New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-20
THE CAMPAIGN IN SANTIAGO
AN OBSERVER WHO FINDS OVERCONFl-
DENCE IN THE GENERALS.
INSUFFICIENT PREPARATION BY ENGINEERS
ATONED FOR ny SPLENDID HERO
IGN OF THE TROOPS

are the front the less general conception
you gain for the time OF what is going on
The formation OF the ground on which the battie
OF San Juan took place peculiarly Illustrates inns
fact The enemy. behind masked breastworKs on
the verge OF the plateau. could ne located
by the troops who we're moving against him chiefly
by the sound OF his volleys Even from the sum
NIT OF the hill at the left centre, on whch GRIMES
battery posted and which afforded me
general view OF the whole field from the extreme
left 10 the stone fort" dominating Caney II was
easy 10 discern clearly more than "A small por-
ton o. the Spanish line OF FIRE
The Americans they advanced 10 the attack
completely shut In for half % the dstanc"
westward OF the San Juan River by the tangled
brush. which however. peopled by bushwhack-
ers. whose fire constant and deadly In some
OF the regiments the majority OF the casualties took
place here before they had emerged from what
would ordinarily be termed cover. Some OF tfe
volunteers. It is reported showed the greatest re-
iuctsnce to leave this fancied shelter. which was
really so dangerous 10 them.
THEY LAY DOWN IN THE ROAD.
certain regiment. which will not be named
until the official reports OF the battle are accessible
lay down In the road leading through the timbered
plain and all but battalion refused TO move on
when ordered officers Of other regiments were
heard to upbrald these soldiers and 10 ask them
10 act Ike men II their own officers had thus
spoken to them It Is not TO be doubted that they
would promptly have responded. The way was so
blocked by their inaction that FOR a litte while
the advance was stopped Then two regiments o.
Regulars pressed forward the PROSTATE forms
OF those ahead OF them. some Of the soldiers never
touching ground FOR yards at time IL Ia hut
justice 10 say that the regiment which had lain 80
ohstinately IN the road afterward. through at leas;
a part o, It's number helped to carry the most
difficult position In Its front II Is probable that the
conduc, Of two OF its battalions was due to
mlsapprehens!on o. orders on the part OF rs
officers
one thing Is certain. that the enthusiasm OF tho
men and officers such that. once started. their
advance could not have been checked by orders
from the Major-General until they had driven the
enemy from the OF the opposing ridge Tn
stnted credit IL due their ar,lor In attack and
TO their subsequent steadiness In defence OF that
which they Ind gained
LAWTON's STEADY FIRE.
Between Ave and six miles 10 the northeastward
the firing Of Lawtons artillery could be marked
almost a. distinctly as the gyrations ~ a crack
pitcher by the eranfstand spectators II baseball
game First the white pun OF old fashioned powder,
wha, seemed b. many seconds would tick away
before the duh round detonation reached the car.
.astly. through the glass. around the base OF the
Oh church converted into a bockhoUse. near the
upper end OF the town. else upon tho ramparts
Ok the stone fort above H. great masses Of dirt
and dus, were seen to rise. showing that the shell
had struck and exploded a, or near IT'S mark The
steady pop. pop OF La~tons rifles. answered by the
spaniards AT longer and longer intervals was
cheering because Il proved the GOODNESS and delio-
Grafton OF marksnen and It indicated an IN
compromising onward movement.
The nr!ng continued heavier the right through
tho whole OF the first day than II WAS on the
left. Nowhere better demonstrated the fact
that position and defensive works were the chief
reliance OF the enemy
Tho reason for the Spanish Indifference 10 our
Tar, ha s..bla raglgf yphf eh
they made TO our advance near Sevilla longer
far seek. They had chosen the decisive bate
ground and there alone did they wish TO fight.
Their confidence In the strength OF tho san Juan
position entirely justnei In the FIRST place.
the natural conformation OF the country could
hardly be more favorable 10 defensive cam
paign The greater part Of II Is densey covered
with young timber undergrowth. inierlaced with
thorny vines studded with natural abats or
cact. palmettos and brambles. The roads were
originally little more than blind trails every one
Of which afforded a hundred opportunities FOR am
buscade
REGIMENTS MIXED Up.
What an undertaking 1t to deploy limo Of
bntte at right angles TO one Of these paths vii!
perhaps DO imagined. On Friday. July !. IN moving
through the timber toward San Juan ridge. some
OF Whecler's regiments became seriously mixed up
owing to the utter mpossbility or moving straight
forward at anything like regular intervals. Cap
! tain Charles Morton. commanding battalion OF
the 80 Cavalry. when he finally approached the
open space across which the dash made for
the hight OF the San Juan position. found himself
surrounded by OF two three different regl-
men,s mostly. however. OF his lie did not
hesitate. II not moment for hesitation
Mauser bullets and shrapnel singing thick
and fast through the air. and men were falling
every side Morton put all the men near him int
Inc and when MAJOR We-ses. commanding the
3D. gave the order TO charge. he led them forward
/ obliqucly behind the ist Battalion under Major
Jackson and quickly took the most advanced POI
sitlon on the right. driving the Spaniards from
hacienda which he found there back upon
Juan barracks He held this position agains,
pcrior odds for long time before relief sent
him. Had ne waited to separate his men from
those OF other regiments who had become mixed
I'D with them In the scramble through the brush
this movement might have been far less success
full. as every moment Of delay In the advance
meant less.
SPANISH ENGINEERING SKILL.
Secondly the artificial strengthening Of the Span
fish line Of defence showed tho highest order OF en-
cheering skill This Is the verdict OF al competent
officers who have examined H. The utmost ad-
vantage taken OF the conformation OF the
ground. and each fortified point angle COM
manded some other one. In many places. on gain
ing a piece OF intrenchment, troops found
! hen under "A re o.h