The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-27
Fighting IO Be F|ERCE.
SantiagO'S Position Naturally
Strong.
EVERY HILL HELD BY ENEMY
Skaters Army Must Take Them by
Storm.

Some Little Time Likely to EIapse
Before the Troops Get to the Top
of the Hills Commanding the City.
Engineer Corps to BE Depended on
to Cut Out the Roadway Needed
for Moving the ArtiIIery-Future
Plan of Campaign Depends on De-
veIOpments Incident to Fall of
Santiago.
Washington, June 26.-Army and navy
officers who are familiar with the topo-
/ graphy of the country over which Gen.
Shafter and his forces must travel before
they reach Santiago nights, are extremely
! cautious in making predictions as to the
date of the fall of Santiago.
The Spaniards have had ample time to
station their defenses of the city on the
nights, and information on file at the war
department shows that they have fortified
the hills surrounding the city, so that a
stubborn resistance may be expected.
Santiago is not a walled city like Ha-
vana, but nature has provided it with a
range of mountainous hills. on which
have been erected earthworks. fully equip
ped for defense of the city.
1t Is believed that the Spaniards are pre-
pared to resist the onward march of Gen.
Skaters forces from Sevila, and 1t may
be many days before the American troops
scale Santiago nights and get chance to
take peep down into the harbor and
view for the first time the fleet of Ad-
miral Cervera, provided Admiral Sampson
does not destroy it in the meantime
While the forces of Gen. shafter are
pressing forward upon Santiago, the 12,00O
Spanish regulars and the recruits taken
into the Spanish army recently, will
doubtless endeavor to check the Amerf-
cans and hold them back until the Span
ish reinforcements at Holquin, on the
north, and Manzanillo, on the west of San
tiago, can be brought to the rescue of the
city to be invaded.
There is but one road on the east lead
ing to Santiago, and that is occupied by
Gen. Skaters forces as far as Sevilla,
according to the latest advices received at
the war department. That road is far
from being equal to our American turn
pixies. It is narrow, and in some places
almost impossible for the heavy wagon
trains and artillery, which must be used
in the attack upon Santiago.
While the obstructions in the road NAV
delay the expedition of Gen. Shafter, they
must be overcome. and those details are
to be looked after by the representatives
of the corps of engineers, which will cut
a most important figure in all the opera
tions in Cuba.
The fact must not be lost sight of that
the engineer corps is a very important fac
tor in the present war. Roosevelt's Rough
Riders and the cavalry under Gen. Wheel
er were making way for the engineer
corps when the conflict near Jaragua took
place.
There are 500 members of the engineers
department with Gen. Shafter. and they
will be sent ahead of the main BODY of
troops to blaze the way through the now
almost impossible region leading to San
tiago.
The road along which the American
forces are now beng moved is crossed bv
two streams. which make their way into
the sea. Bridges may have to be con-
structed TO enable the troops to cross Them
Roads have to be widened and breast
works thrown up for the protection of the
army.
That is the work of the engineer depart-
ment Experienced men can accomnHsn
better results than troops unframed IN
that particular line of duty, and for that
reason some of the very best men A.
the engineers department are with Gen
Shafter.
All OF these little details seem 70 have
been overlooked by those who are predict
ing an invasion Of Santiago within the
next twenty-four hours
While there is not the slightest reason 80
doubt the ability Of Gen. shafter 10 can.
ture Santiago, il can hardly be accom-
plished without some setbacks. and soro.
delays, which may be vexatious 10 moss
who are clamoring for quick action ana
speedy results.
If Gen. Shafter has not a force suf7-
cient TO overcome the Spanish forces
which are now supposed to be comblninp
in the vicinity of Santiago, the Presidert
stands ready to send him 10000 20 600 ana
If necessary, 10000 additional troops Thai
is the spirit prevailing at the war depar,.
ment to-day.
Although in some quarters IL Is clajr,ed
that Gen. Shafter does not need reinforce
monts, the President and Secretary Algar
are not going to take any chances of he
ing defeated at that point Consequently,
Gen. Miles and Adjt Gen. Corbin have
been on duty at The department ain day
rushing through the details looking 10 ~,
immediate ombarkation of reinforcenents
from Tampa.
Santiago must fall. and with Il Admira,
Cevera's fleet must be captured or no.
stroyed. That Is the substance of the or.
ders under which Gen. Shafter and A.
Iniral Sampson are operating
The capture of Santiago will determine
the future policy OF the administratIon
with regard to The movement upon ia
vana
When Gen. shafter reaches Santiago and
that he VIII feel justified In resting his
army in the lowands OF that unhealthy