The state herald., 1898-07-01
TROOPS WAITING FoR ARrlL-
LERY.
Gradually Closing In on santiago-Its De-
fenses Thought to Be Formidable.

New York, June 27.-A cable to the
Herald dated "With Army Near San.
tiago, Sunday, by the Herald Dispatch
Boat Mlndora to Port Antonio, Mon.
day." says:
Although only three or four miles OF
territory now separates General Shaf-
ter's advance column and the Spanish
forces about Santiago, 1t Is likely to be
several days before the assault upon
the city is made.
Owing to the bad condition of the
roads the machine and field guns can
be hauled to the front only with the
greatest difficulty. Much Of this day
has been devoted to this work and the
guns are now well on the way to the
advance position held by General
Wheeler. The work hardly can be
completed for two or three days, how
ever, and the attack cannot be made
before then.
Seven thousand American troops and
three thousand of General Gnrcia's
forces are encampcd within sight of
Santiago, and the American flag is still
floating all along the way from Bal
quiri to the outskirts Of the beleag-
uered city.
1t is apparent now that General
Linares will offer no serious opposi-
tion to the concentration of the entire
American and Cuban forces about the
city. He abandoned his last oppOr-
tunity for smaking serious trouble
when he ordered his troops to with
draw from Sevilla yesterday.
General Iinares, the American Off
GERS believe, is devOting all his ener-
giles TO strengthening the dcfcnses of
Santiago, both by land and sea.
From several sources the information
comes that the Spanish general has n
larger force at his command than has
been supposed. Conservative leaders
in the Cuban army declare that at
least $1,000 Spanards have been gath
cred In Santiago. 1t also Is ascer-
tanned that the clty's defenses have
been strengthened to marked degree.
and that the capture of the city Will
not be the easy task so many have ex-
pected.
Thus far the Americans seem to be
more in need OF artillery than of men.
but 1t is believed that the composition
of the present land force is due to the
plan for the cooperation of the fleet
The health of all the troops IL excel
lent. All OF the wounded are doing
well.
General Shafter and his subordinate
officers are unstinted in their praise OF
both volunteers and regulars while un-
der fire. Our troops have shown them
selves to be brave, cool and eager, and
the examples set by the officers have
been worthy Of the highest praise.
The next fighting will be directly
before Santiago. Our troops have
swept nll before them. They took
Sevilla sooner than they had expected
and without struggle. Owing to the
extraordinary energy OF our command
Ing officers in pushing the men along.
coupled with the eagerncss of the
troops TO advance. the American flag
was raised over Sevilla during Satur-
day night
In this village. where General
Linnrcs had made his headquarters
while American troops We're landing. n
desperate engagement was expected.
Spanish troops had been fastening to
that point from all directions for sew
eral days. II was the last defense be-
tween Santiago and the American
troops. Despite its streteic import
ance, however, the Spaniards offered
little opposhdn. They fired on our
troops for some time In n desuliory
way, but without effect. They then
retired from the village. leaving II for
the Americans to occupy.
Our troops. after making Sevllla n
temporary headquarters pressed on TO
n point two miles beyond. and cstab-
llshed themselves within four miles OF
Santiago.
The Spanlards halted In their flight
Mt Cancy, small settlement, to the
northeast OF Santiago and on the right
of our line.