The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-01
Our Army Stretching North
Across The Hills
BARRED WIRE IN FRONT OF US
And Every Soldier in Our Ranks
Has a Pair Of Wire Cutters.

Viae rs Asout TOn Miles Long. but the
lIcrouess Arc strong OnIy In spots-Noth-
ing but acknowledgements Of Slud or Stone Far
row the Hills to the East or Iho City-Tot the
South TIVE Sow and Strong EarthWorks
save JuSt Bocn Reared ana CeRvora'a
Gums Are Probably Mounted ThorO-Onr
Advance line now Stretches AiOnG the
Hnst side sr the City OnIy n Short Distance
from The spanish OutpOsts-Enin DrenchoS
Sp.oia; Gable Despatch to Tnn SCR.
waEELER's HEADQUARTERS, Near San
1 lingo, June 2s.-The American forces are
now nearly ready for the attack on the city
4 Of Santiago do Cuba. which lies in full
sight from the point where the CORE
spondcnt is at present writing this de.
spatch. Barbed wire fences, in which the
Spaniards appear to place great reliance as
o means of defence, guard the intrench-
ments on the land side of the city. The
openings in these barriers number six, and
each of them is guarded by strong forces Of
Spanish troops.
The American Army is gradually stretch
ing out across the hills on the eastern side of
the doomed city. They are now within a
comparatively short distance from the
strongly defended hills which it will be
necessary for them to capture before the
city itself can be taken.
While Gen. Shafter is putting the finish
ing touches to his plans for the American
advance, a Spanish force of 5000 of the
flower of Spaln's army In Cuba, under
the command of Gen. Pando, Captain
General Blanco's chief of staff, are NOV
ing In the direction of Santiago from
Manzanillo, with the intention of re-
inforcing the enemy already in the city.
They are making forced marches, but their
progress is necessarily slow. owing to the
large quantities of supplies, of ammunition
and provisions they are bringing to the re-
lief of their imperilled comrades. These
reinforcements, all infantry, will attempt
W cuIcE liz ClbS OA iC GOV "
If Gen. Shaftcr determines to cut them
off from entering the city the Americans
will have to turn the left wing of the
present Spanish line, which would make
the whole line of American action twelve
or fifteen miles long.
Gen. Linares, the Spanish commander,
appears to think that his barbed wire bar
riers will hold the Americans in check
while his guns pour a whitening fire
into their ranks and smash the lines.
These fences have been used with greater
or less effect against the half-naked Cuban
Insurgents, but there Is a surprise in store
for Gen. Linares when he expects to SEQ
them hold back the advance of the Amer
leans.
These fences will be destroyed in q very
few minutes. The Americans knew Of the
use of barbed wire by the Spanlards, and
every man In the invading army carries a
pair of good, strong wire cutters, which
will make short work Of the wire barriers.
The correspondent just now took q ride
that carried him fully a mile outside
the most advanced American plckets. Not
. single Spanish guerrilla was seen on the
hills or In the chaparral, and it was very
evident that the battle with Roosevelt's
rough riders near Sevilla on Friday last
has taught them a lesson concerning the
bravery OF the Americans which they have
taken we'll to heart. That was the first
time Spaniards had encountered men who
| knew how to shoot straight to kill, and
the fighting then seems to have struck ter.
ror to their hearts.
The enemy appears to have deserted the
whole countryside and to have retired into
their works. A man may now ride any,
where beyond the American outposts with
Dat meeting any of the enemy.
The correspondent frequently had heard
much OF the so-called ~impregnable detences
on the landward side of Santiago, and ex.
pscted to SEQ some important works.
he was greatly surprised to find
nothing more than nero infantry
curtains OF mud or stone furrowed along
four hlllsides on the eastern edge of the
city. On the south side of the city, how
ever, facing the hsrbor and commanding
the main approach to tho town and the
railroad line which connects with the
American base at siboney, there are
swo now and powerful earthworks, sit
uAted about a mile apart. About 500 men
were buSily working ON one of them. There
! p high ridge between the American line,