Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-07-14
RETREAT CUT OFF
SANTIAGO is SURROUNDED
General Miles Takes Command hut Tor
rifio Rain Storm Prevents Fighting
Another Flag of Truce.

aids correspondent before Santiago,
Tuesday, says:
Major General Miles, who this MORN
Ing assumed control of the American
forces In the field, promises to take
Santiago within three days.
General Miles declares that the CAM
palSn must end quickly. With that
object In view the American COM
mander. who arrived on the Yale yes
terday afternoon, hastened to the front
and took charge. He found forty
forty pieces of light artillery mounted
and ready for use.
The Spaniards after being heavily
bombarded by the New York and
Brooklyn from of AgundOres, hoisted
fing OF truce yesterday afternoon af-
ter portion of the city had been de-
stroyed by the American fire.
General Miles was enthusiastically
received by his troops when he ap-
pcared nt the front. He arrived dur
ing rninstorm and was accompanied
by 5000 rcinfOrccmcnts from the Yale
and Columbia. The st. Paul also ar-
rived with the presidents Own Of
Ohio, and other reInforccments from
Illinois and Massachusetts.
Shocked ut the condition he found In
Siboney. General Miles Immediately or
dered that the town be destroyed by
fire. He decided upon this rs II sani-
tnry measure, and several wooden
buildings. including one In which Cen
eral Miles established himself tem-
pornrily. now are In flames.
Ambulanccs are constantly arriving
mt Siboncy with sick and wounded.
Rain fell all night and the hospitals
and trenches are flooded.
Washington. July l2.-ltain serious
Int. 80
the American army before Santiago to-
day. and the dispatches which had
been received up to II late hour to-
night Indicate that while the position
OF the troops has been somewhat
strengthened. nothing more has been
accomplished.
One dispatch has been received from
Major General Miles and two from
Major General Shnftcr. General Miles
In his dispatch which was received
this morning, spoke OF the difficulty of
transporting the artillery and supplies
to the front and urged the necessity Of
having more drnught animals.
He also asked for pile drivers and
appliances for building whnrvcs. and,
Indicating the reason for the condition
OF the roads. he said the heaviest rain
he had ever known was falling.
This IL General Skaters first dis
patch: :.
Playa. via Hayti. July 12.-Hcad-
quarters OF the Fifth Army Corps.-To
AdJuinnt General. Washington: It has
been very quiet: but little fighting. A
flag OF truce up since o'clock. Con-
sidcring proposition for surrendcring
now. that have town surrounded on
the north. The line was completed at
y. IN. by General Ludlow right down
~ la, IN hns lima Ia ,.ut I,n, t,,,p
will have 1t strengthened In the MORN
ing by General Henry, who hns Just
arrived mt the headquarters. Only
three or four casualties: no one killed
80 far rs I can learn. Expect to have
two OF the new batteries In position to-
morrow. Great deal OF suffering
among the people who have gone out
OF Santiago. Am doing my best to
relieve II. but not entirely successful.
tSignctD SHAFTER, Major General.
General Skaters second dispatch
was received late this evening. In It
he said that II had been impossible to
accomplish much on account of the
severe tropical rain storm. but he had
succeeded In improving his position
somewhat. He said that the lombard
ment OF the fleet had been Ineffective.
AS he spoke of no other bombartlmcnt.
II Is believed that the land forces did
not fire on the city to-day. From his
statement that he had improved his
position 1t Is believed that he has prob
ably strengthened his entertainments
ns much ns possible In view OF the
storm. and that he has probably been
able to bring up some of the reinforce
ments and extend his line so us to
more completely invest the city.
Nothing is said In any of the dis
patches about any OF the Spaninrds
having escaped from the city. but the
officials here fear that some of them
may have succeeded in getting ont and
escaping In the direction of Holguin
or ManZInillo.
The joint attack Monday morning
was answered by vollcys OF fire from
the cncmy's trenches. Whenever Span
ish heads appeared above the rifle pits
the American troops fired at them.
From the improved position OF our
troops they Were able to send an ac-
curatc and deadly fire into the cncmy's
trenches and the Spaninrds. with the
exception of few dcsultory vollcys,
soon abandoned all efforts to return
our fire.
To the surprise of the Americans the
Spaniards did not Use their artillery,
although the batteries apparently arc
still in position. These might be dunn
my guns. No signs of life were visible
thcrcabouts.
1t is known that two of the encmy's
batteries on our left nrc dummies As
the morning wore away the impression
became more general that Toral had
succeeded In getting the greater part
of the Spanish troops out of the city.
General Sbafter and his subordinate
officers could not account for the Gu
emy's strange silence under our fire.
1t was not characteristic of Spaniards.
One suggestion l heard was that the
enemy might be running short of am
munition. and that General Toral, ex-
pccting an assault on the city. was
saving what ammunition he has Acft