New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-28
FORTIFYING THE CITY.
FENCE IN SANTIAGO.
AND RIFLE PITS DUG
TO HARASS THE AMERICAN
TROOPS

On the Rio Guiana Sunday. June 26 Goon).
via Kingston, Jamaica, Monday, June -, . a. III
THE outlook here is threatening Everybody
believes a great battle is imminent with ina
Spanish and American advance posts almost
close enough 10 see the whites Of each others
eyes. a collision may occur at any moment
The advance force Of the American Army
rests on the Rio Guiana. with the city Of Santi-
ago de Cuba. four and half miles westward.
in plain sight Last night the outp)sts. consist
ing of two companies Of the 1th Infantry. under
Major Coolidge. occupied positions al right an
giles to the road, guarding the crossing a mile
ard a half beyond S.banilla, where three regi-
ments of General Lawton's division camped.
the 1st 4th and 18th. the sth 22d and I'd Mas
sachusefts with the Rough Riders 10th Cav
airy and parts Of several other regiments strung
out behind them toward Juragua. About eight
hundred Cubans. under General Gonzales were
camped around General Lawton's headquarters;
but less than fifty Of them did scout duty LAST
night General Wheeler to-day with the 1st
I'd and 10th Cavalry, and the Rough Riders
with dynamite guns. moved up 10 where Gen-
eral Lawton's outposts were last night, ana
four batteries Of the Sd Artillery and four Cat
ling guns with special detail under Lieuten-
ant Parker were brought up and planted on the
brow Of hill overlooking the basin in which
Santiago de Cuba Hes.
FACING THE ENEA-Y's INTRENCHMENTs.
Not a shot was frsd from the American side
last night though the front Of the American line
was not $500 yards from the intrenchments
where the Spaniards proposed to combat the
advance on Santiago de Cuba. Three cannon
shots were heard during the night. They seemed
to come from the distant Spanish batteries OF
perhaps seaward.
The top Of every hill and mountain north ana
east OF Santiago is occupied by 5lockhouses'
whence the Spaniards view the movements
of the American Army as Il advances beyond Sa-
bania while to the eastward Of the cty. CASH
ing every knoll and bit Of high ground. are
Spanish intrenchments.
TRENCHES AROUND THE CITY.
The correspondent Of The Associated Press,
from an elevation to the right 90 the American
line to-day counted thirty-four Of these inr
trenchments. completely fencing every approach
TO the city The trenches have been dug as ths
conformation of the ground admitted The ends
Of the trenches overlap where breaks in the linz
occur. thus securing comparatively safe retreat
from rifle fire In part Of the trenches ara
captured Unon one OF these works modern
guns have been mouHted, they be plainly
seen with the naked eye. Spies report that IN
side the intrenchments are four parallel lines
Of rifle pits shouder-deep, and in front OF them
are marked ranges and several rows Of baroed
wire fence.
No officer who has surveyed the field over
which the advance must be made underesti-
mates the task ahead Of the Americans, al
though our boys still express the most con-
tenptuous opinion Of their adversaries. The
general opinion Is that more artillery Will he
necessary before il will be safe 70 attempt 10
make an assault upon the Spanish works. as the
fire from the rifle pits must necessarily be deadly
and sufficient demoralize any force. no mat
ter how brilliant its courage when halted by
wire obstructions.
Some officers believe il will be necessary 70 lay
a regular siege to Santiago De Cuba and advance
a lire OF earthworks until the rife pits can bs
shelled with shrapnel by the light artillery.
These pieces have an effective shrapnel range Of
> 500 yards and the Mauser rifles 10 the hands
Of the Spaniards are sighted 70 900 yards. and
they Kill at 2100 yards.
A SEVERE LESSON NEEDED.
However gratifying to the National pride Is
the careless attitude OF enlisted men. the
grave fear remains that they may need more
severe lesson than the ambush Of the Rough
Riders before they realize the deadly possibilities
~ modern warfare. even in Spanish hands.
brought is densely lined by underbrush. Every
ward is an artificial hedgerow, and the road to
the base Of supplies is in similar state; but
very little danger is apprehended Of a flank at
tack as il is evident Gener Linares is acting
strictly on the defensive. The failure of the
Spanish troops at Hogu!n. Manzanlo and
Guantanamo 10 effect junction with him has
left the Spanish commander so weak that II
would be an act OF insanity upon mis- part TO at
tempt TO assume the aggressive or 10 retreat
TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES.
The problem now confronting the American
ARMY is the transportation OF supplies. for the
roads to the front are still impossible for
wagons but are being improved. In the mean
time the pack train is being used. The first
Of these left Juragua last night and others LETT
to-day The officers and zen were completely
ont of rations Yesterday. The 9Th received half
rations. and to-day 1t received nothing. The
boys are complaining bitterly but are pacific
on the assurance that the pack train VIII be
here tonight Should , night attack occur. our
soldiers would fare worse than did the marines
at Guantanamo the attacking force here
would not be at the disadvantage Of having to
charge uphill.
The Cubans with the advance force. In spite
Of the good behavior of their comrades at Guam
tanamo seem to be utterly worthless. All day
they sit in the shade Of their palm-tha tched
camps. and at night they smoke cigarettes and
gorge on Uncle Sans rations, while in sight OF
them Uncle Sans boys, with empty stomachs
and not a bit Of tobacco for their pipes. build
roads all day under the blazing sun and sleep
on their rifles under the star.t sky al night
The Spanlards are using brass -sheathed lead
bullets and the brass rips on touching and tears
the flesh horribly. while the small brass spln-
ters cause blood poisoning. They are practically
explosive bullets and are used in their Rem
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