from where
the Spanish ships lie.
NO BATTLE TODAY.
No aggressive move by the Ameri-
cans is anticipated for several days
The road to the base of supplies must
he greatly improved before the onward
movement can be safely made At
present it taxes the quartermaster's
department TO the utmost to get pro-
visions and ammunition. Last night
one pack train arrived with supplies to
last tonight and as this dispatch is
being written another train of ammu-
milton is coming in. A battery OF Cat
ling guns and dynamite guns attached
to the rough riders has been moved to
General Wheeler's camp. There is no
high ground in the present position
where Hotchkiss or Calling guns could
be put in position, but a little farther
on is ground where guns can be
mounted and from which an effective
fire can be directed at the Spanish en-
trenchments.
There were no alarms last night.
Many of our officers are amazed, for
they have looked for a resistance to our
advance. The ground over which they
have Travelled could have easily been
defended, but the Spaniards have
steadily retired, not even attempting to
harass our TANKS, as the columns
moved on through natural ambuscad-
ing country.
Apparently General Linares prefers
to place faith in the defenses of the
city and intends to make a last ditch
fight Of it. A few-though only few
hold to the theory that he does not
propose fighting at all.
General Garcia, with 300 men, lande@