The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-11
READY FUR BUSINESS.


tess Before santlaEO-aIRMy Changes In
the Amsrisau Lilac Dynamite Gan
Ready for Action.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press,I
BEFORE SANTIAGO, Saturday, July
Q, 6 D. M, per Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda, via PORT ANTO-
MO and KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sun
day, July 10, II a. m.-Everything on
the firing line IS now ready FOR the
commencement OF hostllitles, in case the
Spanish generals do not surrender. The
dynamite gun, which has been in posi-
tlon for several days, is now In better
working order than at the time OF the
battle Of San Juan, and 1t Is predicted
that its charges, consisting OF twenty
pounds OF gun cotton and gelatine' VIII
work havoc In the Spanish trenches
when 1t opens fire.
Twelve mortars In one battery are
mounted ready for use, and they are re-
lied upon to do effective work In SHELF
Ing the city.
Three batteries OF artillery are now
posted on FL Paso ridge, 2,40O yards
from the town and the Capron and
Grimes batteries are $500 yards to the
| north of the road in the rear OF General
Lawson's division. In firing the field
guns will be compelled TO shell the town
over the heads OF our own men, but the
artillery officers say 1t can be done
safely and without Injury to our sol
dIers. The dynamite gun has been so
placed that It will be able to enflade
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 calihre than any OF
the American armV's (which can be
brought into play. Some of their guns
are OF antIquated pattern and not ca
pabIe Of much damage, but others are
very different and capable OF excellent
work. One seven-inch gun, which had
20 perfect q 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 hostillties reopen.
General Bates division, which holds
the extreme left Of the line, moved for
ward to-day to a new position, 400
yards IN advance OF It's former line. Il
ed along the edge OF a precipitIous ra-
vine, the walls OF which are about
eighty feet high. This ravIne Is about
seven hundred yards long and about 400
wide. General Bates has now moved
the twentieth infantry to the side OF the
rRvine nearest Santiago and placed the
third infantry which. with the twen-
tleth, forms his brigade, at right angles
to the line OF 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, ia 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 expect
ed from the navy. Admiral Sampson
Is quoted throughout the army as say
Ing that he will drop one shell into the
city every fve minutes and IL that Is
not sufficient to do the work he will
drop one into the city every two min
uteB. This fire. In addition TO what the
land forces will turn In. II is thought,
will be sufficient to reduce the SpanI-
ards to point where theV Will surren-
der.
General Hawkins, commanding the
first brigade OF General Kent's dlvls-
ion, who was wounded In the foot dur
Ing the attack made on our lines Shtur-
day night by the Spanlards has return
ed to the United States. Colonel Theak.
er, OF the Sixteenth infantry, has sue
cceded General Hawkins in The COM
mnnd Of the brigade and Colonel Wood,
OF the rough riders, win succeed Gcner-
ri Young. Lieutenant Roosevelt Will
command the rough rlders hereafter.