The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-07-02
WITHIN PLAIN SIGHT.
American Troops Are Closing In OF
Santiago.
Skaters Army Drives the spanisrds
Before It-Enemy shows No Dis
position 10 Contest Our
Forward Movement.

Washington, June 29.-Gen. Shafter
reports that at nine o'clock Monday
night the army was west OF San Juan
river, within three miles OF Santiago.
and in plain sight OF the city. His po-
sition had just been abandoned by the
enemy, and all is progressing we'll.
The American Advance.
At the Front, on the Rio Guiana, Per
Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, Via Port
Antonio, Jamaica, June 2s.-The Amer
lean front has been advanced beyond
the first crossing of the Rio Guiana
about q mile, and tug lies three and a
half miles from the Spanish intrench-
ments. Gen. Lawton's brigade rests on
the road 10 Santiago de Cuba. The
Third brigade under Gen. Chaffee, the
Seventeenth, Twelfth and Seventh reg
iments, holds the trench, with his com
mand lying across the road and river.
The First brigade, the Eighth. Twenty
second and Second Massachusetts. un-
der Gen. Evan Clarke, lies on Tic left
flank, slightly in the rear, and the Sec
ond brigade, the First, Fourth and
Twenty-fifth, occupies the opposite po-
sition on the right flank. Gen. Wheeler,
with the cavalry, is in the rear. between
Sevilla hills and the Rio Guiana. A
strong line Of outposts Is maintained
ahead.
Cubans Engaged.
Gen. Chaffee's brigade, with 5000 Gu
bans, under Gen. Aguirra. and several
hundred, under Gen. Con zales, was Skin
mishing towards the city Tuesday
morning. The Cubans had several
slight skirmishes with the Spaniards
stationed on the hills on the America
right flank, and our auxiliaries occu-
pied the blockhouses in that vicinity,
which were evacuated before daybrealS
by the Spaniards. The latter retreated
towards Santiago de Cuba. No fatali-
ties are reported.
Have Viewed the Land.
Gen. Lawton, Gen. Chaffee and Gen.
Wheeler have thoroughly reconnoitred
the Spanish position and, with the aid
OF information furnished by the Gu
bans, have very good maps of the roads
and defenses Of the city. Much infor-
nation has also been obtained from
RPahiRh HhNihtVSf VIM sliHDtu 0ul
of the city and given themselves up in
hope Of getting food. They report great
starvation and distress in Santiago
They say the Spanish troops are on
short rations, and that all the supplies
are being held for their use.
Spanish Losses.
The sick in the hospitals, the pacincos
say, are suffering from lack Of food,
and they also report that ~ Spaniards
were killed and that 50 were wounded
as the result of the engagement on Fri.
day last with Col. Woods and Young's
commands. The most startling infor.
nation obtained from the pacifcos Il
that since the advance began almost
10000 Spanish soldiers have arrived al
Santiago de Cuba. This statement is
made on the authority Of Gen. Lawton
and he is also Of the opinion that Gen
Pando may be able TO effect junction
with Gen. Linares at Santiago de Cuba
spanish Defenses.
There are two forts OF considerable
importance within the Spanish lines
Punta Blanco, at the southern end OF
the bay, and Santa Ursula, at the south.
east corner. On the road to Caney, on
the north, is another fort. There are
about $50 men in each of these fortified.
tions, and stretching around the whole
city are nine barbed wire fences, sc
yards apart, while just inside there ar,
lines OF riflepits. Outside, to the east.
ward, about two miles beyond the
American outposts, is a line OF In,
trenchments extending from the north.
ern extremity Of the city 10 MORO cas-.
tie. A little west OF south, at dis.
lance OF about seven miles from Gen
Lawton's headquarters. lies MORO cas-
tie. The road TO within few hun.
dred yards Of the batteries at the real
Of MORO was reconnoitered on Tues
day by Gen. Lawton and several mem.
beers OF his STAFF.
Must soon Fall.
The Cubans believe that IL the water
supply of the city can be cut off, San
tiago will have to yield Mt once. They
say that Admiral Cervcra's entire feet
except the torpedo boat destroyer Ter
ror, is in the harbor. General Lawtor
Is inclined to discredit the report,
that guns have been taken from tn,
ships TO strengthen the defenses or
land. He says IL would be impossible,
for Admiral Ceryera TO reach the pc
sition OF the American army with hi,
big guns from where the Spanish shi D,
lie.
spanisrds Fail 20 Fight.
There were no alarms last night
Many of our officers are amazed. a,
they have looked for resistance 10 oul
advance. The ground over which they
have travelled could have easily beer
defended, but the Spanish have stead
fly retired, not even attempting 20 har
rass our tanks, as the columns moved
on through natural ambuscadinl
country. Apparently Gen. Linares pre-