Evening star., 1898-08-15
Tkc Last Fight.

Delayed adv.ces from beyond Coama,
dated August -, evening. state:
General Wilson moved one Lancaster bat
terry out to the front this afternoon for the
purpose of shellng the Spanish position On
the crest of the mountain at the head of
the pass through which the read winds.
The enem: occupied a position of great
natural strength. protected by seven lines
of intren h7re7ts and battery of two how
itZers. The SfaniarGs were eager for the
fray. and earlier in the day had fired upon
Colonel Biddle of the Engineer Corps, who,
with a platoon of Troop C of New York,
was accommodating on their right fank.
As our batter rounded a curve iE the
road 1000 yards away the enemy openef an
artillery and infantry fire. Four com, Uies
of the Sd Wisconsin. which were posted on
the bluffs to the right of the road wa-e
not permitted to respond to the infantry
fire The guns advanced at gallop in the
face of a terrific fire, were unlimbered and
were soon hurting common smell and shrap-
mel at the enemy at lively rate striking
the emplacenents, batteries and intrench-
ments with the rhythmic regularity OF a
trip-hammer. The enemy soon abandoned
one gun, but continued to serve the other at
intervals for over an hour. They had our
range, and their shrapnel burst repeatedly
over our men.
One shell burst, the fragments killing
Corporal Swanson of Company L and seri-
ously wounding Corporal Yanke and Pri-
Yates Bunce and Vought.
The Loss.
Captain Paget, the British army officer
who is with the American forces for the
purpose OF observing the operations in the
field. distinguished himself by aiding Dr.
Woodbury..
Here Captain Lee and Private Sizer of
Company were wounded by Mauser bull
lets. In about two hours the emmy aban-
cOned the other gun, ana the raen began 20
flee from the intrenchments toward a ba-
mana grove in the gorge. Our guns sheIled
them as they ran.
One gun was now ordered to advance to
a position a quarter Of a mile further on
II had just reached the new position when
spanish infantry reinforce nlents filed into
the trenches and fired down a deadly fire
upon our men. compelling the battery to
retire at a gallop. Then both the enemy's
howitZers reopened and shrarnel screamed
and Mausers sang. Another gun galloped
from the rear, but our ammunition was ex-
haUsted.
Lieutenant Haines was shot in the body
by a Maucar just before his gun retired
the bail following a rib.
The orders issued for two companies to
advance were counte-marded and the firing
soon csased.
Colonel Bliss of General Wilson'S staff
went forward to the enemys line with a
flag of truce and explained tkat peace ne
gotiations Were almost concluded, and that
their position was untenab,e, and demand
ed their surrender.
The, Spanish have no communication with
the outside world, and the commander ask
ed until tomorrow morning in order that he
might communicate with Governor General
Macias a San Juan.
General Wilson and his staff viewed to-
days action from hill at the right of the
battery. The enenly's guns were fired from
a high elevation with low velocity The
Spaniards have the ranges as accurately
as they had at Santiago. Their position
from the front is almost impregnable but
1t can be turned
Estimates of the strength of the enemy
range from 800 to 1.C00. Their position is
five miles from Aibonito.
Tell the American general if he desires
no further shedding of blood to remain
where he is
This is the reply that the Spanish COM
mander, Colonel Nuevillas, sent to General
Wilson's demand for the surrender of
A.bonito.