Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-07-02
IN FRONT OF SANTIAGO.
Our Picket Lines Within Hailing
Distance of the Enemy.
This Week VIII witnes, the Great Fight
Tor the City-Reports to Gen. Shafter
by Gems. Wheeler and Young.


OFF JuRAGUA, Saturday, s pm, via
kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Troops Of
The United States and Spain are almost
lace to face, and less than four miles
apart.
Tonight the picket lines at certain
points are within hailing distance OF
the enemy. 1t seems certain that the
battle of Santiago must come within
"A week.
The troops are all ashore here and at
Balquiri, with the exception of u few
scattering companies that have gone
forward. The supplies are sufficient to
enable the army to sustain a weeks
campaign at both landing points. There
is a continual procession of small boats
riding on the beach's sturdy waves, and
rs one week rations are already landed,
1t believed the required supplies will
all be ashore by Tuesday, the 2sth.
The landing Of troops, horses and
supplies has been extraordinary. With
)nly one steam barge, and compelled to
depend on treacherous small boats,
Gen. Shafter has landed over 10000
men, hundreds of horses and mules and
thousands of dollars worth Of supplies
IN the exposed beaches, and only two
men have lost their lives, these by
drowning. No more than fifty animals
ave been drowned and scarcely pack
lge of supplies has been lost The Off
ters generally are surprised at the
small loss of life and property. Gen.
Shafter said to correspondent of the
Associated Press today:
Gen. Shafter Well Satisfied.
81 am well satisfied with the progress
that is being made. The disembarka-
tion is slow, but considering the limited
facilities and the exposed nature of the
landing places, the men have done well.
| only await the landing of sufficient
supplies to begin the movement on San
tlago. l am unable to say what will
take place. am much pleased at the
gallant conduct of our men in the ac-
ton at Sevilla yesterday and with the
cool, vetcran-like work. The victory
was complete"
Gen. Wheeler, in his official report
| places the number of dead in the en-
| gagemcnt at Sevilla at twenty-five and
the wounded at between seventy and
eighty. No attempt has yet been made
to prepare an official list with the names
of the dead and wounded. The high
grass and bushes of the battle-ground
make it difficult to find the bodies but
an official list will probably be prepared
by Monday. The bodies of thirty
Spaniards have been found, and the
Spanish loss in killed and wounded was
doubtless much heavier than the Amer.
lean.
The majority of the Americon troops
are now here or at the front in the
vicinity of Sevila. The force at the
latter place, which is about nine miles
from Santiago, numbers 5000 Ameri.
cans and l,500 Cubans. Gen. Wheeler
is in command here with Gems. Young,
Lawton and Chatfee. Gen. Wheeler
will remain at Sevilla, which will be
made a rendezvous for the troops land
ing at Baiquiri and at this point, the
artillery and the cavalrY being put for
ward from Baiquiri. The cavalry has
been sent ahead to cut wagon road
through the underbrush.
From the American position at
Scvilla Santiago is visible, and the for.
tiications can be seen.
Advance Commanders Report.
The following reports to Gen. Shafter
from generals at the front show the
conditions:
"To Gen. Shafter-I have just seen
two negro boys, who left Santiago this
morning Saturday. They report that
the soldiers and citizens are very short
of food. The soldiers and officers have
seized all the food in the shops. They
are killing young horses for food, and
in the hospitals are subsisting on bread
: made from rice flour. Three Spanish
} generals took part in the fight at Sevillf
Yesterday. Five wagon loads O.
wounded were carried into Santiago
and many others wounded got there OF
horses or on foot We can see Morrt
Castle and the flag very distinctly iron
our positions. The Cubans confirm thu
rcports as to the fine character of tn,
Notifications around the city. Sever
lines of barbed wire are stretched
around the trenches. The Spaniard
have recently dug deep trenches arount
!, the entire city, connecting series o
. small forts. WHEELER"
dated Saturday afternoon.
ITO Gen. Shafter-We can plainl,
see Santiago, less than seven mile
, away. The country is level for si'
miles this side of the city, except fo
hills on the south, which extend t
within n mile of Santiago. These hill
appear deserted. The country is fairl.
omen. and it will not be difficult to NOV
our troops over it. Gen. Chaffee occu
, nies Seyilla TODAY. You've"
; Dated Saturday EVENING"
mANCO'S ALLEGED REPORT.