Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-29
SOu,h Coast Of Cuba AMI San Juan de
Porto Rico Nov IlGluded.
cAuAnA STILL AT PORT SAID.

WASHINGTON. June est was very
late I'm. The day when the first dispatch
within two days came to the War De
uartment from General shafter, but the
news was regarded as so good that there
WAS no disposition to complain. IT dis
closed a very satisfactory rate Of pro-
Rress on the part Of General shafter to-
wards the town OF Santiago itself, and
apparently he has gained all this ground
ind mas come within three miles of San
taeo. without suffering any losses since
the bloody slirmish of Friday last. Al
together. the performance is regarded as
very gratifying by the department Off
tials here.
AS nearly as can be gathered from the
brief dispatch. the American army is
now at a fork in the road, one branch
of which leads to Santiago and the other
10 MORO Castle. at the entrance to the
harbor. General Shafter is thus free to
move In either direction, according 10
the demands of the campaign. With the
aao men who reinforced him yesterday
AHN
an the Yale and the additional brigade
,bat will reach him by tomorrow it may
be possible TO make even more rapid
progress in the advance upon santiago
as these men can be relied upon 10 relieve
the main body of troops from the neceS-
eitv OF keeping open the line Of commuil-
cation between Shafter and his base az
Baiqulri Meanwhile, further reinforce
,o.uts are being prepared and dispatched
es rapldlv as the best energies of the
dsparmcnt can direct. and IT is believed
That several thousand men sailed from
Tampa to-day directly for Santia8o.
BARBED-WIRE CUTTERS.
The department has had in mind diff
entities Of the campaign that are just
devalorlng 10 the public eye. such as the
use for me first time in civilized warfare
o. barbed-wire fencing as a means OF de-
fence. and acting upon the advice Of somo
oe our army officers who were in cuba
while the fighting was confined to the
spapiards and the insurgents a certain
,ypber Of men in each regiment have
6sen provided with wire-cutters. ana
charged with the duty Of cutting down
lhcse fences so as TO permit the advance
of the troons.
II probably will be necessary to shell
.,yt the force defending these Wire
,bevaux-de-frise before they can be cut
hnless the men in charge of that duty
ARC 20 be unduly exposed TO danger. TINS
,,u involve larger use Of field arui-
.erv than would be required in ordinary
warfare. The officials here have been
forehandcd as 20 these details and IN
fact. have provided Tor the use Of barbed
wire ny our own forces, having sent
about 80 tons Of this wire with General
Merriirs expedition.
EXTENSION OF BLOCKADE.
The lines are being frightened arouno
Cuba. and It will soon be impossible ioi
even small quantities Of food or wdi
upplies 10 reach the spaniards there
The proclamation issued to-day extend
ing the blockade to the south coast aha
10 San Juan. It Is believed viii accom-
nush this result. ON the south coast
,ho rse Of Pines will be cut off as q
transfer depot for cattle and 1000 Sup'
plies coming from Jamaica anu a
America. By closing san Juan haroor
the spaniafds viii lose the last ehan''
Of smuggling war supplies to CUBA an'
the future operations OF the army an'
navy looking to the occupation OF IN
island OF Porto Rico viii be materially
advanced by the establishment Of a sue
cessfui blockade.
c'AMARA AND WATSON.
,rhora MAS no further word from th'
csdrz feet to-day. though il Is known i'
be sim lying AZ Pos SAID unue' s"'
pretext Of repairing one OF the torpeuo
beat t-destroyers. The delay on the pa
OF the spanish feet has not stopper 'a'
preparations for the sending Of ine ,.~S.
ern Squadron, under commo'ore "''