New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10
THE MARCH ON SANTIAGO.
SURPRISE THAT THE SPANIARDS DID so
LITTLE "BCSHWIIACKING."


OPERATIONS-THE PACK TRAINS
From a stan corrarpondeat Of The Tribune
Outpost United States Army, near Santiago
de Cuba. June 27.-General Chaffee's brigade.
the third Of the Second Division of the Fifth
Army Corps has been pushing toward Sam
tiago by easy stages. This morning Il moved
about mile along the little river which has
furnished excellent drinking water ever since
the advance guard reached Il. The ith Regi-
ment Is still IA the vanguard, with the lith
holding position to the east. There Is the great
est difficulty in settling definitely the geographic
cal names hercabouts The maps are neither
large enough nor accurate enough 20 show eX-
actly the names OF places and rivers, and the
Cuban nomenclature is hopelessly confusing
This stream. along which the main road to
Santiago runs at this point. is variously called
the Guamo, the Scco ard the Santiago River
Further inquiry among the Cubans would prob
ably extend the list as far as you please.
The Cuban outpost is still In advance OF the
American lines but General Lawton. with a
company Of men, has penetrated two miles
beyond II along the ridge TO the south He
came in plain view OF the city. which Is the goal
OF the Army The forthcations are numerous
1t is n continual surprise that the Spaniards
have not rosorted more freely to the style or
warfare which laid low some Of the Rough
Riders and the Is. Regular Cavalry three days
ago. This bushwhackng has been the chief
resource OF both sides in the insurrec-
ton. and the country was virtually made
TO order for il. on the wooded slopes and cress
OF the hills any number Of soldiers could hide
and fire on the Americans advancing along the
roads. or course there are recommending
parties but these cannot cover the ground
thoroughly across the entire zone of possible
Spanish fire. The underbrush is so thick that
progress Is extremely slow, and the soldiers
come back with clothing torn and hands. arms.
faces and legs bleeding. II they used machete5
to cut their way through they would make a
noise that would warn the enemy at distance
OF hundreds Of yards.
OF course the United states troops who have
seen service In the Indian campaigns are special
lists in this nghtnG and would doubtless be
effective at IT, But every amhuscade would cost
some lives. bad as the Spanish craftsmanship
is. Just half Of Troop l.. lst Volunteer Cavalry.
answered at the roll call after the fight. This
certainly speaks well for the success Of the at
tack. even n the Spanish loss Of life was con-
siderable Doubtless fear Of the Hoichkiss guns
has some influence IN the failure to contend
every rod % the way 70 Santiago.
observation # tn, Cubans here does not argue
any great effectiveness on their part in battle.
As scouts their knowledge of the country ought
TO make them 81 value. hut they have appar-
entity been OF no great advantage. They said
that all the Spanish troops had been Withdrawn
20 Santiago bat thu attack on Tho Rough Riders
proved them t. be- wrong Now the United
States troops do their own rcconno,ring. This
morning the information Is that the ouiposts
are only four and a hall miles from the outer
Santiago batteries by the road. This brings
them I'm range of tic large guns. but there IL no
a,rar.uf lcqr u p1-slU. ltlug Cereals Law
ton wheeler and Chaffec ride beyond the out
posts attended by only fow men. u select
camp sites GA. TO reconnoitr". with as much conf
dence a. n they were a. Tampa
There Us one service which the cuhans can 10.
They can identify soldiers 81 their own side.
whom the Americans cannot toll from Spanlards.
Friendly persons who 20 beyond IN" lines have
the cOuutcrslgu given them. but n 10 j. spanish
the Americans cannot understand ~. ana II II
f. English the Cubans cannot pronounce 10. In
one respect the insurgents are better on than
the Americans. thDy seem 10 De- Wei SuppIl'd
with provisions. The runny sacks which serve
them for kuapsacks are bulgng with things.
while the 1th had nothing but little bareback
for twcuty-faur hours mp TO last night. and then
received only iN"-third- "l "a iAuoi.
Just NOW tn" interest of the soldiers here Is
divided between the Investment OF santiago
and the arrival N pack trains. Perhaps IN"
10 now the system of transportation from tn"
base ~ supplies. Sihonrr. has not been per
fcCtcd. There ~ material Tor an afclNhi' S'f-
vice. hut % has not nren got In good order Yet.
1t is likely. however. that dag or two VIII So"
everything Ia good shape. ON account ~ the
supposed badness Of the roads few baggage
wagons were taken on the transports: II was
decided 10 depend on pack trains instead
total Of about 200 horses ana mules was en-
harkcd. Some died on the way and others wer"
drowned in the landing. Mounts for the higher
officers taken ouf. and draught animals for the
artillery. there remained mules for about ten
dozen pack trains.
40 ~i.. ~ a
pack trains as about the so1cry. Thirteen men
make UP the crew. the packmaster, who IS in
ard looks after the rigging. the cook. and ten
packers. Each packer looks after SIX mules;
occasionally. ia an emergency, one may be
added but the men do not take kindly to this
TWO are required 90 toad each animal. 50 ever
man has a partner Each man Of the crew IS
i.ourt ~. s0 train las sevcnty-thrcc or, at a
pinch. cighty-threc mules.
ordinarily. StrOnG, sound beast ~ ellal 10
carrying three hundred or three hundred ana
nfty pounds but II was decided that two nun
drcl and forty should he thc maximum in
cuba Some carry much less. owing 10 their
weak condition after the long sea voyage, two
boxes OF bareback being all that they were con.
sdcrcd equal to bearing. Up 10 now the food
comes TO the advance in insuhcien. quantities.
bat with six hundred or seven hundred mules
there should be TO lnsuperabe difficulty to send
Ing enough The pacl. trains set out early in the
morning. before daybrcak. IL the loads are on.
and without Il long halt. cover the whole dis
lance from Slboney to the advance guard. In
the afternoon. they return. days ration
IS estimated at three pounds and a half, 80 one
mule ought to carry food for fifty or sixty SOL
diers
The hackers are largely from Arizona and are
n hardy set Of men Each man knows every
mule I'm his charge as intimately az II II were
his saddle animal. and understands Just how L"
handle him The pack trains make good time,
even In the heat.
OPENING or 4 NEW CHJRCH.
The opening of the Port Morris CONGREGATIONAL