Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-02
WILL BE NO HOLIDAY AFFAIR.
Capture of Santiago VIII Involve Hard
Fighting - SpRniards are Strongly En-
trenched Behind Barbed Wires and in
Rifle Pit.
CHI 1RIDUSE


trenChed Behind Barbed Wires and in
Rifle Pit.
On the Rio Guiana, via Kingston, ia
maica, June 2S.-Not a shot was fired
from the American side Saturday
night, though the front of the Ameri-
can line was not $500 yards from the
entrenchments where the Spaniards
propose to combat the advance on
Santiago de Cuba.
The top of every hill and mountain
north and east of Santiago is occu-
pied by blockhouses, from whence the
Spaniards can view the movements of
the American army as it advances be-
yond Sabanilla, while to the eastward
of the city, gashing every knoll, are
Spanish intrenchments.
From an elevation to the right of
the American line can be counted "a
of these intrenchments, completely
fencing every approach to the city.
The trenches have been dug as the
conformation of the ground admitted.
The ends of the trenches overlap
where breaks in the line occur, thus
securing comparatively safe retreat
from rifle fire in case parts of the
trenches are captured. Upon one of
these works modern guns have been
mounted. They can be plainly seen
with the naked eye.
Spies report that inside the intrench-
ments are four parallel lines of rifle
pits, shoulder deep, and in front of
them are marked ranges and several
rows of barbed wire fences. No Off
Ger who has surveyed the field over
which the advance must be made un-
derestimates the task ahead of the
Americans.
The general opinion is that more ar
tillery will be necessary before it will
be safe to make an assault upon the
Spanish works, as the fire of the rifle
pits must necessarily be deadly and
sufficient to demoralize any force, no
matter how brilliant it's courage,
when halted by wire distractions.
Some officers believe it will be nee
essary to lay regular siege to Sall-
tiago and advance with a line of earth
works until the rifle pits can be
shelled with shrapnel by the light ar
tillery. These pieces have an effective
shrapnel range of $500 yards, and the
Mauser rifles in the hands of the Span
iards are sighted to 1000 yards and
they kill at 2,100 yards.
However gratifying to the national
pride is the careless attitude of our
enlisted men, the fear remains that
they may need a more severe lesson
than the ambush of the Rough Riders
before they realize the deadly possibil-
tiles of modern warfare. The road
over which the ordnance must be
brought is densely lined by under
brush. Every yard is an artificial
hedgerow, and the road to the base
of supplies is in a similar state. But
very little danger is apprehended OF
a flank attack, as it is evident that
Gen. Linares is acting strictly on the
defensive. The failure of the Span
ish troops at Holguin, Manzanillo and
Guantanamo to effect iuncture with
him has left the Spanish commander
/ so weak that it would be an act OF
insanity upon his part to attempt to
assume the aggressive, or to retreat.
The problem now confronting the
army is the transportation of sup
| plies, for the roads to the front are
still impossible for wagons, but are
! being improved. In the meantime the
pack train is being used. The officers
and men were completely out of ra'
tions on Saturday. The Seventh re-
ceived half rations and Sunday they
received nothing. The boys are com
planning bitterly.
The Spaniards are using brass
sheathed lead bullets and the brass
rips on firing and tears the flesh
horribly, while the small brass spiint'
ers cause blood poisoning. They are
practically explosive bullets ard arc
used in the Remingtons. They also
cut small cross through the end ot
the Mauser bullets so they mushroom
on striking, with similar result
/ The outlook here is threatening
Everybody believes a great battle is
imminent. A collision may occur a
any moment.