The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-01

Kingston. July 1.-The forces Of the
American army are being mobilized a.
rapidly az possible in the vicinity OF
Aguardores. four miles from Santiago.
The moment the tedious task is com
pleted the attack on Spain's last ditch
in eastern Cuba will be begun. When
that will be, General Shafter himself
cannot say. The troops can be moved
without serious delay and are pushing
forward rapidly, but the movement OF
the pack trains, wagons. ambulances
and artillery IL taxing the skill and en-
durance of the officers and men to the
utmost. From Baiquiri. where the ar
tillery was landed. to the present point
OF concentration, the road runs through
a tang.e Of tropical underground. up and
down steep hilIsides and over treacher-
Gus swamp streams. for a dis
tance CT over IL miles. Through this
continuous thicket the rear guard of
the army is cutting its way. Engineers
are at work levelling the track and fill-
ing pits. while q large force of regulars
and volunteers with axes. aided by Gu
bans with machetes. IL hacking down
trees and clearing out the brush. A few
light guns have already reached the
spot. but the siege guns are not within
hve miles Of the vanguard.
General Shafter left his chip Wednes-
day and took up his quarters with Gen.
eral Wheeler at the front. His appear
ance there gave rise to the rumor that
an Attack on Santiago would occur at
l>.,t ~ .t~H oFs a l.
possible to get the army in shape to
strike blow for several days.
About 1000 troops are camped four
miles east OF the besieged city, and the
remainder OF the. forces stretch along
the road from there to Jurasua and
Baiquiri. The advance forces are In a
semi-circle, the left flank resting about
two miles from the sea, under the COM
mand OF General Chaffee. with the ex-
treme right, under the command OF
Colonel Miles, about mile to the north
west Beginning with the Twelfth in
fantry at the extreme left, the Seventh,
Seventeenth, Fourth. Twenty fifth and
Tenth infantry extend to the right in
the order named. Beyond them, picket
lines are established three-quarters of
a mile nearer. Santiago city being in
plain sight Of General Chaffees and
Colonel Miles troops.
Much amusement has been caused
among the officers by the large number
OF Red Cross flags flying from build
ings in Santiago. They are all flying
from the largest and most prominent
buildings. and officers say the Spanish
soldiers evidently intend to try to pro-
tect every place in,the city Offering a
good mark for the American artillery.
The landing places are without in
cident. The hospital corps has finished
its camp. and several patients are al
ready undergoing treatment There are
quite few cases of measles under the
care Of the physicians. but a majority
OF the cases OF sickness result from the
heat and the extreme hardships the men
nave undergone, principally in waiting
Tor shelter and food since the landing
on Santiago. The fleet lies silent and
grim. waiting for the moment to come
when 1t shall finally measure It's strength
with the harbor batteries All day
Wednesday four American men-of-war
lay within a mile and half OF Morro's
guns, but not shot was exchanged.
The sailors on board could almost have
exchanged words with the soldiers
ashore. and the fact that the Spania-ds
did not risk a shot or two is taken to
Indicate that perhaps they are very
short of ammunition. The Iowa, Massa- |
chusetts. Indiana and New Orleans
could easily have been hit, as they lay
almost motionless within easy range.
but Morro might have been country
schoolhouse for all the hostile demon
stration 1t made
The Spanish supply boat Purissima
Conception, which escaped from Ja-
maica recently has arrived at Tunas.
the port Of Santiago spirItus, on the
southern coast OF the province Of Santa
Cara. The naval officers are much |
chasrined at the fact that the steamer
got away.