The evening times., 1898-07-14
LIkIhG AP FOR THE FIGHT
Position ofihe Army Before the
Defenses Of Santiago.
DISTRICT BOYS AT THE FRCNT
WnshiI eton Troops Sent to the Sup
ing RainstOl ms Make Shiny Mud
Pits of the Trenches-Complain
of a Rad Quality of Medicine.

Army Headquarters, Before Santiago,
July A.-The American army extends
around Santiago in a semi-circle, the
curve of which measures a distance of
eight miles.
Gen. Lawtou's division, on the extreme
right, rests upon the shore of the bay
west of Santiago. Our troops have oc-
cupied the western suburbs and are
ready to dash into the city itself. The
Importance of Strengthening Gen. Law
toms position is fully appreciated, and all
the re-enforcements which are arriving
are being sent to his aid.
One of the first regiments ordered to
the right wing was the Seventy-first, of
New York, which had been engaged in
road building for several days. 1t took a
position in the Ell Caney road on the ad-
| vanced line The First Illinois Regiment
and the District of Columbia troops were
also sent TO the support of Gen. Lawton.
| Several batteries which have just reach
ed here have also been placed on the
| right. aGzI
This massing of our troops on the right
| indicates that our final attack will be
| made there. The Spanish lines are un-
| doubtedly weakest at that point, and the
| topography of. the country is favorable
| for the advance g; the American troops.
| Many of the advanced Spanish trenches
| have already teen abandoned. for the
| firing of our troops on Saturday and Sum-
| day made 1t TOO hcr for the Spaniards.
They were lying fiat IN the bottoms of
the bitches to escape the whitening Amer
| lean fire.
From General Lawton's lines a clear
| view Of the harbor Of Santiago may be
| obtained. Large ships ride at anchor,
| steamers lie at the piers and a torpedo
boat sometimes hurries over the land
| locked waters.
Many of the Cubans now with General
| Garcia were formerly residents of Santi-
| ago. They are familiar with the fortified
| buildings of the city, well as the vul-
| nerable points. They called attention to
an ice factory and an electric lighting
| plant. Both have been marked for des-
| truction when the bombardment reopens.
Since the water supply of the city was
cut of by the American troops the ice
factory has furnished fresh water. for
II has appliances for distilling sea water.
Men are now at work repairing the mill
tary telegraph line from Siboney to the
front, which was destroyed by the storm.
Owing to the illness of the postmaster at
Siboney all mali received at that place is
held there week for fumigation. The
town was completely wiped out by fire.
Advices from Port Antonio say the blaze
of the burning town could be seen there,
and gave rise to the report that Santiago
was being burned.
The naval commission, of which Lieu
tenant Commander Rogers is president,
has examined the Spanish wrecks. The
board found the Finch armor of the
Spanish vessels pierced in many places.
There were siXty-four holes in the Viz
caya.
Captain Rowell, of the Second Infantry,
was killed while directing the fire on the
Spanish outpost. He was struck In the
forehead by shell. His wife is daugh-
ter of General Wheaton.
Lieutenant W. J. Lutz, also of the Sec
ond Infantry, two privates of the Ninth
Cavalry and one of the Tenth were
wounded.
The American troops are anxious to
charge TO the trenches SO that they may
end this struggle. They prefer taking
their chances with Mauser bullets to fac
ing yellow fever I'm the wet trenches.
There was a terrific rainstorm on Mon
day night, followed by heavy soaking
rains yesterday and last night.
Mules and horses stampeded during the
storm and teamsters spent the greater
part of yesterday in collecting the fright
ened animals. The deluge filled the
trenches and converted them into drain
age bitches. Water was everywhere
The men slept soaked to the skin.
Our soldiers spent their most miserable
day in Cuba yesterday. The drenchng
rain pattering continually upon the tents
finally soaked through and streams of
water dripped upon the men huddled be-
meath the slight shelter. Cooking was a
lost art. The water soaked everything
that might have been used for fuel. The
sran nhac boa e1;,,
roads were quagmires. Those in the hos
pi,als suffered greater agonies than they
would have done under scorching heat.
The peals of thunder and flashes of
lightning were terrifying.
Wretched as were the troops the refu-
gees were more wretched. Thousands of
these poor creatures were huddled to-
gether at Ell Caney. Fully half of them
were absolutely without shelter. Women
and children lay for hours upon the
soaked earth. The drenching rain made
it impossible to light fires.
Ihere came rift In the clouds, and at
noon the sun appeared. A light breeze
sprang up and lifted the mist from the
valley and mountain defiles. As the first
ray Illuminated the gilt cross upon the
spire of the cathedral of Santiago cheer
burst from the throats OF thousands of
rain soaked soldiers in the trenches. The
dripping flag above the Spanish redoubt
tapped its wet folds and our battle flags
along the line of rifle pits shook off the
accumulated rain drops. The men for
got the chill and their previous discom-
forts.
Positions for new batteries were selec-
ted by Gen. Randolph's chief of staff.
and the artillery in position was inspect
ed. The village of Caimenes, a suburb of
Santiago was occupied by our troops on
Monday. Gen. Toral has evidently with
drawn the greater par. of his forces into
the city proper for the purpose of resist
Ing the main attack from trenches in the
streets and from loopholed buildings.
The main blockhouse just outside the
city has been destroyed. 6-inch gun
which the Spaniards were using was dis
mounted and smashed to flinders. The
Spanish fire was poor. Their shrapnel
was old and useless and would not ex-
plode. 1t had evidently been lying in ar
senals for years.
What might have proved a serious mis-
take was made by the First Illinois Reg