Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-18
WAITING FOR SURRENDER.
Men at the Front Fairly Comfortable,
but Want Tobacco.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
Copyright, 1898, by Chas. NJ. Pepper)
SAN JUAN OUTPOST.
Santiago, July Z, 1888.
American and Spanish soldiers are still
cycling one another across the little valley
which separates the opposing earthWorks.
The exchange of Lieut.. Hobson and the
other heroes of the Merrimac last night
has not ended the mutual cessation Of
hostilities. The fighting may be resumed
before this letter is far on its way, and the
hope to take Santiago without further
bloodshed may be disappointed. Whatever
happens the pause gives a chance to note
some of the features of camp life and of
he incidents of war. 1t seems to be un-
derstood that in laying siege to Santiago
from the land the infantry will remain
quiet until the time comes for it to move,
and the mistakes made at Caney and San
Juan are now certainly guarded against
REPETITION. The open space of half mile
between the outlying lines could doubtless
be rushed and one more Spanish intrench-
ment taken, but it might expose the
to hidden mines and calling artillery fire,
SO 1t will not be attempted. The soldiers
are therefore settled down to the existence
that is their lot when an army lies in front
VI tHe eHcUly. IHtS rest upon their
while waiting to hear whether the arch
bishop of Santiago's appeal to Madrid to
surrender the city and spare further loss
of life will be needed. II it is, probably
only small number of them will enter
Santiago, unless it is to pass through and
re-embark on the transports that brought
them here. Two or three regiments should
be sufficient for the military government of
the city.
Along the Outer Breastworks.
I have been along the outer breastworks
most of the seven miles between Gen. Lud-
lows brigade on the extreme right flank to
Bates command on the left. The rife pits
form a waverirg line, and there is not
corner or an angle of Santiago that is not
exposed to them. If there were a large
Spanish force in the city the line might
pr esent two or three points which would
be open to assault but this weakness may
be more apparent than real. Several points
that seem to invite attack are shown on
closer inspection to be invulnerable. More
over, the Spanish soldiers are not much
inclined to attack. THAr preference is for
the defensive, and they have made only
one rush out Of their own intrenchments.
At several places along the line they are
working on their intrenchments almost
within talking distance of their foes. and
at night the pickets could converse with
one another if the barrier of different
tongues did not prevent There is no doubt
that the Spanish soldiers would be glad to
surrender If they were left TO themselves,
yet they will keep on lighting till their
surrender is ordered. The prisoners, who
are getting so numerous, are detected and
without spirit. Those who yield them
selves up are from the block houses and
forts, which lie some distance outside the
city. They trust themselves to the Cubans
as captors, which is another indication OF
their readiness to quit. Almost without
exception they would rather be sent TO
the military prisons In the United States
than be exchanged and sent into Santiago
Yesterday at headquarters squad of SOL
dfers guarding a group of prisoners were
carefully adjusting bayonets prepare tory 10
marching them into Siboney. You needn't
be SO particular about those bayonets"
said Gen. Shafter, grimly, you couldn't
drive those fellows to escape" That is
about the feeling regarding the Spaniards
who are taken or who give themselves UP
out here where the armies are facing each
other.
Fairly Comfortable, but Need Tobacco
Now that the chief work Of trench dig
gii-g and road building is done, the men
who are stationed on the frontier are fair
ly comfortable. In the midday the rife
pits are hot. and their occupants boil The
tents on the hill sides are hot, yet the az
ternoon rain coois them and the water IS
quickly shed. There are stretches of
grassy meadow, two or three mountain